इंशाजी उठो अब कूच करो

Paired Painting

View of the Ganges from the Phatuk or Gate at the Top of Punchgunga Ghat

In the early nineteenth century, James Prinsep served as the assay master at the Benares Mint, yet his true devotion lay in documenting the ancient soul of the holy city. Enchanted by the steep stone steps, sacred bathing ghats, and majestic riverside temples, Prinsep drew Varanasi with exceptional precision and deep affection. This remarkable view presents an intimate perspective from inside a heavy wooden gateway at the top of Panchganga Ghat. The dark, beautifully carved doors open outward to create a dramatic architectural frame, guiding the eye from shadow into the brilliant air of the riverfront below, where stone platforms, moored boats, and the tranquil flow of the sacred Ganges stretch out toward the far shore.

Open the viewer →