The first ghat north of Assi, set apart from it by a flight of steps, is named after the palace the Narayan rulers of Benares built above it around 1830, a sandstone mix of Rajput and local styles with tiers of arched balconies.
Front of the Ganga Mahal palace with its balconies and the ghat's name board above the steps
Ganga Mahal Ghat seen from a boat in the monsoon, with the river high against the steps
Arched rooftop pavilion and pierced-stone balcony railings on the Ganga Mahal palace
Timings and fees are not confirmed from an official source; check before you go.
This is the southern Ganga Mahal Ghat, quieter than Assi; a second ghat of that name lies far north, near Panchganga.
Sources: Wikipedia — Ganga Mahal Ghat · The Varanasi Heritage Dossier — Ganga Mahala and Rivan Ghat (Wikiversity) · Wikipedia — Ghats in Varanasi (Ganga Mahal Ghat I and II) · OpenStreetMap — Ganga Mahal Ghat, node 11461546407 (coordinates)
