‪This splendid monument is maybe the most beautiful on the shore of the Ganga in Varanasi. According to Hindu militants, it was built on the site of an old Hindu temple (this kind of legends are told about a lot of other mosques), but the evidence is not entirely convincing and the sources are not really serious. According to others, the property was given to the mughal emperor Aurangzeb by a Hindu family after their daughter was protected by him against people with bad intentions. Anyways this majestic mosque adds a special character to the banks of the Ganges, most of whose buildings are quite banal. The view you see there is amazing. It is a must visit in Varanasi.‬

‪We went to Varanasi / Banaras for a week long trip during early March 2020 just before Coronavirus Pandemic erupt in India .  This was truly a memorable trip for us of 2020 ! The last Ghat during boat ride from Assi Ghat on river Ganga was Panchganga Ghat ….. Located on the Panchganga Ghat, Alamgir mosque 🕌 is one of the most picturesque locations in Varanasi. The mysterious architecture towering right above the Panchganga Ghat has attracted the attention of millions since the 17th century. It’s rustic look and gigantic domes stand out against all the contemporary architectures developed around it. History : Known by the name of ‘Beni Madhav Ka Darera’ or Aurangzeb’s Mosque this architecture holds significant importance in the books of history. Alamgir mosque 🕌 is located at the place where once stood a temple of Lord Vishnu( Beni Madhav Ka Darera).  The French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier who made many voyages to India was awestruck by the beauty of the temple. He mentioned the temple as “the great pagoda” in his travel account. In 1663 Aurangzeb captured the Varanasi and demolished the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669. Bindu Madhav Temple was also destroyed in 1673 and Aurangzeb built the Alamgir mosque on the ruins of the temple. The foundation of the temple was used for the construction of the mosque which is also believed to be as deep as the height of it. Aurangzeb also added 2 minarets and 3 domes to give the structure a striking look. Each minaret was 163 feet long and was equipped with a staircase and a balcony. Current status : Today, the Alamgir mosque 🕌 stands atop the Panchganga Ghat. It's eye-catching minarets are gone but it still manages to steal the charm. Most of the traveller only watch it from a distance while they are riding the boat. The view from the boat looks very impressive in the morning as well as in the evening. 😍😍😍 We request you to get down at Panchganga ghat and take a climb. We bet you will love the sunset from here!  🥰🥰🥰 How to Reach Alamgir Mosque : The best way to reach Alamagir Mosque is by walking through the Ghats. One can walk🚶 towards the Panchganga from Manikarnika Ghat or can take a boat ⛵from any Ghat to the Panchganga Ghat. I highly recommend to keep Panchganga Ghat and Alamgir Mosque in your Varanasi / Banaras itinerary ! 👍👍‬