The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Bajirao Ghat

Detailed description of each heritage Site - Mir Ghat to Bajirao Ghat

Bajirao Ghat

Location
25º 18.513’ North and 83º 00.611’ East (Bajirao Ghat, north part).

Exact location on a map
Bajirao Ghat, near Manikarnika.

Area
0.03 ha

Historical/cultural/natural significance
Bajirao Peshva built this ghat and a palace nearby in ca 1735, that is how it is called after him. Havell (1905: p. 138) described this: “Before the basement had been raised many feet, the tremendous weight of the massive masonry caused a landslip, which made the whole fabric topple over, so that the work had to be abandoned. The unfinished façade and the ghat steps still remain…”. In fact, the entire structure sunk several metres into the each since its erection (Sherring, 1868: p. 72). Later in 1830 queen Baijabai of Gwalior get it repaired and rebuilt; she had also built the colonnade around the Jananavapi well. Close to the bank on stable ground a temple of Dattatreyeshvara is also built by Bajirao Peshva. By the existence of this temple, this portion of the ghat is also called Dattatreya Ghat. Presently this ghat is assumed to be part of the Scindhia Ghat.

Present state of conservation
Except by the nearby rest houses directly taking care of its properties, there are no specific action plans, programmes and strategies for conservation and preservation of the ghats. The guest house trusts maintain their properties according to their own perspectives without specific plans. The opening of new guest houses and conversion of old houses into hotels are the greatest thereat to the strategy of heritage preservation.

Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property
It is expected that by the support of active people participation, awareness to save the age-old rich heritage, and development under the Master Plan (and its judiciary control) the ghat heritage will be protected and conserved for the better befit to the society.

Ownership
The rest house related properties along the ghat are owned by the respective trusts; the houses and other properties by the inhabitants; and the ghat area is owned by the Municipal Corporation.