Inside Man Mahal, a virtual museum brings Kashi's heritage to life on the ghats

Tucked into Man Mahal — a graceful 16th-century riverside palace whose eastern face looks straight onto the Ganga — Varanasi holds a museum unlike any other in the city: the Virtual Experiential Museum. Set up under the Ministry of Culture and developed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), it tells the story of Kashi not through rows of glass cases but through immersive displays, interactive technology and storytelling. Themed around "Ras Banaras," the museum invites visitors to step into the layered life of the city — its ghats, music, crafts, faith and everyday rhythms — using large projections and hands-on interactive screens. It is a way to feel the spirit of Banaras even before you wander out into its lanes, and a cool, unhurried stop on a warm afternoon. Man Mahal itself is a draw. The same heritage complex is home to one of the historic Jantar Mantar observatories, and its terrace offers a memorable view across the river. Recently spotlighted by the NCSM as a model of how technology can help preserve heritage, the museum makes an easy add to any ghat-side walk. If you are exploring the riverfront near Dashashwamedh, look out for Man Mahal — and give yourself about an hour inside to let Kashi's past quietly unfold around you.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Museums of India — Virtual Experiential Museum · National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)