Lalita Ghat

Lalita Ghat
Native name Hindi: ललिता घाट
Lalita Ghat front view
Location	Varanasi
Coordinates	25°18′36″N 83°00′48″E / 25.310013°N 83.013276°E / 25.310013; 83.013276
Elevation	73.9 meters
Founded	1800-1804
Founder	Rana Bahadur Shah
Built	19th century
Governing body	Varanasi Nagar Nigam
Owner	Varanasi Nagar Nigam
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Lalita Ghat (Hindi: ललिता घाट) is one of the main ghats on the Ganges River in Varanasi. The ghat is named after Hindu Goddess Lalita and was built in early 19th century by King of Nepal, Rana Bahadur Shah. The ghat houses the famous Nepali Mandir and Lalita Gauri Mandir.

King of Nepal, Rana Bahadur Shah took exile in Varanasi from 1800 to 1804 and titled himself as "Swami Nirgunanda". During his exile, he decided to build a replica of Pashupatinath Temple in Varanasi. Construction of the temple commenced during his exile / stay in Varanasi. During the construction, Shah moved back to Nepal. On 25 April 1806, Rana Bahadur Shah was stabbed to death by his stepbrother, Sher Bahadur Shah. His son Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Deva undertook the construction of the temple (now called Nepali Mandir), a dharamshala and Lalita Ghat. The construction got over 20 years after the deadline.

The ghat is named after Hindu Goddess Lalita. Goddess Lalita is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called Mahavidyas or Dasha-Mahavidyas. She is the foremost and the most important in Dasha-Mahavidyas. All other Mahavidyas concludes in her vidya i.e. Sri Vidya. Her consort is Maha Kameswara. She is the highest aspect of Goddess Adi Shakti. Parvati is the complete incarnation of Lalita Maha Tripura Sundari.