INTACH nominated Balaji Ghat, Varanasi on World Monuments Watch List 2012

The eighteenth-century Balaji Ghat, in Varanasi, India, is an important historic landmark building constructed along the Ganges in Varanasi. It was constructed to serve pilgrims worshiping at the holy river. Varanasi is one of the worlds oldes t continuously inhabited cities of the world and a major Hindu pilgrimage destination. The collapse of the main building of Balaji Ghat, few years back likely from the decay of the wood, inadequate conservation and heritage protection was a big set back to the historic River front of Varanasi. Considering its significance and its present condition the building has now been declared 100 most endangered heritage sites of the world by World Monuments Fund, a New York based organization. Inclusion in the Watch will support a plan to restore the building for use as a cultural center and help to continue an ancient tradition of pilgrimage and enlightenment. Balaji Ghat is one of the 84 river front buildings developed along the bank of the river Ganga. From the city, it is approached through a maze of narrow streets and lanes crossing many small and big temples, shrines, gateways. The ghats also give access to the boats on the Ganga River by a series of steps, where there are a place for sports, exercise, meditation, socializing for the community and visitors. The Balaji Ghat complex was originally a seven storeys building and follows a traditional architectural form with, a Temple of Shri Balaji, garden, well, assembly hall, living areas, courtyards etc. There are all well connected with stone staircases forming a remarkable architecture ensemble. It was built in the combination of stone and wood. Use of wood and elements of decorations such as exquisitely carved wooden column, brackets, doorways and other decorative elements predominantly mark the style of Maratha and Peshwa architecture. It is also associated with Shehnai Maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Part of the building had collapsed in 1995 and further part collapsed in 2010 making it highly deteriorated and endangered. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural

Heritage (INTACH) who nominated the property to World Monuments Fund now, proposed to carry out the management and conservation of t he site. INTACH is Indias largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to conservation and preservation of Indias natural, cultural, living, tangible and intangible heritage. It has been working on number of cultural built heritage sites all over India including Varanasi. (Before restoration) (After restoration)