Calcutta. Juggernath Bathing Ghat
This ghat was one of the most common photographic and postcard images, and renamed in 2012 as Chotulal's Ghat. It apparently dates back to the 18th century.
Ghats
Benares. Ganga Mehal Ghat.
Ganga Mahal Ghat is one of the holiest ghats at Varanasi and was built in the 1830s. Note how the hand-tinting has highlighted, not too carefully, the sun umbrellas in the foreground.
Dashashwamedh Ghat Benares.
[Original caption] Dassamedh Ghat. The landing place of the Dassamedh or 10 sacrifices, where the god Brahma is said to have offered horses in sacrifice. [end]
The Administration Palace in Benares
The history of Varanasi, also called Benares, can be traced back to the time of Gautama Buddha 2,500 years ago when it was the capital of Kashi.
The Burning Ghat, Benares
Among the earliest postcards of Varanasi, this court-sized card was made from an albumen photograph (its title is still inscribed in the negative) and framed by a floral design.
The Burning Ghat, Benares
[Original caption] General View of Ghats, Benares. The landing places leading to the many temples which look down upon the River Ganges, whose waters are held so holy that they can wash away all sin. [end]
Calcutta
Nautch dancers inspired stories like Hassan Shah’s The Nautch Girl, “the first known modern Indian novel” in the 1790s, as well as the first Urdu novel, the story of the Lucknow courtesan Umrao Jaan Ada in 1899.
A version of this card was sent by
Benares - Assec [Assi] Ghat
![Benares - Assec [Assi] Ghat](https://www.paperjewels.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/slides/ghat-varanasi_0.jpg?itok=2JwMi_AI "Benares - Assec [Assi] Ghat")
Assi Ghat is on the southern end of the city, where the Assi River meets the Ganges, and where the Goddess Durga is said to have thrown her sword after killing the demon Shumbha-Nishumbha.
The Place of Contrition in Benares
One of the most famous ghats in Varanasi.
This card, originally published by the Austrian firm of Josef Heim in Vienna in 1898 was re-published in this version by Thacker & Co. in Bombay, one of the leading Raj department stores.
