Excavated remains of ancient Varanasi/ Old Rajghat Fort /ओल्ड राजघाट फोर्ट, Near Lal Khan Tomb, Rajghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The excavated Old Rajghat Fort is on the east side of the Lal Khan Tomb at Varanasi. This visit was a part of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Tour, between 05^th February and 08^th February 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care. We had not been to the site with excavation but happened to see from Rajghat. At present, the site is only with excavated trenches.

 

This site has been identified as the capital of the ancient Kashi Mahajanapada from archaeological excavations on the premises of Lal Khan Mazar. In 1940, during the construction of the Kashi Railway Station on the left bank of the Ganga, a large number of archaeological remains were found while digging in the soil. After this, the archaeological importance of this site was proved when Shri Krishna Dev of the Archaeological Survey of India conducted an archaeological excavation of this site for the first time. The structures found from the excavation are mainly residential. A seal with the inscription 'Varanasyadhishthanaadhikaranasya' engraved in Gupta period Brahmi has been found from this excavation, which means 'Seal of Varanasi City Administration'. Thereafter, a detailed excavation of this site was carried out between 1960 and 1969 under the guidance of Dr. A. K. Narayanan and Dr. T. N. Rai of Banaras Hindu University. Based on the archaeological remains obtained from the excavation, the antiquity of this site was proven to be between the 8th century BC (Mahajanapada period) and the 18th century CE. (Middle Ages) which has been divided into six cultural periods.

The site of Rajghat perhaps represents the ancient Kashi. This area has been one of the oldest settlement sites and still possesses its natural grove and old remains. Banaras Hindu University excavated this mound from 1960 to 1969, though a trial trench was taken in 1957. The excavations at Rajghat revealed artifacts dating back to the 8th century BCE and the 18th century CE.

LOCATION OF THE SITE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---