WAUPrasadMadhoPHColl1462.xml Guide to the Madho Prasad Album Views of Benares Ghats Ramnagar Fort 1898 1898 Prasad (Madho) Album Views of Benares Ghats Ramnagar Fort 1898 Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2018 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
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University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH1462 Prasad, Madho Ram (Photographer), active approximately 1885-1905 Madho Prasad Album Views of Benares Ghats Ramnagar Fort 1898 1898 20 photographs in one album (1 box) ; 11.75" x 9.75" Collection materials are in English. Photo album of the city Benares (Varanasi), India by Madho Prasad

Madho Prasad was the royal photographer of Prabhu Narayan Singh (1855-1931), ruler of the Indian Princely State of Benares (Varanasi) who would reign as Maharaja for 42 years.

Benares (Varanasi) has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. The city was founded in the sixth century BC, and is one of seven sacred cities for Hindus. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. Benares (Varansi) is also a sacred site for Jain pilgrims since four Jain tirthankaras, or spiritual teachers, were born there. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, or embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions.

Album containing 20 albumen photographs featuring temples, Ramnager Fort and other important Ganges river side buildings in Benares (Varanasi), India made by Madho Prasad for the Maharaja of Benares.

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Source: Wayfarer's Bookshop, April, 12, 2017.

Processed by Melanie Kay, 2018.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Vārānasi (Uttar Pradesh, India)--Photographs City and Town Life Religion Photographs

 

1 1 Ram-Nagar Fort 1898

The sandstone fort was built in 1750. It has housed the Kashi Naresh, who is believed to be the incarnation of Shiva, since the eighteenth century.

 1 2 Assi Sangam Ghat 1898

This ghat lies at the confluence of the Assi and Ganges rivers, and is a holy site for pilgrims.

 1 3 Two Jain temples at Butsraj Ghat 1898

This ghat has three Jain temples on the bank of the river.

 1 4 Chet Singh Palace at Shivala Ghat 1898 1 5 Kedar Ghat 1898 1 6 Raja Ghat 1898

Previously known as Amrita Rao Ghat.

 1 7 Digpatiya Ghat, also known as Dhunrao Panth Ghat 1898 1 8 Rana Mahal Ghat 1898 1 9 Munshi Ghat 1898

Dharbanga Palace is shown on the left.

 1 10 Ahilyabai Ghat 1898 1 11 Dasaswamedh Ghat 1898 1 12 Man Singh Observatory at Man Mandir Ghat 1898 1 13 Lalita Ghat 1898

Nepali Mandir Temple can be seen on the far left.

 1 14 Shiva Temple at Manikarnika Ghat 1898

Manikarnika is a "burning ghat" where the dead are cremated.

 1 15 Maikarnika Ghat 1898

Baba Mashan Nath Mandir Temple is in the center of the picture.

 1 16 Ghosla Ghat 1898 1 17 Bajirao Ghat 1898 1 18 Panch Ganga Ghat 1898

The Beni Madhaw Kadharara Mosque is on the left.

 1 19 Gai Ghat 1898

Also sometimes called Gaya Ghat.

 1 20 Sumer Temple at Ramnagar 1898

The Sumer Temple was built by Chet Singh.