Ram Nagar Fort

This crumbling but impressive 17th-century fort and palace, on the eastern bank of the Ganges, is a beautiful place to watch the sun set over the river. It also houses an eccentric museum . There are vintage American cars, jewel-encrusted sedan chairs, a superb weaponry section and an extremely unusual astrological clock. The current maharaja, Anant Narayan Singh - still known in these parts as the Maharaja of Benares despite such royal titles being officially abolished in 1971 - continues his family tradition of attending the annual month-long Ram Lila drama festival held in the streets behind the fort