Varanasi: Balaji Ghat, an iconic landmark built on the bank of holy Ganga by Balaji Peshwa in 1735 also finds a place in World Monuments Watch List 2012 for decaying heritage. Once the property of Peshwa, the Balaji Ghat came into the hands of Scindia after the war of 1857. Since then, it is looked after by the Scindia Devashtan Trust, Gwalior. The legendary Shehnai maestro late Ustad Bismillah Khan used to perform riyaz (practice) at the Naubatkhana of the temple that caved in a few years ago.
The Balaji Ghat complex was originally a seven-storey building of traditional architectural form with a temple of Shri Balaji, garden, well, assembly hall, living areas, and courtyards. They were 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 carved wooden columns, brackets, doorways and other decorative elements predominantly mark the style of Maratha and Peshwa architecture.
Here in the city of Bhagwan Shiv, once in a year Shri Vyankatesh Balaji and Radha-Krishna get a new appearance in ‘Makhan Shringar’ (butter embellishment) with colourful attires made of pure butter on the occasion of Kartik Purnima.
The temples of Balaji and Radha-Krishna are situated at Balaji Ghat and Ganga Mahal Ghat respectively. Balaji Temple enshrines black stone idols of Shri Vyankatesh Balaji, Mudevi and Shridevi. The Radha-Krishna temple, which is also the property of Scindia Devashtan Trust.
(Courtesy: Me Kashi)
