Alamgir Mosque
Alamgir Mosque
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
38 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
10
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Gaspard N
Goa, India932 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
This splendid monument is maybe the most beautiful on the shore of the Ganga in Varanasi. According to Hindu militants, it was built on the site of an old Hindu temple (this kind of legends are told about a lot of other mosques), but the evidence is not entirely convincing and the sources are not really serious. According to others, the property was given to the mughal emperor Aurangzeb by a Hindu family after their daughter was protected by him against people with bad intentions.
Anyways this majestic mosque adds a special character to the banks of the Ganges, most of whose buildings are quite banal.
The view you see there is amazing. It is a must visit in Varanasi.
Anyways this majestic mosque adds a special character to the banks of the Ganges, most of whose buildings are quite banal.
The view you see there is amazing. It is a must visit in Varanasi.
Written January 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pranab Pal @paltravelogue
Navi Mumbai, India478 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We went to Varanasi / Banaras for a week long trip during early March 2020 just before Coronavirus Pandemic erupt in India .
This was truly a memorable trip for us of 2020 !
The last Ghat during boat ride from Assi Ghat on river Ganga was Panchganga Ghat …..
Located on the Panchganga Ghat, Alamgir mosque 🕌 is one of the most picturesque locations in Varanasi.
The mysterious architecture towering right above the Panchganga Ghat has attracted the attention of millions since the 17th century.
It’s rustic look and gigantic domes stand out against all the contemporary architectures developed around it.
History :
Known by the name of ‘Beni Madhav Ka Darera’ or Aurangzeb’s Mosque this architecture holds significant importance in the books of history.
Alamgir mosque 🕌 is located at the place where once stood a temple of Lord Vishnu( Beni Madhav Ka Darera).
The French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier who made many voyages to India was awestruck by the beauty of the temple.
He mentioned the temple as “the great pagoda” in his travel account.
In 1663 Aurangzeb captured the Varanasi and demolished the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669.
Bindu Madhav Temple was also destroyed in 1673 and Aurangzeb built the Alamgir mosque on the ruins of the temple.
The foundation of the temple was used for the construction of the mosque which is also believed to be as deep as the height of it.
Aurangzeb also added 2 minarets and 3 domes to give the structure a striking look. Each minaret was 163 feet long and was equipped with a staircase and a balcony.
Current status :
Today, the Alamgir mosque 🕌 stands atop the Panchganga Ghat.
It's eye-catching minarets are gone but it still manages to steal the charm.
Most of the traveller only watch it from a distance while they are riding the boat.
The view from the boat looks very impressive in the morning as well as in the evening.
😍😍😍
We request you to get down at Panchganga ghat and take a climb.
We bet you will love the sunset from here!
🥰🥰🥰
How to Reach Alamgir Mosque :
The best way to reach Alamagir Mosque is by walking through the Ghats.
One can walk🚶 towards the Panchganga from Manikarnika Ghat or can take a boat ⛵from any Ghat to the Panchganga Ghat.
I highly recommend to keep Panchganga Ghat and Alamgir Mosque in your Varanasi / Banaras itinerary ! 👍👍
This was truly a memorable trip for us of 2020 !
The last Ghat during boat ride from Assi Ghat on river Ganga was Panchganga Ghat …..
Located on the Panchganga Ghat, Alamgir mosque 🕌 is one of the most picturesque locations in Varanasi.
The mysterious architecture towering right above the Panchganga Ghat has attracted the attention of millions since the 17th century.
It’s rustic look and gigantic domes stand out against all the contemporary architectures developed around it.
History :
Known by the name of ‘Beni Madhav Ka Darera’ or Aurangzeb’s Mosque this architecture holds significant importance in the books of history.
Alamgir mosque 🕌 is located at the place where once stood a temple of Lord Vishnu( Beni Madhav Ka Darera).
The French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier who made many voyages to India was awestruck by the beauty of the temple.
He mentioned the temple as “the great pagoda” in his travel account.
In 1663 Aurangzeb captured the Varanasi and demolished the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669.
Bindu Madhav Temple was also destroyed in 1673 and Aurangzeb built the Alamgir mosque on the ruins of the temple.
The foundation of the temple was used for the construction of the mosque which is also believed to be as deep as the height of it.
Aurangzeb also added 2 minarets and 3 domes to give the structure a striking look. Each minaret was 163 feet long and was equipped with a staircase and a balcony.
Current status :
Today, the Alamgir mosque 🕌 stands atop the Panchganga Ghat.
It's eye-catching minarets are gone but it still manages to steal the charm.
Most of the traveller only watch it from a distance while they are riding the boat.
The view from the boat looks very impressive in the morning as well as in the evening.
😍😍😍
We request you to get down at Panchganga ghat and take a climb.
We bet you will love the sunset from here!
🥰🥰🥰
How to Reach Alamgir Mosque :
The best way to reach Alamagir Mosque is by walking through the Ghats.
One can walk🚶 towards the Panchganga from Manikarnika Ghat or can take a boat ⛵from any Ghat to the Panchganga Ghat.
I highly recommend to keep Panchganga Ghat and Alamgir Mosque in your Varanasi / Banaras itinerary ! 👍👍
Written January 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flaneur40
New York City, NY1,694 contributions
Dec 2016
This ghat is distinguished by the fact that the son of Shah Jahan (builder of the Taj Mahal) tore down a Hindu temple here and built a mosque on the site. He is the one who imprisoned his father in Agra Fort and then went on an anti-Hindu rampage.
Written December 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chhavi
mumbai157 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
I like both the origin stories of this mosque - the police constable who was living in a tent on the premises gave us one and the guide book gave us the second.
The mosque itself is stunning and quite a monument to the reach of the Mughal empire.
The mosque itself is stunning and quite a monument to the reach of the Mughal empire.
Written January 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuan W
Singapore, Singapore102 contributions
This half abandoned mosque is very mysterious among tje buildings nearby. When we finally reached there and asked a local guy just for double confirmation, actually we are very sure it is Alamgir mosque indeed, but that guy answered: I don't know, sir. We thinked it is just due to religion difference. Wooo, how mysterious it is! There is bird dropping on ground here and there, very quite, no any sound at all, just looks like I'm the 1st man to visit it after thousands of year passed!
Written November 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rui AF P
Aveiro, Portugal131 contributions
May 2015 • Business
The Alamgir Mosque, Varanasi, also known as Beni Madhav ka Darera and Aurangzeb's Mosque, is a mosque built in the 17th century by emperor Aurangzeb over the ruins of a Hindu temple in Varanasi. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu temple, built by Beni Madhur Rao Scindia, a Maratha chieftain, was demolished when the emperor Aurangzeb had captured Banaras and had then ordered the total destruction of all its Hindu temples. Aurangzeb then built a mosque over the ruins of the temple in 1669 and named it as Alamagir Mosque in the name of his own honorific title "Alamgir", which he had adopted after becoming the emperor of the Mughal empire.Two of its minarets were damaged; one minaret collapsed killing a few people and the other was officially brought down owing to stability concerns.
Written January 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bert66
499 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
See this from the river but dont bother with going there unless u are a student of architecture - there is no point going inside as you cant get into the main building - there is a small prayer area at the front which is chained up - you can enter and pay the asked for 50 shekels but it is unremarkable.
Written July 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaniz K
Dhaka City, Bangladesh4,643 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
The mosque looked quite imposing on top of the ghats. We were told this is the highest point and from top one has a great view of Varanasi. Outside architecture of the mosque looks great with tall minarets all around. The temples of the Hindus surround it. We were told, there were never any problem between these two religions and they live happily together. The view from the boat looks very impressive in the morning as well as in the evening.
Written November 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pavankumarraju
Hyderabad, India551 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
Alamgir Mosque is situate at Panchganga ghat. We need to climb few steps to reach this mosque from Panchganga ghat. Veni(Beni) Madhav temple also situated opposite to this mosque. As i heard Aurangazeb occupied the Veni Madhav temple and constructed this mosque.
Written April 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C.M.
San Francisco, CA153 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
Greeted with the kindness of the Imam, we truly enjoyed exploring Aurengzeb's mosque. He showed us around and provided us with information on the mosque. Atop a hill, with views of the Ganges below, a worthwhile stop.
Written March 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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