Although there are hundreds of temples in Varanasi, but among all the temples, the ancient Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is the main center of attraction for the devotees. The specialty of this temple is that it has been leaning at an angle of 9 degrees for almost 400 years. Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is built below the Manikarnika Ghat. Due to being under the ghat, this temple remains half submerged in the water of the Ganges for 8 months in a year.

Amazing Design: Amazing craft work has been done in this temple. Artistically it is very luxurious. Many types of legends are prevalent about this temple.

What is the secret of Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple: This temple also has unique secrets. Earlier the height of the balcony of this temple used to be 7 to 8 feet from the ground, now it is only 6 feet. Although this temple has been inclined at 9 degrees for hundreds of years, but with time its inclination is increasing, which even scientists could not detect.

Why the temple remains submerged, know the reason: This temple is just below the Manikarnika Ghat, due to which this temple remains submerged in water for 6 to 8 months when the water of the Ganges rises. Sometimes water is filled from top to top. In such a situation, worship can be done in the temple only for 3-4 months. There is no damage to this temple even after being in water for 6 to 8 months.

Temple Construction: According to the Archaeological Survey of India, this temple was constructed in the 18th century. It is believed that this temple was built in 1857 by the royal family of Amethi.

Ancient Beliefs of the Temple: There are many famous mythological stories about this temple. Ahilyabai Holkar is said to have built many temples around Banaras during her reign. Ratnabai was a maidservant of Ahilyabai. Ratnabai wanted to build a Shiva temple around the Manikarnika Ghat. In such a situation, he got the temple built with his own money and with a little help from Ahilyabai. But when the time came to name the temple, Ratnabai wanted to give it her own name, but Ahilyabai was against it. Despite this, Ratnabai went against the queen and named the temple as ‘Ratneshwar Mahadev’. When Ahilyabai came to know about this, she got angry and cursed him, due to which the temple became crooked. According to another legend, a saint asked the king of Banaras to take care of this temple. But the king refused to give the responsibility of taking care of the saint. The saint got angry with the king and he cursed that this temple would never be worthy of worship.