Man Mandir Ghat, Varanasi

Built in 1585 and named after its builder, Sawai Raja Man Singh of Amber, now Ajmer, Man Mandir Ghat was earlier known as Someshwar Ghat. An observatory was also set-up here by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 1730s. He was the same raja who built the famous Jantar Mantar at Delhi and Jaipur.

The observatory is fitted with excellent window castings. It has four astronomical instruments, which are still in good shape and throw a great light on the state of the knowledge of astronomy in those days. The observatory was renovated in 1850 and again in 1912 by the Rajput rulers of Jaipur

Man Mandir Ghat boasts of several important temples, such as Sthuladanta Vinayaka, Rameshwara and Someshwara temples. The latter has a Someswara lingam which is a replica of its counterpart in Somnath Temple in Gujarat. It is believed to be one of the nine famous Jyotirlingams in India.