Ramnagar Fort sits on the opposite bank of the Ganges from the main ghats, accessible by a short boat ride from Tulsi Ghat or by road across a bridge. Built in the 18th century by the Maharaja of Benares, it remains the official residence of the royal family of Varanasi. The fort's museum — housed within the ramparts — contains a remarkable collection: vintage cars, ivory palanquins, jewelled howdahs, antique weapons, and astronomical clocks. The collection has a delightfully eccentric, unstudied quality compared to well-curated national museums.
The fort itself is built from buff sandstone and has an imposing riverside presence. The view back across the Ganges toward the ghats from this eastern bank is one of the better panoramic views of the city. The surrounding Ramnagar town is a working-class neighbourhood largely untouched by the tourism economy of the main city. The fort hosts the Ram Lila festival during Navratri each autumn — one of the longest running Ram Lila performances in India, sometimes lasting a full month.