CHP For Varanasi

15 September, 2015
February , 2016
HERITAGE CITY DEVELOPMENT AND AUGMENTATION YOJANA -
HRIDAY
HRIDAY
PREPARATION OF CITY HRIDAY PLAN INCLUDING

CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
VARANASI
PREPARATION OF CITY HRIDAY PLAN INCLUDING
CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
VARANASI
HRIDAY
Prepared By:
Indian National Trust for the Art and Cultural Heritage
(INTACH), New Delhi
Prepared By:
IndianPREPARATION
National TrustOFfor the Art and Cultural Heritage
Date:CITY
15 /HRIDAY PLAN INCLUDING
09 / 2015
(INTACH), New DEVELOPMENT
CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE Delhi PLAN
VARANASI
Date: 15 / 09 / 2015
Prepared By:
Indian National Trust for the Art and Cultural Heritage
(INTACH), New Delhi
February 2016
Date: 15 / 09 / 2015
Team
CORE TEAM
Mr. Divay Gupta,Principal Director, Architectural Heritage Division , INTACH
Ms. Vijaya Amujure, Director Program , Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Mr. Raj Kumar Agarwal, City Coordinator & Co-Convener, Varanasi Chapter
Ms. Sugandha Jain, Conservation Architect, Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Ms. Anam Sami, Conservation Architect, Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Mr. Nirav Lad, Planner, Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Mr. Tanveer Alam , Site Architect, Varanasi , Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
SUPPORT TEAM
Mr. Ajay Ratan Banerjee, Historian , Varanasi Listing
Ms. Shweta Jaiswal, Conservation Architect, Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Mr. Nazish Abid , Recreational Architect, Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Ms. Samvedna Patidar, Architect (Intern),Architectural Heritage Division, INTACH
Preface
The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, launched the National Heritage City
Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme on 21st January, 2015, with a focus on holistic
development of heritage cities. The scheme aims to preserve and revitalize soul of the heritage city to
reflect the city’s unique character by encouraging aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative &
secured environment.
With a duration of 27 months (completing in March 2017) and a total outlay of INR 500 Crores, the
Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka,
Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal. The scheme is implemented in
a mission mode.
The Scheme supports development of core heritage infrastructure projects which shall include
revitalization of urban infrastructure for areas around heritage assets identified / approved by the
Ministry of Culture, Government of India and State Governments. These initiatives shall include
development of water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management, approach roads, footpaths,
street lights, tourist conveniences, electricity wiring, landscaping and such citizen services.
INTACH has been appointed as the HRIDAY City Anchor for Varanasi. As the the City Anchor , INTACH
has prepared the City HRIDAY Plan for Varanasi and will be advising and supporting the City Mission
Directorate in successful implementation of the HRIDAY scheme.
City HRIDAY Plan - Varanasi 5
Table of Content
SUMMARY 06
1. 1.1Purpose of City HRIDAY Plan 16

1.2Vision of the city 18
2. Introduction to the City
2.1. Introduction 26
2.2. History 29
2.3. Regional Settings 36
2.4. Physiography and Climate 37
2.5. Forest and Bio Diversity 40
2.6. Demography 41
2.7. Tourist Footfall 43
2.8. Economy 44
2.9. Tourism Infrastructure 45
3. Appraisal of Listed Heritage, Recognized Tourist and Cultural Assets of the City
3.1. Introduction 47
3.2. Appraisal of Identified Assets 48
3.2.1. Tangible Assets: (Condition, its Ownership Pattern, funding, Tourists facilities 59
Parking area, Category of Heritage, its Importance etc.)
3.2.2. Intangible Heritage 72
3.3 Mapping of the Assets 82
4. Review of Existing Initiatives

4.1 Review of Master Plans 83
4.2 Review of CDP 87
4.3. Review of Existing Policies of Central and State Government applicable to the city 90
4.4. Existing and upcoming Investment possibilities 93
4.5. Projects undertaken by ULB on development of the assets and its surroundings. 95
5. Stakeholder’s Consultation 98
6. Projection & Infrastructure Gap Assessment (city level) 108
6.1. Tourists Projection 109
6.2. Broad Projection & Gap analysis for Tourism Infrastructure 112
6.3. Broad Projection & Gap analysis for Urban Infrastructure 113
HRIDAY- Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana Architectural Heritage, AH Division - INTACH
7. Prioritization of Assets 117
8. Civic and Infrastructure Development

8.1. Introduction to Delineated Heritage Area 128
Zone 1 Ghats on Ganga river front
8.1.1. Assessment of the Heritage Area 131
8.1.2. SWOT Analysis 139
8.1.3 Tourists & Urban Infrastructure projection & Gap analysis 140
8.1.4. Proposed Plan 143
Zone 2 Old city
Zone 3 Durga kund Sankatmochan

Zone 4 Peeli kothi
Zone 5 Assi Nala
Zone 6 Sarnath
9. Creation of Shelf of Projects 220

10. Investment Plan and Source of Funding 229
10.1 Project Costing under HRIDAY 230
11. Implementation Plan and Monitoring Mechanism 234

12. Promotion Program and Marketing Strategies 238
13. Strategies for operation and Maintenance 244
14. City Specific Toolkits Creation 248
15. Acknowledgments 312
Annexure I 316
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Varanasi, as known to all is one of the oldest living city in the world, even regarded as older than
history. Situated along the banks of Ganga, the city represents a unique case of harmony with the
holy river. Manifestation of this is evident in its rich cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible.
Being an important center for all religions, one will not only find temples but also Gurudwaras and
Jain teerth sthals. Some of the early mosques of the country are located here along with Asia's
oldest Garrison Protestant Church. Ghats, palaces, havelis, dharamshalas and archaeological sites
are among the other tangible heritage assets abundantly found in Varanasi.
16 monuments are protected by ASI and 5 by State department of Archaeology. Through its
continuous efforts and toil over the years, INTACH has also listed 1250 heritage sites in Varanasi.
Varanasi being the highest embodiment of Indian culture, religions and spirituality, it is also
brimming with varied intangible heritage assets. The popular gharanas, weaving clusters of the
world famous Banarasi sarees and handicrafts like toy making, is being carried out in nook and
corners of many mohallas. The kunds, talabs and the open spaces form the natural heritage of the
city.
Attributing to its rich heritage, Varanasi has been a part of many schemes. Under the HRIDAY yojana
of Ministry of Urban Development, we are trying to develop 5 heritage areas in priority under a
common course of 6 themes.
The 5 designated cultural heritage zones include the 84 Ghats and the Old City zone, Durga Temple
- Sankatmochan area, Peeli Kothi (the weaver's settlement), Assi Nala and Sarnath.
The city plan under HRIDAY proposes a heritage sensitive development designed under the 6
themes of :
• Connectivity & Accessibility
• Urban Infrastructure
• Urban Streetscape and signage for pedestrianization.
• Heritage Conservation for repairs of ghats, buildings and facade upliftment.
• Open space development encompassing revival of kunds, Assi nala and ghats.
• Lastly, visitor amenities to cater to the large tourist population as Varanasi has the second
highest tourist foot fall right after Taj Mahal, in India.
ISSUES :
Coming to the condition and issues prevailing within the identified zones; the idea is to strike a
balance between the growing need of urban development and heritage conservation, eventually
instilling pride in our culture.
Zone 01 : 84 Ghats & The Old City

This zone being unique and having both high cultural and architectural value, has the potential to
be a World Heritage Site. It encapsulates the largest open cultural space of the city.
Today, it is suffering from many issues primarily of the inaccessibility of the ghats and direct sewage
discharge into the river.
Some of the ghats are in an urgent need of restoration as there is severe siltation and accumulation
of garbage. Lack of regulations is also a major cause of concern as the new development is taking
place in a haphazard manner and not in conformity with the heritage character. Overcrowding of
the ghats and lack of signage aggravates the problem further.
Besides these issues, gaps in urban infrastructure as compared to the guidelines, there is an acute
inadequacy of signage, lighting, toilets and sewage waste disposal management. For instance, there
are only close to about 50 existing dustbins however, 225 dustbins are required as per the norm.
The old city is an important heritage core designed according to the traditional city planning which
is its most significant attribute. However to name a few, high density of built fabric, high vehicular
traffic, lack of parking spaces and encroachments are the major issues it faces.
Through this chart it can be seen that even when there is adequate water supply in 2021, there will
be a looming large gap in 2031. Similar scenario is witnessed in case of solid waste management.
Zone 02 : Durga Kund & Sankatmochan Area

Historically this area exhibits high religious significance and is rich in both natural and built
heritage with three important kunds and three significant temples. Main concern is of subdivision
of open spaces and their accessibility.
Zone 03 : Peeli Kothi

This is the traditional weaver settlement and is historically highly significant as it is the center
of the famous Banarasi sarees. If developed, it can be an added advantage to create marketing
opportunities for the craftsmen community who have been practicing this craft through
centuries.
Sadly, despite the tremendous significance this area holds, it bears the worst infrastructure.
Insufficient storm water drainage and solid waste disposal leads to extreme water logging in the
monsoon months. Lack of designated parking areas causes overcrowding in the streets and chowks.
Zone 04 : Assi Nala

The sacred city derives its name from Assi river, ‘Varuna-Assi’, such is the significance of this river. It
has been polluted beyond recognition today. The nala has the potential to be cleaned and revived
as a river again. Therefore, bringing back the hydrological cycle of which it was once a part of.
Zone 05 : Sarnath
Sarnath is an important Buddhist pilgrim center where Buddha gave his first sermon. Having high
religious, historical and associative significance, it encounters high footfall of global pilgrims and
tourists. Leading to the problems of heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement causing conflict.
Inadequate tourist facilities, lack of public amenities, insufficient parking facility and lack of proper
signage disrupts the visitors’ experience.
PROPOSALS:
Under the HRIDAY scheme, with the objective of instilling pride for our heritage by ensuring
sustainable development in coherence with the conservation, INTACH has proposed infrastructure
and heritage development in harmony with the six themes. The vision is to place Varanasi as the
spiritual capital of the world by preserving its sacred landscape. The primary objective is to adopt
a financially sustainable model that provides and makes available basic infrastructure to enhance
the city’s heritage profile, improving quality of life as well as visitor experience.
Some of the general proposals to be implemented in the city are as follows :
• A ‘Cultural Leher’ is proposed connecting significant landmarks and infrastructure development
of the streets connecting them. In this heritage sites of Varanasi including religious, kunds,
talabs, wells, residences of famous personalities etc will be identified and be upgraded with
visitor facilities. These sites will be connected by specific public transport.
• Development and beautification of major roads and nodes with provision of parking facilities.
• Provision of urban transport like city buses, E-rickshaws, boat taxis and hop on hop off bus
services.
• Provision of tourist information desk/kiosk, adequate signage, guide maps of important streets
and heritage trails.
• Also, devising a mobile application which will provide information about city’s significant
heritage structures, tourist spots and heritage trails.
• Provision of solid waste compost for solid waste management.
Intervening into the zones, the following proposals have been designed as per specific and
immediate requirements.
ZONE 01 : 84 Ghats and The Old City
• Provision of walkways to create accessibility to the ghats and eventually connecting them
together. (e.g Ravidas to Assi ghat - 500 meters and Rajghat to Adhikeshav ghat - 1500 meters)
• Provision of toilets, dustbins and adequate lighting.
• De-siltation and removal of debris.
• For the old city, cobble stone pavement and provision of gateways at the entrance of important
streets leading to Vishwanath temple.
• Also proposed is a colour coding scheme for buildings, to maintain a uniformity along the ghats.
• Development of the road from Godowila chowk to Dashashwamedh ghat.
Zone 02 : Durga Kund and Sankatmocham Area

• Revival of Durga kund (7500 sq.m), Pushkar talab (8000 sq.m) and Kurukshetra pokhra (2500
sq.m).
• Solid waste management through solid waste compost.
Zone 03 : Peeli Kothi

• Development of chowks as display areas and weavers’ center displaying Banarasi sarees.
Coupled with infrastructure enhancement, this will also provide a good platform and an
economically viable opportunity for the weaver community.
• Up-gradation of few weavers’ houses to serve as model houses for the rest.
Zone 04 : Assi Nala

• Revival of the river and improvement of water quality by using bio-remedial plants.
• Landscaping and development of recreational open spaces along the river.
Zone 05 : Sarnath
• It is imperative to develop the road and rail link between Varanasi and Sarnath for ease of
accessibility.
• Creating haats and organized food stalls to enhance visitor experience.
• Revival of Sarangnath kund.
• Proposal of a cycle track from Varanasi to Sarnath.
Development of 50 identified sites

As a part of the Sanskritik Lehar, 50 iconic heritage buildings of Varanasi have been identified
for civic infrastructure and visitor amenities up gradation. The development works at these sites
include works such as improvement of the approach roads, heritage illumination, signage to the
sites, landscaping and parking, toilets and drinking water facilities, solid waste management etc.
Development of 34 identified roads

30 roads located in heritage areas, connecting heritage sites and connecting city landmarks have
been identified for development with works such as laying of base concrete coat with stone blast,
laying K.C drains provision along the roads, laying of brick circular M.H with foot rest and SFRC,
laying connection with existing sewer line, sand fling in trenches with all complete, installation of
street light and signage, underground cabling, laying rubber molded pavers etc. Along with the
development of the road section, beautification of these roads and connecting chaurahas including
all main city chaurahas with art work in walls along the roads, in road surface, sculptures and art
installation.
From these identified shelf of projects, the total stipulated requirement is of 483 crores. Out
of which allocated funds under HRIDAY is 89 crores. Since, HRIDAY is an augmentation scheme,
remaining funds can be endowed by other schemes such as AMRUT, PRASAD, SWACH Bharat,
Ministry of Culture, etc.
We hope that through HRIDAY heritage will become a development engine in Varanasi. Not only
improving the living condition of the city but also imparting a better visitor experience, giving
development a human face.
Collectively working with conviction, we can hope that Varanasi will not only act as the ‘spiritual
capital’ of the world but soon will become a World Heritage City.
1 1.1Purpose of City HRIDAY Plan

The National Heritage City Development
and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) Scheme
was launched on January 21, 2015 with the
aim of bringing together urban planning,
economic growth and heritage conservation
in an inclusive manner with the objective
of restoring, reviving and strengthening the
soul and heritage of the city.
The HRIDAY Scheme focuses on development

of civic infrastructure development
projects around heritage sites, leading to
revitalization of the City as a heritage and
cultural destination. The Scheme differs from
past Schemes as it aims at keeping heritage
at the center of urban development.
With a duration of 27 months and a total outlay of Rs. 500 Crores, the Scheme is set to be
implemented in the following 12 identified Cities viz. Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwaraka,
Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal.
The main purpose of the City HRIDAY Plan is to create a sustainable Civic Infrastructure Development
Plan for areas around tangible heritage assets (identified / approved by the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India and State Governments) by identifying gaps through infrastructure need
assessment for physical infrastructure (water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management,
approach roads, footpaths, street lights, tourist conveniences, electricity wiring, landscaping etc.)
as per locally applicable standards/norms/bye-laws.
The following document presents the city HRIDAY Plan for Varanasi. Varanasi which is one of the
oldest surviving living cultural heritage city . The document is prepared focusing the heritage
components of the city and proposing heritage sensitive designs.
The earmarked amount to the Varanasi is 89.31 Cr , under the HRIDAY Scheme.
Eve Of The Eclipse Of The Moon 25th November 1825 by James Prinsep
1.2 Vision of the City
The vision for the city is to develop the city in a holistic manner by looking at all the aspects
of development - Connectivity and Accessibility, Urban infrastructure, Urban street scape and
Signage, Heritage Conservation, Open space development and Visitor amenities.
Varanasi being a heritage city and one of the earliest inhabited cities in the world has foreseen
numerous changes in its morphology. While it witnesses the colors of a religious heritage town, it
also caters to almost 12 lakh of its population which is increasing at a very fast rate. Hence all the
aspects of development of a modern developing city have been taken into consideration.
For connectivity and accessibility securing linkages between asset creation and the city such as
proposal for bypass road and cultural corridor of Sanskritik Lehar ,Sarnath road, development of
Panchkroshi Yatra route and development of 14 heritage significant roads, Development of arrival
points in Varanasi and connecting roads to the city with the essence and experience of heritage,
Development of Urban Transport like City Buses, E-Rickshaws, Boat Taxis have been proposed.
For Urban infrastructure development of PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE with heritage sensitive
design such as street paving and pedestrianization, landscaping, signage , street lights, parking,
community toilets and drinking water, changing rooms have been proposed. The proposals for
Urban Street scape and signage include Pedestrianization of Godowlia – Dasashwamedh road,
Rishpattan road in Sarnath. Repair of ghats, Facade upliftment of heritage structures, Revival of
kunds have been proposed for Heritage Conservation. Development of Assi Nala, Ghats, Kunds,
Sanskrutik lehar have been given for the upliftment of Open spaces. The development of visitor
amenities include provision of ublic toilets and drinking water ,Cycling tracks, Haat development
-Food and shopping and Information and awareness tool kit such as information desks, maps,
fliers, etc .
1.3 shelf of projects identified for the city and source of funding
Total cost envisioned for the city Varanasi is 396.83 cr. out of which 80 cr. is sanctioned under
HRIDAY . Following are the identified projects executed under HRIDAY.
Cost/Uni COST (in

S No ZONE 01:GHATS t Units Crores) FUNDING
1500
4.50
1Connecting ghats 3000 0 NMCG
2De siltation and removal of debris 1700 7000 1.19 NMCG
3Diversion of sewers from Ganga 9000000 2 1.80 NMCG
4Toilets New 1000000 5 0.50 NMCG
5Toilets to be upgraded 1000000 25 2.50 NMCG
6Drinking water stations 200000 35 0.70 NMCG
7Changing rooms 200000 40 0.80 NMCG
8Illumination on ghats 1200000 84 10.08 NMCG
9Landscape development 1800 300 0.05 NMCG
10Information signage 100000 84 0.84 NMCG
11Information kiosk 800000 7 0.56 NMCG
12Cafes , Performance centre, pavillions 15000 1500 2.25 NMCG
13Repair of Steps 50000 300 1.50 NMCG
Façade Improvements and Restoration of HRIDAY
2.00
14 Important Landmarks 2500000 8
15Provision of dustbins 6000 175 0.11 NMCG
16Solid Waste Management through Bioneers 2000000 8 1.60 NMCG
Development of Riverfront Stretch between Assi 4000 6.00
17 and Ravidas Ghat 1500 0 NMCG
Total 36.98 2.00
Cost/Uni COST (in

S No ZONE 02: OLD CITY AREA t Units Crores) FUNDING
Development of pedestrianisation in the heritage
precinct of old city of Varanasi from Godowlia
1
Chowk to Dashashwamedh Ghat, façade * 2.04 HRIDAY
improvement, and solid waste management
Development of Town Hall as heritage center for
visitors and pilgrims including Cleaning, repair,
3
upgradation of the main building, site * 2.58 HRIDAY
development,landscaping, surface parking
4 Signage and paving of streets leading to ghats 100000 200 12.00 M oUD
5 Information kiosk 800000 8 0.64 TOURISM
6 Street lighting 33000 600 1.98 Power Corp
7 Toilets 2000000 20 4.00 SWACH
8 Drinking water stations 700000 20 1.40 SWACH
9 Provision of dustbins 6000 600 0.36 SWACH
Total 25.00 4.62
ZONE 03: DURGA KUND and Cost/Uni COST (in

S No SANKATMOCHAN t Units Crores) FUNDING
1 Revival of Durga Kund 2500 7500 1.88 CSR
2 Revival of Pushkar Talab 2500 8000 2.00 CSR
3 Revival of Kurukshetra pokhra 2500 3000 0.75 HRIDAY
4 Development of Pokhra complex * 1.06 HRIDAY
Road development from Durga Kund to Assi
5
Ghat * 1.57
HRIDAY
6 Paving 2500 2000 0.50 TOURISM
7 Signage 100000 9 0.09 TOURISM
8 Temporary kiosks for food and craft stalls 200000 10 0.20 RURAL DEV
9 Information kiosk 800000 3 0.24 TOURISM
10 Street lighting 33000 58 0.19 Power Corp
11 Toilets 2000000 12 2.40 CSR
12 Drinking water 700000 12 0.84 CSR
13 Provision of dustbins 6000 55 0.03 SWACH
Total 11.75 3.38
Cost/Uni COST (in

S No ZONE 04: PEELI KOTHI t Units Crores) FUNDING
1Paving and improvement of community roads 2500 5500 1.38 M O TEX
2Street lighting 33000 25 0.08 Power Corp
3Toilets 2000000 9 1.80 SWACH
4Drinking water 700000 9 0.63 SWACH
5Centre for displaying sarees 15000 1000 1.50 M O TEX
6Upgradation of Weavers' Houses 2500000 20 5.00 M O TEX
7Signage 100000 6 0.06 M O TEX
8Information kiosk 800000 2 0.16 M O TEX
9Provision of dustbins 6000 25 0.02 M O TEX
Total 10.62
Cost/Uni COST (in

S No ZONE 05: ASSI NALA t Units Crores) FUNDING
9000
1Cleaning of Assi Nala/River 1700 0 15.3 NMCG
3Paving 2500 6000 1.50 NMCG
4Signage 100000 50 0.50 NMCG
5Information kiosk 800000 20 1.60 NMCG
6Street lighting 33000 33 0.11 Power Corp
7Toilets 2000000 10 2.00 NMCG
8Drinking water 700000 10 0.70 NMCG
11Provision of dustbins 6000 150 0.09 NMCG
12Landscaping and Plantation 100000 50 0.50 NMCG
Total 22.30
COST (in
S No ZONE 06: SARNATH Cost/Unit Units Crores) FUNDING
1Paving 2500 1500 0.38 TOURISM
2Cycle track 12000 10500 12.60 TOURISM
Development of road link between Varanasi and 2.20
3 Sarnath 2750000 8 TOURISM
4Parking area 12000 9000 10.80 TOURISM
5Creating haat with foodstalls 7500 2000 1.50 TOURISM
6Revival and development of Sarnath talab 1400 70000 9.80 TOURISM
7Revival and development of Sarangnath Kund 1400 4500 0.63 TOURISM
8Craft center 7500 3300 2.48 TOURISM
9Street lighting 33000 95 0.31 TOURISM
10Benches 20000 50 0.10 TOURISM
11Signage 100000 18 0.18 TOURISM
12Upgradation of toilets, drinking water stations 750000 4 0.30 TOURISM
13New toilets, drinking water stations 2700000 15 4.05 TOURISM
14Provision of dustbins 6000 103 0.06 TOURISM
15Information kiosk 800000 3 0.24 TOURISM
16Interpretation centre 15000 450 0.68 TOURISM
17Nature trail- Deer Park 3500 2100 0.74 TOURISM
18Development of Railway Station 2500000 4 1.00 TOURISM
Total 48.04
Grand Total 154.69 10.00

* DETAIL IN HRIDAY PROJECTS (Ch: 10)
SUMMARY OF COST
Total (in HRIDAY

Crores) FUNDING
Zone 1: Ghats 36.98

Zone 2: Old City 25.00
Zone 3: Durga Kund & SankatMochan 11.75
Zone 4: Peeli Kothi 10.62
Zone 5: Assi Nala 22.30
Zone 6: Sarnath 48.04
Sub Total: Zone lev el 154.69 10.00
City lev el
Total (in
S No Project Cost/Unit Units Crores) FUNDING
1 Sanskrutik Lehar
M O CULT
A) Upgradation and infrastructure development of 09 cultural centers and sites
38.42
a) Light and Sound Show at Ravi Das Park* 15.3
3
b) Reuse of Jagannath temple as Craft center* 3.09
c) Reuse and development of Gurudham Temple
1.50
d) Development of Music school and performance center at Rewa Kothi

1.00
e) Upgradation and Development of Ganga Museum at Manmandir
2.00
f) Interpretation Center at Balaji Ghat 3.50
g) Reuse of Town hall for Museum and Ramleela performance center
8.00
h) Heritage lighting and development of Kabir Chourah
1.00
i) Upgradation of Sanaskrutik Sankul 3.00
B) Development of tourist infrastructure in 100+ heritage sites * 30.00 HRIDAY
Boat taxi
2 14 lakhs/unit 7 0.98 IW W
Boat Taxi's Arrival Points Development
3 14 lakhs/unit 7 0.98 IW W
5 City Signages at arrival points
100000/unit 500 5.00 TOURISM
Undepasses and Foot over Bridges
6 2 lakh/sqm 1200 24.00 M oUD
Panchkroshi Yatra route development
7 27.5 lakhs/km 80 22.00 TOURISM
8 Water Supply network 50lakhs/km 36 18.00 SWACH
9 Underground Sewerage Network 90lakhs/km 36 32.40 SWACH
10 Storm water drains 53lakhs/km 36 19.08 SWACH
Solid waste management including bins, door to door collection, disposal and Derived from
11 strengthening of network CDP 2.50 SWACH
12 Development of 34 heritage roads 40.00 HRIDAY
City lev el Total 233.36 70.00
Zone lev el Total 154.69
(Zone Lev el + City Lev el) Total 388.05
Marketing and Awareness Costs 1% 3.88
O&m Costs 1% 3.88
Grand Total 395.81 80.00
* DETAIL IN HRIDAY PROJECTS (Ch: 10)
1.4 Sanctioned projects for zones
Total (in
S No Projects Crores)
Zone 1: Ghats
1.1 POWER INFRASTRUCTURE
Not available
Retrofitting of LED system at all the ghats by EESL (NA)
1.2 PRASAD
a) Development of Markandey Mahadev Ghat and temple 15
b) Panchkoshi Parikrama- Renovation of Dharamsala, toilet, solar lights
etc 6
c) Light and sound show at Assi Ghat 7
1.3 NAMAMI GANGA
a) STP at Dinapur , Ramana and Goithuva NA
b) Solid waste management on the banks of the river Ganga NA
c) Riverfront development NA
1.4 INLAND WATERWAYS
a) Development of transportation in the river Ganga NA
b) Haldia- Varanasi around 1400 kms
1.5 CSR
BHEL - Installation of 16 Bio Toilets and changing rooms at different ghats NA
Total figures as available for Ghat (Zone 1): 28.0 Cr 28
Zone 2: Old City

a)City Development of Old Varanasi 432
b)Smart grid project for Old Varanasi 55
2.2 PRASAD
etc 6
Total figures as available for Old city (Zone 2): 493.0 Cr 493
Zone 3: Durga Kund Sankat Mochan
City Development of other areas of the city 140
3.2 CSR
ONGC- 5 water ATMS and restoration of 4 kunds NA
Total figures as available for Durga Kund (Zone 3): 140.0 Cr 140
Zone 4: Peeli Kothi

4.1 MINISTRY OF TEXTILES, GOVT OF INDIA
a) Textile Projects in 8 cluster including Peeli Kothi NA
b) Textile Park NA
Total figures as available for Peeli Kothi (Zone 4): Not available
5 Zone 5- Assi Nala NA

3.2 CSR
Total (in
Zone
Zone 4: 1: Ghats
Peeli Kothi
4.1 POWER
1.1 INFRASTRUCTURE
MINISTRY OF TEXTILES, GOVT OF INDIA
a) Textile Projects in 8 cluster including Peeli Kothi Not available
NA
Retrofitting
b) Textile Park of LED system at all the ghats by EESL (NA)
NA
1.2 PRASAD
5 b) Panchkoshi
Zone 5- Assi Nala Parikrama- Renovation of Dharamsala, toilet, solar lights NA
etc 6
Zone 6- Sarnath
6.1 c) Light and sound show at Assi Ghat
SWADESH 7
1.3 NAMAMI GANGA Not available
a) Restoration and Development
STP at Dinapur of Sarangnath
, Ramana and Goithuva Kund (NA)
NA
b) Buddha Theme park
b) Solid waste management on the banks of the river Ganga 15
NA
6.2 TOURISM
a) Light and sound show at Sarnath UP tourism funded by MOT, GOI NA
b) Illumination of selected monuments ITDC funded by MOT, GOI NA
Total figures as available for Sarnath (Zone 6): 15 Crores
CSR Projects in the city
1.5 Other
BHEL - Installation
ROADWAYS of 16 Bio Toilets and changing rooms at different ghats
and HIGHWAYS NA
a)Ring Road as available for Ghat (Zone 1): 28.0 Cr
Total figures 1676
28
b) Varanasi Gorakhpur NH29 3400
c) Varanasi Sultanpur NH56 1853
Zone 2: Old City
d) Varanasi Aurangabad NH2 2848
POWER
2.1 e) VaranasiINFRASTRUCTURE
Handia NH2 NA
a)City Development
f)Varanasi of Old
Babatpur Airport Varanasi
NH56 432
629.74
g) Ghagra Bridge NH233
55
CSR
2.2 PRASAD
a) PFC- 200 e rickshaws along with charging stations
b) HPCL- 4 toilet blocks
etc 6
c) IOC - 6 toilet blocks and installation of solid waste management system for 200
Total figures as available for Old city (Zone 2): 493.0 Cr
tons 493
NA
d) AAI- Funding of equipments for solid waste management.
f) Reckit- 3 toilet blocks with new technologies executed through Seeds
g)RITES- 3 toilet blocks
PRSAD
a) Lahartara Talab restoration 2.5
b) Development of Gurudham Temple 2.5
2 a. Introduction of the city

2.1 Introduction
Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras
is one of the renowned pilgrim Centre for
Hindus for ages. Varanasi is amongst the
oldest living city in the world . Mark Twain,
an American author who visited Varanasi
mentioned “Banaras is older than history,
older than tradition, older even than legend
and looks twice as old as all of them put
together”.
Varanasi’s “Old City,” the quarter near

the banks of Ganga, has crowded narrow
winding lanes that are flanked by road-
side shops and scores of Hindu temples.
Varanasi’s labyrinthine Old City is rich with
culture, and can deservedly be called the
heritage city , it is also a popular destination
for travelers and tourists. Varanasi has 84
ghats along the river Ganga.
Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control. Marathas, Shindes
(Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwas stand out as patrons of present-day Varanasi. Varanasi
has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of
spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-
famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas.
Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh,
along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganga River. The Varanasi City is the district headquarters
of the Varanasi District and the major part of the urban area, delimited by the Census as ‘Varanasi
Urban Agglomeration’ (82º 56’E to 83º 03’E and 25º 14’N to 25º 23.5’N, covering an area of 112.26
sq. km).
uttarpradesh
R.Ganga
varanasi
Figure 1: Location of Varanasi
It is deemed one of the oldest and continually inhabited cities in the world, occupied at least
since 1200 B.C. and considered in the same league as Beirut, Jerusalem, Athens and Rome. This
can be verified through the available archaeological evidence as well as repeated references in
many ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Rig Veda, the Padma Purana, the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata.
Varanasi is also an important spiritual center for many religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
and Sikhism. It is most famously associated with Lord Shiva and is known as the holiest of holy
Hindu cities, an expression of all symbolisms associated with the religion and the spot for achieving
eternal salvation. Therefore, the Eternal City of Varanasi is one of the highest embodiments of
Indian culture, religion and spirituality.
Figure 2: Buddhist archaeological remains dating from 3rd century BCE to 11th century CE at Sarnath near Varanasi
2.2 History
1. Ancient Period
The city of Varanasi is archaeologically proven to have been continuously inhabited by humans
since ca 800 B.C.. The leading prophet of Jainism, Parshvanatha, was born in Varanasi in the 8th
century B.C.. Later, Mahavira (599-527 B.C.), the last in the line of Jain prophets also made his
imprint on the cultural arena of the city.
The ancient city of Varanasi was spread between the Varuna and the Gomati, the latter meeting
the Ganga ca 20km north. The Indian epic Mahabharata has a passing reference to the city, but the
Jataka tales of Buddhism, written after the Mahabharata, record vivid descriptions of the city.
Figure 3: Uttarapath, historic route passing through Varanasi
Figure 4: Excavations at Rajghat- existence of an ancient settlement
This is further supported by the literary description given in the Shatapatha Brahamana, dated
ca 8th century BCE, which mentions the rich pastoral life and habitation in the northern part, the
Rajghat area, of the city. Because of frequent use of clay and mud for building, human habitations
were least resistant to the flooding of the river and as such physical and material evidence of earlier
occupation appears to have vanished. Such evidence was unearthed at Kamauli village, lying 4km
northeast from Rajghat across the Varana River. Here microlithic tools associated with a kind of Red
Ware, datable to the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE were obtained underneath the sterile deposits of
about 4m, just below the Sunga levels (200 BCE to the beginning of Christian ear).
By the 4th century BCE, the Mauryan dynasty was ruling the city of Kashi, Ashoka (272-242 BCE),
the great Mauryan king, had declared Buddhism a state religion and visited Sarnath. Under his
patronage, a Buddhist township developed here with many monasteries, stupas and shrines. After
the sownfall of Mauryas, the prosperity of the city too fell into darkness until the rule of Kushana
in the 1st century CE. A number of clay seals discovered at the Rajghat mounds testify to the
prosperity of the township. The archaeological laonet of the houses, lanes and drainage channels
shows a developed pattern of planning, as is visible even today in the old centre of the city. The
city of Varanasi was rich in art, from the Kushana to the beginning of Gupta period, as exemplified
by the images of Bodhisattvas, Yakshas, and Nagas. The Gupta period (ca 320-550CE) was a period
of great religious vitality and transformations. It is known as India’s Golden Age. The clay seals
from this period give evidence of business, educational institutions and the importance of forests.
Architectural fragments of this period are scattered in and around the city.
Varanasi finally was established and recognized as a great sacred place. During the first half of the
7th century the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Hsüan-tsang arrived in the city and described it as thickly
populated, prospering and an important seat of learning. He mentions twenty important temples,
and one of the Shiva lingas was about 30m high covered with copper plate. This in fact, was the
Mauryan pillar, the fragment of which, called the Lat Bhairava, is presently only 1.5m tall. He also
described the city as conglomerate of congested houses separated by narrow lanes, garden and
groves, and water pools with lotus flowers. The arrival and preaching of Adi Sankaracharya in 8th
century mark the revival of the Brahmanical thought, which finally uprooted Buddhism from this
soil.
2. Medieval Period
In the early medieval period, Varanasi had been passed from one ruler to another—from Maukharis
of Kannauj to Gurjara Pratiharas (9th century). Finally in the early 11th century it went under
Gangeyadeva, king of Kannauj. The greatest of the Gahadavalas, Govindachandra (1114- 1154) is
described by historians of the period as the greatest king and praised as an incarnation of Vishnu,
who was commissioned to protect Vishnu’s favorite adobe, the city of Hindu religion. Queen Kumar
Devi, wife of Govindachandra, who came from Vajrayani Buddhist family. She restored several
buildings at Sarnath and built a new vihara (monastery) there. His chief minister, Lakshmidhara is
remembered as a great compiler of the most reputable and the most extensive digest of literature
on dharma, composed in 14 volumes, known as the Krityakalpataru, “The Magical Wishing Tree of
Rituals”. In one of its volumes, he narrates the scriptural references to over 350 shrines in Kashi
and described his theory of Hindu tirtha, covering both sides of interiorization (archetype and body
symbolism) and exteriorization (spatial affinity and orientation).
Jayachandra, the grandson of Govindachandra, was a rival against Chahamans king Prithaviraja.
Taking advantage of their internal conflict, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, slave-general of Muhammad Ghori,
defeated Jayachandra in 1194 and beheaded him. His army sacked and looted the city, destroying
nearly one thousand temples in Varanasi City alone and raised mosques on their foundation using
the debris of the temples. The glorious century of the Govindachandra ended in catastrophe. The
second invasion by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1197-98 that records the defeat of King Harishachandra,
son of Jayachandra, marks the end of the glorious of the Gahadavalas.
3. Late Medieval Period

In 1206, Aibak became the emperor at Delhi and reigned till 1210. The Delhi Sultanate was thus
established. During Muhammad Ghori’s attack, temples were destroyed again in 1300s under Firoz
Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388). In the 1400s, the city came under the rule of Sharqi kings of Jaunpur,
and temples were again destroyed, and their blocks hauled away for the construction of a mosque
in Jaunpur. During the moments of calm, the Hindus rebuilt temples and lingas but they were
again destroyed by the next wave of invaders. After the passage of time, the city came under the
rule of Lodis (1451-1526), who seized power from the Sharqis, and again a major part of the city
got destroyed by Sikander Lodi. A great sigh of relief was surely heaved in the late 16th century
when Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) granted more religious freedom. The Rajputs Man Singh
and Todarmal, the two senior ministers in the court of Akbar, participated actively in repairing,
rebuilding and in new construction of temples and Varanasi ghats during this part of the Mughal
period.
During 11th to 17th centuries Muslim invaders destroyed the city at least four times. However, it
survived and was repeatedly revived; the sites and holy spots were re-searched, the monuments
were repaired and re-built. Traditions survived in spite of several ‘superimpositions’, or attempts to
submerge it. The Kashi Khanda says “The Ganga River, Lord Shiva, and the divine city of Kashi, make
the Trinity of grace and perfect bliss”. The Trinity is symbolized by the three hillocks as the three
forks of Shiva’s trident on which the city exists, viz. Omkareshvara in the north, Vishveshvara in the
central part, and Kedareshvara in the south.
With the passing of time, during the reign of Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan (1628-1657), the imperial
policy changed again. By his order, about 76 temples under construction were destroyed. By the
order of his successor, Aurangzeb (1658-1707), in 1669-1673, once again around thousand temples
including the city’s greatest temples like Vishveshvara, Krittivasa, and Vindu Madhava, were razed
and their sites were forever sealed from Hindu access by the construction of mosques. In 1665 the
French Traveler Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a dealer in jewels, paid a visit to Varanasi and described the
grand temple of Vindu Madhava at the river sider, which he called a “great pagoda”. His account is
notable because the temple was demolished in 1673 by the armies of Aurangzeb.
Despite its reputation as stronghold of Hindu orthodoxy and conservatism, Varanasi participated in
the vibrant devotional resurgence during 14th to early 17th centuries. Among the active poets and
reformers the most notable were Ballabha, Ramananda, Kabir, Raidas, Tulsidas, Chaitanya and Guru
Nanak. Kabir, indeed, was one of the greatest in all of Indian literature, whose colloquial songs are
still sung today. Tulsidas retold the epic story of the Ramayana in vernacular Hindi, naming it the
Ramacharitamanasa and it remains today the single most popular classic, the Bible of the Hindi-
speaking people.
4. British Period
It was from the 17th century that larger colonies of Maharashtrian Brahmans began to settle
here, and with them cam Vedic learning . After 1680 the Marathas replaced the Rajputs as major
donors to the three holy places, Varanasi, Allahabad and Gaya. A fresh wave of cultural renaissance
overtook in Varanasi during the 18th century under the influence of the Marathas (1734-1785)
who substantially rebuilt the city. The city, which had sheltered the rebel Maratha hero, Shivaji,
in his challenge to Mughal power, now became the recipient of the gratitude, wealth, skill and
energy of the Marathas. Writes a noted historian Altekar (1947), “Modern Varanasi is largely a
creation of the Marathas”. Bajirao Peshva I (1720- 40) has patronized construction of Manikarnika
and Dashashvamedha Ghats and nearby residential quarters. A number of ghats, water pools and
noted temples of Vishvanatha, Trilochana, Annapurna, Sakshi Vinayaka and Kala Bhairava were
rebuilt under Maratha patronage. Rani Ahilyabai of Indore built the present Vishwanatha temple
in 1775-1776. As one after another ghat were added, the temples rose, the city regained its gaiety,
and its educational system was revitalized.
With the decline of the government in Delhi in the early 18th century, Varanasi first came under
the rule of the Nawabs of Oudh in 1722, and later became the seat of Mansaram (1730- 1738),
the founder of the present state of Baranas Raj in 1738. His successor Balwant Singh (1738-1770)
gained the power cleverly from the Nawab in 1739 and established an independent state, which
for about forty years remained the center of attention and source of trouble for the rising East
India Company. In 1763 he built a fort on the other side of the Ganga River at Ramnagar. The
tension between the two powers reached its acme in 1781, when Chet Singh (1770-1781), son of
Balwant Singh, usurped the throne and put Lord Warren Hastings in serious trouble. However in
1775 Varanasi was ceded to the East India Company by the Nawab of Oudh, Asaf-ud-daula, and
finally in 1794 Varanasi came under British administration with a limited jurisdiction known as ‘the
Banaras State’.
The face of the sacred city also changed considerably under the British rule. The urban area of the
city continued to develop along the river southward and westward. Masonry bridges were built on
the Ganga and the Varuna River, many ponds like Benia, Maidagin and Macchodari and Godowlia
Nala (rivulet) were drained and replaced by parks or streets, while many houses were demolished
to widen the roads in the center of the city. Broad roads were cut through the city where formerly
there had been narrow lanes. The Dasashwamedh- Luxa Road was built running west from the
river toward the Cantonment train station (now called Varanasi Junction). The north- south artery
called Chowk was cleared through the business district. Slowly the city gained its present shape.
James Prinsep (1799-1840), who was the British Assay Master of the Mint in Varanasi from 1819 to
1830, published the first reliable census of the city, and also made the first and the most authentic
map of the city in 1822. Moreover, on the map he has also given the latitudes and longitudes of 90
important temple and plotted over the map the Vishvanash Antargriha yatra route and the temples
and shrines along.
British rule brought a major change in the ancient pandit -student pattern of learning that had
predominated in Varanasi for 2,500 years. By the approval of the British Governor- General Warren
Hastings in 1791, Jonathan Duncan, a British resident in Varanasi, founded a Sanskrit College, and
in 1853 the present buildings of the college were built in Gothic style. The oldest local educational
initiative goes back to Jay Narayan Ghosal, a rich landlord from Bengal, who with the British support
founded a school in 1814. On similar lines in 1898 Annie Besant, the founder of Theosophical Society
in India started a Central Hindu College, a campus which proved to be the nucleus of a growing
university. In 1916, the Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, laid the foundation stone of what would
become one of the largest and most beautiful universities in Asia, the Banaras Hindu University.
Another aspect of the British period was expansion of the activities of Christian missionaries. In
1816, the Baptist Society became the first Christian body to introduce a mission in the holy city.
The Church Missionary Society of the Church of England had started to work in Varanasi beginning
in 1817 and opened one church at Sigra and another in the center of the city at Godowlia crossing.
The London Missionary Society was located in the British Cantonment beginning in 1820. Later in
the century, the Wesleyan Missionary Society launched its Varanasi mission, and the Zanana Bible
and Medical Mission started a hospital for women.
5. Post Independence
Since 1947 no substantive change in the urban fabric and city morphology is recorded. On 15th
October 1949 the district of Varanasi assumed its present form and area by the merger of the
erstwhile Varanasi State, and the city of Varanasi became the district headquarters.
In 1948, the Banaras Improvement Trust was constituted for making ‘Master Plan of Varanasi’, and
in 1951 the first such plans were prepared. Not a single one of these plans was implemented; all
of them were delayed and recommendations were made for further revision. The latest plan was
submitted on 26th February 1996, when for the first time the concept of heritage planning and
preservation of heritage zones was proposed. This plan was approved and accepted by the State
Government in July 2001. In this plan five cultural zones have been identified with the purpose of
a special handling of these zones.
In 1960s and 1970s, the Sarnath Institute of Tibetan Studies, and many Buddhist monasteries like
the Chinese, Thai and Japanese were established. In 1990s many star hotels, mostly in the Mall
area, were constructed to respond to the increasing influx of foreign tourists. Diesel Locomotive
Works (DLW) was set up in 1961 with technical collaboration from USA; this is the only heavy
industry unit in the district. In 1992 a new Hindu Observatory was opened in the compound of
Sanskrit University. The five institutions, viz. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Mahatma Gandhi
Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, the Parshvanatha Jain Institute,
and Jamia Salfia Darul- Islamia have been given the official status of Deemed University by the
University Grants Commission.
Man Mandir
2.3 Regional Setting

Varanasi is well connected by road, rail and air with other parts of the country. The distance from
the major cities are Delhi-750 km, Lucknow-286 km and 125 km from Allahabad. There are three
national highways i.e. NH-2, NH-56 and NH-29 and four state highways i.e. SH-87, SH-73, SH-74 and
SH-98 passing through the heart of the city. These National Highways and state highways have high
passenger traffic as these roads provide a good connectivity to the surrounding areas in the Uttar
Pradesh state as well as to metropolitan cities like Delhi and Kolkata. The Grand trunk road or NH2
forms the main transportation spine of the city. Varanasi is well connected by railways with broad
gauge. The town also has an airport at a distance of about 24 km away from the city. There are flights
to Varanasi from Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Delhi, Gorakhpur, Khajuraho, Lucknow, Raipur and
Kathmandu (Nepal). It is on a regular aviation route of Delhi to Kolkata and Bhuvaneshwar. It is also
the aviation gateway to Nepal.
Road Connectivity- Varanasi
2.4 Physiography and Climate

A ridge runs almost 200m to 400m away from the western bank of Ganga and the area between
the river and the ridge slopes towards the river Ganga. With vast expanse of gently undulating
plain, most of the area beyond the ridge slopes towards the river Assi in the South and towards
Varuna River in the North. The general ground level varies from RL 71.0m to 80m. Geologically
it is situated in the fertile alluvial Gangetic plains and is under laid with sediments deposited in
successive stages comprising of layers of clay, fine sand, clay mixed with kankar and stone bajari.
The Ganga River, considered the most holy river for the Hindu people, is especially sacred in
Varanasi where its course towards the Bay of Bengal suddenly turns to north. From its source in
the Himalaya to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal, covering a course of about 2525km, only in Varanasi
does the Ganga river flow in a crescent shape meander from south to north (length 6.5km). This
peculiar shape is the result of fluvial process through which the coarser sediments get deposited
on its western bank between Raj Ghat in the north and Samne Ghat in the south.
The portion between these two points a hillock-like geologic feature, called natural levee, consists
of nearly 60m bed of clay with coarse-grained sand, limestone concretion (kankar) and gravel.
Another similar ridge like formation exits other side at Ramnagar. This peculiar geological formation
changes the flow of the Ganga in a half-circular shape. This sharp-bend meander of the Ganga is
thus a unique
Landforms of Varanasi
geological formation observed only in Varanasi throughout the course of the river.
According to the earlier physiological features of the old city of Banaras, the ponds, pokhras, kunds,
small and large water bodies were the components of the water system of the city. These water
bodies were the back-flow networks from the main river course during the flood. Macchodari,
Benia, Maidagin, Gomti nallah, Misir pokhra and Hingua were the large water bodies to the city
which in the course of time were either converted to open spaces or were graded for the urban
expansion. River Ganga was supposed to be the feeder to all this water system and during the flood
the water used to flow back to the River Varuna and River Assi thus maintaining the ecological
balance of the city.
ponds of Varanasi 1822 ponds of Varanasi 1931
Varanasi experiences a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and
winter temperatures. The dry summer starts in April and lasts until June, followed by the monsoon
season from July to October. The temperature ranges between 22 and 46 °C in the summers.
Winters in Varanasi see very large diurnal variations, with warm days and downright cold nights.
Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from
December to February and temperatures below 5 °C are not uncommon. General wind direction is
westerly and south-westerly. The average annual rainfall is 1,110 mm (44 in) with large proportion
of its occurring during the months of July to September. Fog is common in the winters, while
hot dry winds, called ‘loo’, blow in the summers. In recent years, the water level of the Ganges
has decreased significantly; upstream dams, unregulated water extraction, and dwindling glacial
sources due to global warming may be to blame.
TABLE 1: CLIMATE DATA, 2013
FIGURE 1: TEMPERATURE VARIATION, 2013
2.5 Forest and Bio Diversity

Over the decades, the forest cover has increased in Uttar Pradesh from 10.9% in 1950-51 to 17.5%
in 2001. As per the Uttar Pradesh ENVIS Centre under the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India, the total forest cover (assessed through satellite imagery) across Uttar
Pradesh is 13,746 km2 and across Varanasi district 12 km2. However, Varanasi city does not have
dense forest cover.
VARANASI
FOREST MAP OF UTTAR PRADESH
2.6 Demography
Varanasi district
Varanasi district is an important tourist, heritage, commercial and institutional Centre in the
state. It is the eighteenth-largest district in the state in terms of population and holds the sixth
position in terms of urban population in the state. As per Census 2011, the Varanasi district had a
population of 36.76 lakhs, which accounts for 1.84% of the total state population. The population
of the district has increased from 31.38 lakhs in 2001 to 36.76 lakhs in 2011, registering a decadal
growth of 17.15%. The share of urban population is about 43%, which is higher than the state
average of 22%.
There are 39 urban centers in the district. Out of the 39 urban centers, three urban centers
account for 80% of the total district urban population. Varanasi city accounts for 75% of the total
district urban population followed by Ramnagar with 3%. Further, Lohta accounts for 2% of the
district urban population. Overall, it indicates that Varanasi city holds predominant presence in
the district.
Varanasi City
Varanasi is one of the largest urban centers and fast-growing cities in the state. According to
Census 2011, the city had a population of 11.98 lakhs. VMC population accounted for 2% of the
total state’’s population and 33% of the Varanasi district population. VMC’’s population accounts
for 3.6% of the urban population of the state and 75% of the urban population of the district.
The comparison of Varanasi city’’s population to the total population and urban population in
the state and district is presented in the table.
TABLE 2: COMPARATIVE POPULATION OF VARANASI CITY
Population Growth Trend

The population of Varanasi city grew from 10.9 lakhs in 2001 to 11.9 lakhs in 2011 at a growth rate
of 10%. The decadal population growth of Varanasi city during 2001-11 was below the national
average of 17% and the state average of 20%. The population growth has gradually dropped down
from 20% in 1991 to 10% in 2011.
TABLE 3: POPULATION TREND FOR VARANASI CITY
Decade wise population and population growth has been plotted and shown in the figure below.
The population growth in the decade 2001-11 was the lowest since 1981. As the population
density within the city is high and the city limits have remained the same, rapid development
was witnessed in the peripheral areas outside the city. Hence, the peripheral areas were rapidly
growing and witnessed good growth in terms of residential development. However, the peripheral
areas were outside VMC’s jurisdiction.
2.7 Tourist Footfall

In tourism Varanasi is the 2nd most visited tourist city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Total Inflow
of Tourists in the year 2013 is 52,51,413; in which domestic tourists inflow is 95% of the total.
Month-wise statistics of tourist shows that the peak season for tourist inflow is between October to
March, as all the important fairs and festivals occur within these months. ‘Education and research’
is the first priority by International Tourists, and ‘pilgrimage/spiritual tour’ is the main reason that
attracts maximum percentage of domestic tourists. The tourist inflow has had an annual growth of
6.3% per year and their average stay is two days and one night, i.e. around 28,000 beds are needed
per day to accommodate the inflow of tourists. But the total number of beds within the city is
13340, which is insufficient for the tourists.
TABLE 4: ANNUAL TOURIST FLOW IN VARANASI DURING 2002- 2005

ANNUAL TOURIST FLOW
ANNUAL TOURIST FLOW THROUGH 2002-2005
2.8 Economy
The economy of the city is based on various sectors like tourism; export of famous Banarasi saari,
musical instruments and also on the education sector, with world famous universities present
in the city. The overall economy of the region is dominated by tourism, with tourist coming not
only from all parts of India but also from different countries. The huge dependence on informal
sector for the industrial development has led to an overall stagnation of the secondary sector. The
preponderance of the informal economy makes Varanasi distinct. However, Varanasi’s informal
economy has not developed in relation to or as an adjunct to large industrial centers, making
complimentary between formal and informal sectors hazy. Cottage industries along with Small-
scale industries form an important base for the economy of the city.
Workforce Participation
The composition of the work force conveys a picture of quality of life people maintain and their
social and economic activities. Around 11% (10.69%) of the total population is engaged across
different manufacturing activities whereas the tertiary sector accounts for 6.80% of the total
employment.
TABLE 7: EMPLOYMENT PROFILE OF VARANASI CITY
FIGURE 1: EMPLOYMENT PROFILE OF VARANASI CITY
2.9 Tourism Infrastructure

The average duration of stay for the tourist is 2-3 days. A few five star hotels, large number of
2 to 3 star hotels and Dharamashalas are located in the vicinity of the riverfront to cater to the
tourists while the rest of the hotels are near Cantonment facilities in the old city. The supportive
infrastructure to the tourist accommodation like electricity supply and water is also poor. Total
beds within the city are 12077 per day and nearly 33% of the whole accommodation facilities
are in Dharamshalas. On overall basis the 50% of the accommodation are cheap budget hotels
concentrated in old city area. Table 24 shows availability of rooms in Varanasi.
TABLE 5: AVAILABILITY OF ROOMS IN VARANASI
Tourist Projection
On the current trend of the tourist inflow in the city, in 2016 the tourist is expected to increase
at 10.4% and the approximate tourist inflow is expected to be 43,83,834. As the tourist inflow
increases, there will be stress on infrastructure facilities like accommodation, tourist hotels and
facilities. The total number of tourist accommodation required for the next 15 years will be nearly
10,000
TABLE 6: DEMAND PATTERN OF TOURIST ACCOMMODATION
TOURISM POLICY
To promote tourism with the tourist and pilgrim as the focus U.P. State Tourism department has
prescribed the strategies and policies. Some of the policy has been listed below: -
• To develop the necessary infrastructure facilities through private-public partnership. Special
importance would be given to facilitate investment by NRI.
• To develop and publicize new tourism products and attractions like Yoga, Spiritual knowledge,
Ayurveda, naturopathy, adventure sports, Eco-tourism, water cruises, film locales, diverse
cuisines, traditional attire, and crafts, village life etc.
• Promotion of Eco-tourism in the hills, forests and areas with water bodies to preserve the
environment.
• Restoration of ancient places, havelis, buildings, forts, and introduction of a Heritage Hotel
Subsidy scheme.
• Formulation of standards for tourism units and introduction of an incentive scheme to facilitate
their adoption by the private sector.
• Extensive projection of the available facilities, tourist sports and attractions of the state
domestically and internationally through advertisements, films, C.D’s, cassettes, website etc.
Effective marketing through participation in domestic and international travel trade conferences,
fairs and world marts, and organization of Uttar Pradesh shows in identified cities of important
countries.
• To create sufficient facilities for tourism related human resources development upgrading and
improving the management of the Tourism Management Institute and Food Craft Institute,
besides establishing new ones, if necessary.
• Strengthening and expansion of the departmental tourism organization through a modern work
culture and qualitative improvement in employees, better organization of festivals, incentives
to the tourism industry, and establishment of special cell for efficient collection of data and
research work.
3 Appraisal of Listed Heritage,

Recognized Tourist and Cultural
Assets of the City
3.1 Introduction
All the pan-Indian and regionally prominent
sacred sites have been replicated in Varanasi.
Mythological literature has been created to
manifest the power of holy in those sites,
which finally resulted in making this city
the “holiest” for Hindus that preserved the
cosmic “wholeness”. This together with the
mosaic of ethnic and social structure further
helped in the formation of Varanasi as the
“cultural capital of India”. Varanasi has a wide
range of tangible and intangible heritage
with a number of havelis, temples along the
ghats,as well as beside the town. The number
of sacred centers in Varanasi is upto 3000
shrines and temples, about 1400 mosques, 12
churches, 3 Jain temples, 9 Buddhist temples,
3 Gurudwaras and several other sacred
sites.
3.2 Appraisal of Identified Assets

3.2.1. Tangible Assets:
Together in Varanasi and Sarnath 16 monuments are centrally protected (Archaeological survey
of India) and 5 monuments are state protected by the State Government. Listing carried out by
INTACH , in 2009 covered approximately 1250 heritage buildings which further helps in identifying
cities heritage assets, quality of assets and focus areas .
Central Protected Monuments in

The Varanasi City
Sl. No. Name of Monuments / Sites as Locality

notified
1. Ancient Buddhist site known as Chaukhandi Ganj&Baraipur, Varanasi
stupa
2. Ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath including Baraipur, Khajuhi, Khajuhi

Dhamekh stupa, stupa of Jagatsingh. Ganj&Ghurahupur, Varanasi
3. NarokharTal Sarnath, Varanasi
4. Grave of European Officers Shivala, Varanasi
5. Dharahra Masjid Varanasi
6. Cemetery Chaitganj, Varanasi
7. Closed cemetery Rajghat, Varanasi
8. Tomb of Lal Khan Rajghat, Varanasi
9. Lt. Col. Pogson’s tomb Varanasi
10. Mutiny monuments Varanasi
11. Observatory of Man Singh (Man Mahal) Varanasi
12. Pahladpur inscribed Lat(monolith pillar) in Varanasi

compound of the Sampurnanad Sanskrit
University
13. Tablet on the Treasury Building Varanasi

notified
14. TeliaNala Buddhist ruins Varanasi
15. Victoria Memorial Varanasi
16. Two graves Varanasi
State protected Monuments-Varanasi district in the state of UP

notified
1. Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple Panchkroshi Yatra
2. Gurudham Temple Bhelupur Gurudham,Varanasi
3. Kabir 3 pond Lahartara ,Varanasi
4. Battis Khamba G T road near Alipur Road,

located near Bakriakund
5. Battis Khamba 2 G T road on the road near

the railway station in Varanasi
ASI protected Monuments
SARNATH
LEGEND
100 m protected zone
100+200 regulated Zone
Scale 1:40000
Since Varanasi is a religious capital of India, the tourist spots are mostly the temples and other
religious buildings. Almost 90 % of the tourists are pilgrims who visit Varanasi. The Ghats , are the
most visited place of the city and is the source of cultural activities. The city is mostly comprising
of Havelis,religious buildings, kunds and pokhras of high significance (List attached , Grade I Built
heritage).
Samples from the listing
List of 280 Grade I (High significance ) Built Heritage
3.2.1 Tangible Assets
• General
Since Varanasi is a religious capital of India, the tourist spots are mostly the temples and other
religious buildings. Almost 90 % of the tourists visit Ghats for religious and spiritual purpose.
Cultural resource of Varanasi includes built heritage i.e. Ghats along the river front, Havelis and
palaces along the ghats as well as within the old city, Religious buildings such as temples, mosques,
shrines. Natural heritage includes Ganga river front, Varuna and Assi river, Kunds and pokhras, and
reserve forest area on the eastern bank of Ganga.
1. Ghats
Varanasi is famous for its Ghats. Ghats are steps that lead down to River Ganga. Several rituals and
religious ceremonies are associated with these ghats and pilgrims travel from all over the country
for prayers, holy dip in the river Ganga, cremation, religious offerings, etc. The most important
ghats are Dasashwamedh, Harish Chandra, Manikarnika, Panchaganga, and Assi ghat.
Location: Ghats are located on the wester bank of River Ganga which is in the crescent shape. The
Ghats are spread over a distance of 6.8 km
Accessibility: The Ghats are accessible from major roads in the city like Gowdoliya chowk to
Dasahswamedh ghat road, Sonar pura road and Nagwa road which leads to Assi Ghat , Tilbhandeshwar
colony road which leads to Harishchandra Ghat and Ravindranath Tagore road (Kashi station road
which leads to Raj Ghat). There are several other bye lanes from the old city which leads to Ghats.
• Quality of Assets and Tourism Infrastructure

The Ghats, however, also face many challenges, including lack of basic infrastructure such as
sanitation and garbage collection. The public toilets are not functional, with rampant open
defecation and making of cow-dung cakes on the Ghats. Other structures such as safety railings,
sitting areas, changing rooms etc., and rescue equipment, are inadequate or non-existent.
• Management of the Property

The ghat area is owned by the Municipal Corporation.
Blayne leading to the Ghat through old city Dasashwamedh road-One of the busiest road leading
to Rajendra prasad ghat and Dasashwamedh Ghat
2. The palatial buildings along the ghats

The palatial buildings were built under the patronage of the Marathas during 18th -19th centuries.
Many monasteries (ashramas), Sanskrit schools, temples, and pilgrims rest house were built by
principalities, of different parts of India, like Peshvas of Pune (Gujarat), Holkar of Indore, and
Scindhias of Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Bhonshalas of Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sursand, Bhabhua,
and Darbhanga estates of Bihar, Rani Bhavani of Bengal, kings of Nepal, etc are located on the
ghats.
Location:The palatial buildings are mostly located along the Ghats.

Accessibility: They are accessible through the Ghats and old city .
Rewa Kothi located on Rewa Ghat Darbhanga Palace on Darbhanga Ghat

Since the Palatial buildings along the Ghats are private properties, it lacks maintenance. Some
of the palaces on the Ghats are renovated using inappropriate building materials. Additions and
alterations are made with contemporary materials which are not amalgamating with historic
fabric of built heritage

Privately owned properties.
3. Temples
Apart from the Ghats, there are around 2000 temples, small, medium and big in size throughout
the city. Many important temples are located along the ghats of Ganga River, adding to the religious
value to the holy river. Some of the important temples are Kashi Vishwanath, the Sankat Mochan
temple, The Tulsi Manas temple, the Durga temple, the Kal Bhairav temple and the Maha
Mritunjaya temple.
Location: Most of the important temples are located along the Ghats. Kashi Vishwanath temple is
located almost centrally on the west bank of River Ganga, this is the most important temple in the
city. Sankat Mochan Temple is located in the southern part of Varanasi. The Tulsi Manas temple is
located near the famous Durga temple.
Accessibility: The temples are accessible through major heritage roads which includes cities
primary roads.
Sankat Mochan temple Durga Kund in Durga Temple complex

The temples are mostly renovated and painted with red color and other use of vibrant colors.
The architecture details and carvings of most of the temples are lost due to regular renovations
/alterations made in the buildings. The temple complexes are encroached upon, by the shops
and pilgrim resting shelters which effects the visibility and the spatial quality of the buildings.
There is lack of signage and public amenities in these areas and it does not fulfill the requirement
of heavy influx of pilgrims on these sites.

Managed by temple trust.
3. Old city
Narrow lanes characterize the old city of Varanasi and its rich architectural legacy allures the
travelers into the religious and cultural mosaic that forms an integral part of Varanasi’s tradition.
Several old temples and Havelis still adorn the built fabric. Tourist live and interact with the local
community and experience first hand the culture of the city through its religious discourses, art,
music, Indian sciences and art of living.
Location: The old city runs along the parallel road on Western side of Ghats.
• Quality of Assets/Tourism Infrastructure

The old city is highly dense with narrow and traditional street pattern with maximum problem of
traffic congestion. Gowdowlia and Maidagin chowk are one of the busiest nodes in the city. Old
city has haphazard cabling including electric and telephone wires, open drains and lack of physical
infrastructure

Privately owned residential structures. Road under the management of Municipality .
Condition of the streets-water logging during rainy No dustbins and Garbage disposal in the old city
season in old city
4. Sacred Kunds
The Kunds are an important part of the natural and cultural heritage of Varanasi. They are not only
heritage assets but also represent the ancient knowledge of storm water management. During
heavy rains, the Kunds used to act as points of drainage for surrounding areas. In the past, each
Kund had a catchment area in its immediate surroundings and were interconnected by underground
channels through which surplus water was drained into the river Ganges. Some of the important
kunds are Lolark Kund, Durga Kund , Pishachmochan Kund, Pittra Kund, Pushkar Kund, Ram Kund
amongst many other.
Location: Many Kunds are located in the route of five yatras conducted in Varanasi namely
Panchkroshi Yatra, Antargrahi, Avimukta, Chardham and Saptpuri yatras.
Accessibility: The access to the Kunds is generally through narrow streets.
• Quality of Assets/Tourism Infrastructure

Today only about 88 Kunds remain out of more than 100 Kunds built across the city (Map 1-3). This
is due to neglect, unregulated construction in the catchment areas of the respective kunds, lack of
awareness, among other causes. Majority of the remaining Kunds suffer from water pollution and
abundant growth of water hyacinth. Uncontrolled solid waste dumping is also prevalent. Edges are
not properly lined, and walls and steps are damaged. Yet most Kunds are widely used for religious
and cultural activities, and washing of clothes and routine bathing are common practices, despite
their polluted conditions.
Water bodies in Varanasi as recorded in nineteenth century
Source: Banaras, The city revealed, Marg publications, George Mitchell and Rana P B Singh.
Present status of Kunds and Talabs
Source: HCDP 2012 – 13
Out of 1250 built and natural heritage 52 % is Residential typology followed by 41 % which is
Religious typology. 40 % of the heritage in varanasi belongs to the time period of 19th century .
Analyzing the zone in master plan and other Heritage Assets in the city
The zones in the master plan were analyzed based on their significance on a city level. The
observations were:
• Zone of the Ghats and Temples along the river Ganga, Durga Mandir, SankatMochan and
Manas Mandir Zone, Kamaccha Bhelupura Zone, Sarnath Zone, Panchkroshi Yatra Zone and
Nati Imli (Bharat Milap) Zone were found to be of historic, religious, cultural, architectural,
associational, intangible significance.
• Kabir Math (Lahartara) Zone has a high associational value (birth place of Sant Kabir).
However, today the area has undergone complete transformation and there are no tangible
remnants of the association with the area. The historic fabric is completely lost and has been
replaced with new modern structures. Therefore this zone was found to possess insufficient
value to be included in the heritage zones.
• Panchkroshi Yatra- Route development along Panchkroshi Yatra for 84 kms is proposed in
Vision plan for Varanasi on city level which also includes cycling track along the route.
• Nati Imli (Bharat Milap) Zone- This road and the Bharat Milap ground have been included
in the D.P.R of Development of 14 heritage roads under HRIDAY which includes, pavement,
underground caballing, signage, illumination,etc
The other important city landmarks are:
Temples Mosques Waterbodies Institutional
• Kashi Viswanath temple • Gyanvapi mosque • Laxmi kund • BHU

• Surya Kund • Kashi Vidyapeeth
• Durga temple • Dharhara mosque
• Ram Kund
• Sanskrit university
• Sankatmochan temple • Dhaikangura mosque • Ram Kund (Chitrkoot)
• Naag Kuan (Kund) • UP college
• Annapurna temple • Phwarewali masjid • Harishchandra
• Karanghanta Talab
• Dhundhiraj Ganesh temple • Lat saraia idgah • Pitra Kund college
• Bara Ganesh temple • Langre Haphiz mosque • Matra Kund • Aryamahila college
• Mancchodhari Kund • Vkm college
• Sankatha temple • Ganje shahida mosque • Mandakani Kund
• Sunbeam school
• Kal Bhairav temple • Astana Hazrath Shah • Sankul Dhara Kund
• Krim Kund and college
• Batuk Bhairav temple Taiyab Banarasi. • Lolark Kund • Jamia salphia
• Laxmi temple • Chandan shaheed • Pishachmochan Kund University
• Manikarnika Kund • Tibetan university
• Kedarnath temple • Yakub shaheed
• Bhartkala bhawan
• Tilbhandeshwar temple • Rauza Gazi mian
• Sarnath museum
• Shitla temple
• Gyanprabha
• Brahaspati temple • Sanskrit university
• Nav Gauri templs museums
• Nav Durga templs • Ramnagar fort
museum
• Gopal mandir
• Mansingh
• Mahamrityunjay temple Observatory
• Chitamani Ganesh temple
• Durg Vinayak temple
• Dwarkadheesh temple
Recreational/open spaces Maths Forts/palaces
• Beniabag • Jangambadi math • Gurubagh • Ramnagar fort

• Townhall • Aghor math Gurudwara • Raman niwas
• Ravidas park • Swaminarayan • Karpatriji math
math,mandir • Garwaghat math • Darbhanga
• Vidypeeth playground
• Urban hat • Shree math • Vishudhanabd Palace
• Sanskrritik Sankul • Kumarswami math math • Rewa Kothi
• Ghats • Natkottam chtra math • Rawidas mandir
• Ramkrishna mission • Sirgowardhanpur • Chet Singh Fort
math • Dakshinamurty • Ahilyabai palace
• Bhart sewashram math
sangh
• Kabir math
City Landmarks
LEGEND
Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith
Arya Mahila College
Harish Chandra Post Graduate College
Town Hall
BHU
Sunbeam School
Kabir Mandir & Niru, Nima’s Samadhi
Shri Kashi Math Sansthan
Bharat Sewasharm Sangh
Gurubagh (Gurudwara)
Jangam Bari Math
Kumar Swami Math
Gopal Mandir Gate

Sankata Temple
Annapurna Mandir
Shri Duni Ganpati Temple
Maha Laxmi Temple
Brihaspati Temple & Residential Building
Baradari
Batuk Bhairav
Kedar Nath Mandir
Dwarakdhish Mandir
Durga Vinayak Temple
Sankat Mochan Mandir
Scale 1:40000
Built heritage Mapping
Scale 1:40000
Scale 1:40000
Kunds/Pokhras of High Significance

• Ram Kund • Pushkar Talab
• Lakshmi Kund • Kurukshetra Kund
• Pitarkunda Talab • Durga Kund
• Sonia Pokhara • Sahotia Talab
• Chakra Tal • Kreem Kund
• Pishach Mochan Tal • Moti Jheel
• Sarang Kund • Bakara Kund
• Paharia Talab • Nadesar Tal
• Daulatpur Pokhara • Lahartara Talab
• Chancha Tal • Lahar Tara
• Gauri Kund • Surya Sarovar
• Mansarovar Kund • Sona Talab
• Pitri Kund • Sankhuldhara Pokhra
• Lotus Lake, BHU
• Ishwargangi Pokhra
Scale 1:40000
3.2.2. Intangible Heritage

Varanasi intangible heritage comprises a variety of evolving arts, expressions and traditions. The
attached Map shows the city areas best known for specific arts. These include:
(i) Scholastic Traditions
In the 2nd Century BC, Patanjali wrote his famous work Mahabhashya on Panini’s grammar
propounding a unique phonetically organized alphabet system. It triggered a discussion on grammar
and linguistics which continued in an unbroken trend up to the end of the 17th Century.
Similarly in the field of speculative philosophy a strong tradition of scholastic discourse developed.
The debates amongst various schools enriched the tradition. Many of the concepts developed and
methodologies propounded are getting rediscovered today, by both eastern and western scholars.
Mughal prince Dara Shikoh initiated a project of translation of the Upanishads, the foundational
books of the Hindu School of the Vedanta, in Persian. These translations were further rendered
into Latin putting across the thoughts of the Vedanta to the western world. The French traveler
Bernier who has left some account of this project also translated Descartes in Persian in Kashi in
1656 for the benefit of some Indian scholars. It was some 10 years before Descartes was translated
in English.
The ritualistic Hinduism for which Varanasi was the important center produced a counter moment
of non-ritualistic and humanistic creeds, the best face of which was Kabir whose poems set to tune
are sung even today. A vast number of people still show their allegiance to this creed.
(ii) Performing Arts

In the areas of Jaunpur, Kashi and Lucknow, a genre was developed which classified the existing
folk forms to Thumri, Dadra, Kajri and Katthak. Kashi (Varanasi) amongst these towns gave a special
character to these forms particularly to the accompanying percussion instrument of tabla.
Many great musicians and artists were born in Varanasi and still regularly return to visit and to
perform their art for the public as tribute to the “spirit of the soil”. Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad
Bismillah Khan, Kishan Maharaj among others, are internationally acclaimed virtuosos.
(iii) Silk weaving

Varanasi is known for its silk weaving since ancient times. Lord Buddha’s mortal remains, according
to legend, were covered by silk cloth woven in Kashi (Varanasi). The fine weaving, with rich
complicated decorative elements, has won acclaims all over the world.
(iv) Fairs and Festivals

Besides the famous Kumbh Mela on the Ghats of River Ganges, several other festivals are ferociously
celebrated in Varanasi. Major festivals are mentioned hereafter.
Buddha Purnima–Sarnath:
This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Buddha. A large fair is held at Sarnath and the relics of the
Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession on this day.
Dhrup Mela:
A five days music festival of Dhrup is performed by renowned artistes at Tulsi Ghat. It is very popular
among foreign visitors.
Bharat Milap:
Celebrating Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after 14th years of exile and his reunion with his brother
Bharat, this festival is held on the day following Dussehra. Attended by the former king of Kashi, the
festival attracts a large number of devotees.
Nakkatayya:
Showing a famous story from Ramayan, this act is enacted as a stage - play during mid-October in
the locality of Chetgang. Numerous processions and tableaux are also carried out on the occasion.
Mahashivaratri:
On this day, every Shiv Mandir is decorated. In Varanasi a marriage procession of Lord Shiva is taken
out starting from Mahamrityunjaya Temple, Daranagar to Kashi Vishwanath Temple via Chowk.
Nag Nathaiya Leela:

In a performance, Lord Krishana jumps into Ganges for Nag Nathan at the local TulsiGhat. It is
famous as Nag Nathaiya Leela. Many people congregate to see this event, held during the month
of November - December.
Hanuman Jayanti:
Janmotsav of Lord Hanuman is celebrated at Sankat Mochan Temple for five days, with cultural &
musical programs by renowned artistes from all over India.
Ganges Mahotsav:
Ganges Mahotsav, the tourism festival is celebrated every year from Prabodhani Ekadashi to Kartik
Purnima in the month of October - November. Apart from the excellent cultural programs and
country boat race, display of martial arts also takes place. The concluding day coincides with the
unique traditional festival of Dev Deepavali, when numerous earthen lamps are lit on the Ghats of
Ganges.
Ghats like Dr. Rajendra Prasad is always crowded with devotees offering prayers.
Every Parasol or Chhatri is not mere for shade, it is also used for identifying the Pandas or the Pundit
Behind the world famous Banarasi sarees, lies the hard work and creativity of Muslim weaver community, which work
round the clock to maintain that charm of the sarees.
Process of weaving Benarasi saree
Along with time, Power loom (top above) which is giving a tough competition to the traditional Hand looms. Weavers
has to struggle to withstand the technology challenge.
Metal workers in Varanasi
The work on metal along with saree is another important feature of Varanasi
The utensils made of metals are mostly made at Thatheri Bazaar, Varanasi
Renowned Musical traditions of Varanasi – Shehnai and Banaras Gharana of Hindustani Vocal Music
Banaras Gharana of Kathak, a famous Indian Classical Dance form
Traditional sweets like Labang Latika, Malpua, bevearges like Thandai and the popular Banarasi Paan are some of the
ubiquitous features of Banaras
The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is something which keeps one spiritually spellbound, a daily ritual, which
finds devotees and visitors visiting the Ghats, with these boats.
3.3 Mapping of Assets- Heritage map
4 Review of Existing Initiatives

4.1 Review of Master Plans
The Varanasi Development area has been
broadly divided into 2 zones: Zone A and Zone
B. Zone A comprising of the area to the left
of River Ganga (comprising of areas like BHU,
Varanasi Municipal area) and Zone B along the
right bank of river Ganga(including areas like
Ramnagar and Mughal Sarai). As per Master
Plan, 1991 of Varanasi, the total area under
planning jurisdiction was 14,494.4 ha. Out of
this, the total developed area was 11,662.34
ha, which is 80% of the total area. The
remaining 20% area is under agricultural belt
around the city. Out of the total developed
area, residential use constitutes maximum of
38% area (i.e. 5457.24 ha) followed by parks
and playgrounds, which constitute 19% (i.e.
2705.76 ha).
The Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) has prepared a Master Plan 2011 for the future
development of the city, which states that the total master plan area will increase from 14,494.40
ha to 18449.95 ha. Varanasi Development Authority in its meeting dated 27.5.2009 decided to
prepare Master plan – 2031 including zone B (Ramnagar – Mughal Sarai area). The Draft Master
Plan for 2031 gives detail of proposed land use for Varanasi and total land developed under various
uses.
The following table gives the proposed land use break up as per master plan 2031, and compares
it to land use distribution in the Master Plan 2011, with respect to the existing and proposed land
use in 1991, 2011 and 2031. The aggregate planning area has been increased to 246 sq. Km from
184 sq. Km.
Table shows the land use comparison between Master Plan 1991, 2001 and 2031. The increase
in actual residential land use has increased by just 0.3%. A significant increase in area under
transportation and recreation can be observed. The primary reason for increase is the growing
desire of better transportation planning and providing more recreational facilities to the residents.
Most of the proposed land uses are in line with the draft URDPFI guidelines, 2014 except land
use for industrial and public/semi-public purposes. Cottage industry is predominantly present
in Varanasi. Majority of these industries operate from residential, mixed and commercial areas,
hence, the actual area under industrial use will be much higher.
FIGURE 2: IMPLEMENTATION STATUS (Varanasi Master Plan 2011)
VARANASI MASTER PLAN- 2031
This suggests the need of protection and development of City’s Built and Natural Heritage through
stricter planning controls and effective implementation strategies. The Master Plan 2031 have
improved the zoning regulations by restricting most of the land uses in proposed heritage zones.
Though only the Sarnath Temple Complex (including surrounding area), totaling 501 Ha, have been
proposed as the Heritage Zone. Other existing 7 Heritage Zones have also been documented in the
Master Plan:-
1.Ghats and Temples near Ganga Riverfront

2.Durga Mandir, Sankat Mochan, Manas Mandir Zone
3.Kamaccha Bhelupur Zone
4.Kabir Math (Lahartara) Zone
5.Sarnath Zone
6.‘Panchkroshi Yatra’ Zone
7.Nati Imli (Bharat Milap)
Specific Recommendations in the Master Plan

Recreational Use Zone P3 (Part 1: Sarnath Heritage Area): The recommendation to acquire and
redevelop the Regulated Zone in Sarnath as single storey is impractical and full of legal hurdles,
which may delay the entire regulatory process. Besides, no incentives or compensatory measures
have been recommended which would encourage the residents to support this exercise. It would
be advisable that the proposed regulations be imposed on all new constructions and expansion to
existing buildings be prohibited
4.2 Review of CDP

City Development Plan for Varanasi, 2041 (Final City Development Plan)
The 2nd Generation CDP has been prepared by CRISIL India Ltd. In the year 2015, incorporating
improved guidelines issued by MoUD, for the horizon year 2041. Few new inclusions in this CDP
are Heritage, Health and Education sector; stress on Infrastructure Management aspects; special
emphasis on PPP projects; and Transit Oriented Development. It also includes assessment of the
city in four major levels, the fourth one being Urban Poverty and Heritage. Though the approach of
the CDP includes Infrastructure Development as an important aspect; Built and Cultural Heritage
and Tourism sectors have not been prioritized.
The heritage zones listed in the Varanasi Master Plan 2011 have been considered while giving
proposals in the same sector. The Ganga riverfront area have been divided into six sub-districts:
1.Rural Buffer District (300m wide strip on the eastern bank)
2.Landscape Conservation District
3.5.5km long crescent shaped basin from Nagwa Ghat to Raj Ghat
4.5.3 km stretch of 83 ghats
5.The Urban Preservation (Old city) Sub-zone
6.The Urban Buffer Sub-Zone, a 50m-100m wide strip from the western road
MAP SHOWING DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN VARANASI
The document also lists recent Heritage Conservation Initiatives. Few of them are:
•Dasashwamedh Cultural Quarter riverfront development
•Panchkroshi Yatra Halts (Rural Area Development)
•Adaptive reuse of the Chet Singh Ghat and palace as a cultural center and of the Jagannath temple
complex as art and crafts center.
The proposals given in the document for Heritage Management are too abstract and lacks the
thorough Vision Plan which can guide future initiatives like HRIDAY City project.
The proposals are:
1.Establishment of heritage cell at VMC headed by an architect for listing of Heritage Structures
2.Preparation of DPRs for restoration and refurbishment of heritage structures
3.Creation of heritage fund to undertake small scale restoration works
4.Installation of direction signage and information boards
The two project proposals related to the sector comprises of ‘Development of Heritage Listing and
conservation of Heritage Structures’ and ‘Renovation of Parks’. These proposals are not equipped
with elaborate technical details to support the investment plan and phasing of the projects.
The CDP of Varanasi has integrated approach towards collating data and bringing responsible
development bodies together. It provided a good quantitative data through secondary resources
bu the study lacks primary data. It attempts to identify and address the issues but th proposals are
inadequate.
Land use Analysis

According to the Draft Master Plan, 2031 total land under residential use has been reduced from
51.6% to 40%. However, area under recreation has been increased from 5% to 20%. Also a new
use category of mixed land use has been introduced in the draft Master Plan 2031, which primarily
includes the area in the old city. Also, the above mentioned increase in the recreational area as
per draft Master Plan, 2031 has not been proposed for the old city and recreational/open space
facility continues to be lacking in this area. The land use pattern as per Draft Master Plan, 2031 is
in the table.
TABLE : LIST OF PERMISSIBLE AND NON-PERMISSIBLE LAND USES IN THE

PROPOSED HERITAGE ZONE:
4.3 Review of Existing Policies of Central and

State Government applicable to the city
4.2. Existing Policies of Central and State Government applicable to the city
1. National laws and regulations
1. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act 1958)
and Rules, 1959: This Act relates to protection, preservation and all other aspects for ancient
monuments and archaeological sites and remains that are deemed to be of national impor-
tance. The Act further mandates the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the singular agency
for protection of such monuments and archaeological sites all over the country. Varanasi district
is included in the Patna Circle of the ASI and the following monuments and sites are protected:
ASI protected monuments and site in Varanasi District

(Source:http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_patna.asp)
2. Gazette Notification (under AMASR Act 1958) regulating Prohibited and Regulated Areas,
1992: An administrative order under the aforementioned Act that lays down a singular regulation
for the interface of the surroundings with protected archaeological heritage, where 100 metres
around protected monuments is declared as ‘prohibited’ and further 200 metres as ‘regulated’ for
the purposes of mining operations and construction.
Many of the ASI protected monuments and sites in Varanasi have contexts that are as historic
and culturally significant. Moreover, these comprise living areas. So the viability of complete pro-
hibition is something that may be deliberated upon and the whole zone made regulatory with
supporting zonal regulations, building by-laws and architectural guidelines, such that a balance is
achieved maintaining the Integrity of protected monuments as well.
3. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972: An act that has a bearing on the movable tangible
heritage resources like paintings, sculptures that comprise some of the most valuable aspects of
built heritage. This Act aims to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to provide
for the prevention of smuggling of, and fraudulent dealings in antiquities; to provide for registra-
tion of antiquarian remains in personal possession of individuals and institutions, and compulsory
acquisition of antiquities and art treasures for Preservation in public places; and to provide for
certain other matters connected therewith.
Note: Although Varanasi Cantonment is outside the scope of this report, for holistic purposes it may
be mentioned that under the provisions of the Cantonments Act 2006, the Varanasi Cantonment
Board is vested with the discretionary powers for “conservation and maintenance of ancient
and historical monuments, archaeological sites and remains or place of public importance in the
cantonment.” At present, there is no information on such resources being maintained by the Board
State laws and regulations
1. The U.P. Ancient & Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains Preservation
Act, 1956 (UPAHMASR Act 1956): Modeled along the lines of the national AMASR Act 1958, this
Act provides for preservation, protection, upkeep, maintenance, acquisition and regulation of, and
control over, ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites and antiquities in the State of
Uttar Pradesh deemed to be of State importance.
In consonance with the constitutional provisions, the Act recognizes that excavation for archaeo-
logical and historical purposes is a Central subject and that permission is necessary from Archaeo-
logical Survey of India before any such action is undertaken in the State.
The Act provides legal mandate to the Directorate of Archaeology, UP to carry out all and any
action necessary to undertake the aforementioned responsibilities. The monuments and sites pro-
tected by the State Department include:
• Battis Khambha, at Bakaria Kund, Varanasi Town, declared protected in 1967
• Battis Khambbha, at Malgodam, Varanasi Town Railway Station, declared protected in 1968
• Lahartara talab, at Lahartara, Varanasi Town, declared protected in 1967
• Kardamesvara Mahadeva Mandir, at Kandava, Varanasi Town, declared protected in 1968
• Gurudham Mandir, at Bhadaini (Hanumanpur), Varanasi Town, declared protected in 1987
2. The Indian Treasure Trove Act 1878: Although this Act was formulated during the British rule,
its provisions are still applicable. Treasure Trove is now a State subject under the provisions of the
COI but Uttar Pradesh does not have a state legislation on this and continues to apply the colonial
Treasure Trove Act. Its provisions provide for protection and regulation of anything of value hidden
in the soil or anything affixed thereto that may be revealed during any excavation (whether archae-
ological or for new development), including protection over movable items found so.
4.4 Existing and upcoming Investment possibilities
Total (in
Zone 1: Ghats
Not available
Retrofitting of LED system at all the ghats by EESL (NA)
1.2 PRASAD
etc 6
c) Light and sound show at Assi Ghat 7
1.3 NAMAMI GANGA
a) STP at Dinapur , Ramana and Goithuva NA
b) Solid waste management on the banks of the river Ganga NA
1.5 CSR
BHEL - Installation of 16 Bio Toilets and changing rooms at different ghats NA
Total figures as available for Ghat (Zone 1): 28.0 Cr 28
Zone 2: Old City

a)City Development of Old Varanasi 432
2.2 PRASAD
etc 6
Total figures as available for Old city (Zone 2): 493.0 Cr 493
3.2 CSR
Zone 4: Peeli Kothi

4.1 MINISTRY OF TEXTILES, GOVT OF INDIA
a) Textile Projects in 8 cluster including Peeli Kothi NA
b) Textile Park NA
5 Zone 5- Assi Nala NA

City Development of other areas of the city City HRIDAY Plan - Varanasi
140 96
3.2 CSR
Total (in
Zone
Zone 4: 1: Ghats
Peeli Kothi
4.1 POWER
1.1 INFRASTRUCTURE
MINISTRY OF TEXTILES, GOVT OF INDIA
a) Textile Projects in 8 cluster including Peeli Kothi Not available
NA
Retrofitting
b) Textile Park of LED system at all the ghats by EESL (NA)
NA
1.2 PRASAD
5 b) Panchkoshi
Zone 5- Assi Nala Parikrama- Renovation of Dharamsala, toilet, solar lights NA
etc 6
Zone 6- Sarnath
6.1 c) Light and sound show at Assi Ghat
SWADESH 7
1.3 NAMAMI GANGA Not available
a) Restoration and Development
STP at Dinapur of Sarangnath
, Ramana and Goithuva Kund (NA)
NA
b) Buddha Theme park
b) Solid waste management on the banks of the river Ganga 15
NA
6.2 TOURISM
a) Light and sound show at Sarnath UP tourism funded by MOT, GOI NA
b) Illumination of selected monuments ITDC funded by MOT, GOI NA
Total figures as available for Sarnath (Zone 6): 15 Crores
CSR Projects in the city
1.5 Other
BHEL - Installation
ROADWAYS of 16 Bio Toilets and changing rooms at different ghats
and HIGHWAYS NA
a)Ring Road as available for Ghat (Zone 1): 28.0 Cr
Total figures 1676
28
b) Varanasi Gorakhpur NH29 3400
c) Varanasi Sultanpur NH56 1853
Zone 2: Old City
d) Varanasi Aurangabad NH2 2848
POWER
2.1 e) VaranasiINFRASTRUCTURE
Handia NH2 NA
a)City Development
f)Varanasi of Old
Babatpur Airport Varanasi
NH56 432
629.74
g) Ghagra Bridge NH233
55
CSR
2.2 PRASAD
a) PFC- 200 e rickshaws along with charging stations
b) HPCL- 4 toilet blocks
etc 6
c) IOC - 6 toilet blocks and installation of solid waste management system for 200
Total figures as available for Old city (Zone 2): 493.0 Cr
tons 493
NA
d) AAI- Funding of equipments for solid waste management.
f) Reckit- 3 toilet blocks with new technologies executed through Seeds
g)RITES- 3 toilet blocks
PRSAD
a) Lahartara Talab restoration 2.5
b) Development of Gurudham Temple 2.5
4.5 Projects undertaken by ULB on development of the assets

and its surroundings.
Source : City Development Plan for Varanasi, 2041 (Final City Development Plan)
Projects Investment (Rs. Lakhs)
Water Supply Total 46,900

Refurbishment of old Pipelines 17,500
Refurbishment of intake well 700
Refurbishment of OHTs 6,400
House connections 4,000
SCADA system 7,000
Metering 9,000
Water quality assessment units 200
Training 2,100
Sewerage Sector Total 99,788

UGD Network/ Road Length Covered 8,000
Sewerage Treatment (water supply) 0
Community toilets (in slums) 4,333
Refurbishment/replacement of STP 0
Refurbishment of old pipes 72,900
Public toilets 1,188
Capacity Building 500
Laying of pipes for carrying treated waste water 10,368
Mechanized equipment for sewerage cleaning 500
Construction of New STP (50 MLD) 2,000
Traffic and Transport Total 1,36,052

New Black Top Roads 3,000
Upgrade WBM to BT 5,430
Upgrade Earthen to BT 1,692
Rotary, Junction Improvements Signlas Flyovers etc 16,500
Widening of roads 30,000
Widening of rail underbridge - Chaukaghat 2,000
Multilevel parking 12,000
Subway 4,000
Mass transport to link Girigaghar with Laurabir 15,000
Street Lighting 2,964
Storm water Drain Total 54,185

New Pucca Open Drains 7,680
New Pucca closed Drains 45,332
Desilting of drains 1,174
Solid Waste Management Total 10,168

Vehicle Capacity Required (Vehicle Carrying Capacity) 4,856
Development of Disposal and Landfill site (2031) 1,160
Treatment plant 541
Other equipments 1,611
Capacity Building and awareness program 500
Improvement of Existing Landfill Site 1,500
Other Projects Total 24,038
Old age home 38

Development/renovation of Parks & Play Grounds 630
Resting sheds 420
Urban Governance/ System Modernization 2,000
Urban Governance - Capacity building 200
Rejuvenation of Panch Pandav Kund, Pushkar Kund and Trilochan-Go- 1,550
la-Nandeshwar Ghats
GIS Mapping and other studies 2,500
Tree plantation 100
Ducts/Conduits 9,600
DM cell in VMC 500
Convention cente 2,500
Relocation of warehouses 1,000
Street vendors 500
Cattle Shed “Kamdhenu Nagar” 1,000
Night Shelters 500
Craft tour facility 1,000
Total ULB Share 3,277
5 Stakeholders’ Consultation
The Ministry of Urban Development,
Government of India, launched the National
Heritage City Development and Augmentation
Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme on 21st January,
2015. It focuses on holistic development
of heritage cities and preparation process
through consultative and participatory
approach which requires the involvement
of various stakeholders at the ULB, regional
and state level. At this phase, the city anchor
conducted consultative meetings and focus
group discussions with various stakeholders
to discuss about the status and performance
of service delivery mechanism, aspirations
of the citizen on the city development and
to ensure a participatory and inclusive
development process.
Stakeholder participation was an integral part in the processes of identifying the heritage assets
and of preparation of the City Hriday Plan.
Participatory approach was adopted to ensure the relevance of the CHP while raising awareness of
the city’s heritage assets and their values. A series of actions were taken to this end.
• First the key local stakeholders were identified and clustered according to their relation to
the city’s heritage assets. Varanasi stakeholders vary in nature and have different degrees of
association with the city’s heritage.
• Then, focus groups discussions, city level workshops and interviews were carried out, followed
by a SWOT analysis.
• Workshops were organized with officials from VMC, VDA and experts in order to identify the
heritage zones. Periodic formal consultations were also organized with officials and other
concerned stakeholders to receive feedback and suggestions on the progress of work conducted
during the time of proposal preparation.
Stakeholder Participation Process

1. PRE-CHP STAGE for IDENTIFICATION of PRIORITY ASSETS and ZONES
• Identification of stakeholders
• Mapping of stakeholders
• Consultations through workshops, one-on-one interviews and focus groups discussions
2. CITY HRIDAY PLAN PREPARATION STAGE: FOR IDENTIFICATION OF AREA of INTERVENTION IN

THE IDENTIFIED ZONES
• Identification of area of intervention and components through focus groups discussions and
workshops with:
• Residents, owners and tenants within the community, shopkeepers, women, children
• Groups/associations, religious trusts, Self Help Groups, NGOs
• Service providers and businesses, government officials, vegetable sellers, etc
• Interviews with key stakeholders to assess willingness and association with project in the
preparation, implementation or O&M stages
• Focus groups discussions on community assets and links to heritage and tourism related
activities, challenges and problems in the neighborhood, access and condition of basic services,
improvements required in and around the neighborhood, suggestions
3. DRAFT CITY HRIDAY PLAN STAGE: FOR IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSALS

• During the CHP drafting, consultations focused on the identification of specific activities and
components of the pilot project, including most suitable location of services to be provided,
utilities proposed and support to livelihoods. Some of the issues discussed were:
• Location and willingness to maintain waste bins, community toilets, playgrounds and green
areas in the vicinity of their house/business/shop
• Design and location for street furniture, street lights, landscaping
• Design and location of signage
• Willingness to be part of brochure
• Livelihoods improvement through the project
•
Four levels of stakeholders were identified in the process:
1. Central and state level agencies: ASI, State Archaeology, housing and urban development
departments, and other line departments
2. City level agencies: ULB, government agencies, NGOs, eminent personalities and leaders
Individuals and independent organizations involved in heritage and city development such as
INTACH Varanasi Chapter, religious trusts, self-help groups, trade unions, market associations,
and NGOs
3. Residents, especially women, children and the youth.
4. Non-residents but who depend upon local customers for their livelihood such as vendors of
traditional crafts and cuisine, government officials, etc
Focus Groups
Focus Groups with residents were conducted in and around the areas of interventions in order
to solicit the stakeholders’ perceptions and suggestions on local issues and their urban renewal
aspirations. Formal and informal interviews were carried out at various stages of the process along
with opinion-makers for a better understanding of the critical issues affecting the city and later the
selected heritage zones and areas of intervention.
The interviewees were area specific, like in case of old city and peeli kothi, the residents were
interviewed and their requirements were discussed on the basis of which proposals were
formulated.
In other areas like the Ghats, Durga Kund, Sankat Mochan, informal community interactions were
held regularly with boatmen, street vendors, shop keepers, rickshaw drivers, security personnel,
women, elderly and youth, pujaris and devotees who visited the areas of intervention to perform
religious rituals.
Following were some focus groups conducted:
1. Consultation with shopkeeper’s (Dasashwamedh Bazaar)- For the up gradation of

shop boards with a uniform shop signage vocabulary, the shopkeepers of the Dasashwamedh
bazaar were consulted. For the same, the shopkeepers and Varanasi Municipal Corporation were in
acceptance that the supply, making and installation of the signage(s) shall be undertaken with the
assistance of the funding agency with coordination and agreement with the shopkeepers, whereas
the operation and maintenance (O&M) will be local authority’s (MCV) responsibility.
2. Creating a pedestrian friendly visual environment with availability of civic

infrastructure at Dasashwamedh Cultural quarter -Most of these areas of intervention
fall under the jurisdiction of the local authority and it should not venture into private properties.
Private properties affected by these projects will be considered as one of the stakeholders and will
have access to funds (if any allocated) for public good. Allocated funds to stakeholders shall not be
used for works like personal business development, interior repair or refurbishments, home loans
or real estate development.
3. Infrastructure upgradation and development in Peeli Kothi Area -Consultation was

carried out in Peeli Kothi to understand the root level issues faced by the residents and weavers
in Peeli Kothi. The major issues related to infrastructure were identified with the focus being on
storm water drainage and solid waste disposal. The proposals of introducing tourist activity in the
mohalla was also discussed with the local residents and weavers. This was welcomed by the people
and they were ready to cooperate to bring in the tourism scheme and its implementation in the
area.
The consultation was with reference to the scope of Infrastructure development in the area of Pilli kothi and the
needs of the residents of the area.
Some of the properties which are of high architectural significance Mr.Sadrudin of J-3/58 Jaitpura, Mohalla
Katehar Varanasi, is the owner of 200 year old house and is ready to cooperate with tourist scheme.
The following meetings, consultations and discussions were held with various authorities for the
preparation of the CHP:
Meetings
No. Meetings Agenda Date Attended by Outcome
1. Meeting with the 19.06.2015 Mr. Ram Gopal Mohley, Discussion on Vision Plan and
Mayor of Varanasi Mr. Divay Gupta and Mr. roads Development
with Ram Gopal Raj Kumar
Mohley
2. Meeting with the 19.06.2015 Shri Umakant Tripathi, Discussion on Vision Plan and
Municipal Commis- Mr. Divay Gupta and Mr. possible outcomes with civic
sioner, Shri Umakant Raj Kumar infrastructure up-gradation.
Tripathi Discussion on 6 Heritage zones
3. Meeting with D. M. 20.06.2015 Sri. Pranjal Yadav, Discussion on city HRIDAY
Sri. Pranjal Yadav Mr. Divay Gupta and Mr. Plan and development/revital-
Raj Kumar ization of Sanskriti Sanskul
4 Meeting with Shri 30.06.2015 Shri Praveen Prakash, Discussion on City Hriday
Praveen Prakash Mr. Divay Gupta and Mr. Plans and integration of other
Joint Secretary (W) Raj Kumar bodies and schemes. Discussion
on how to make Varanasi HRI-
DAY scheme a part of AMRUT
and SMART cities.
Meetings
5. In Chair By Mr. 08.07.2015 Shri Praveen Prakash, Respect to city development
Praveen Prakash Raj Kumar, Ruknuddin Plan and cooperation for
Joint Sec. MOUD, Mirza, Sugandha Jain Overall development ,and all
G.O.I and Tanveer Alam departments should work for
the
Integration of expectation and
hence work with more efficien-
cy and things should happen.
6. CLAMC , Varanasi 15.10.2015 Mayor, D.M , Municipal Finalizing the shelf of projects
commissioner, MLA’s , and area of interventions.
City Anchor, etc
CLAMC meeting held in Varanasi
Stakeholder Appraisal
The following national level, state level and city level institutions are functional in Varanasi and have
a key role in the implementation of development and infrastructure related work. their key function
in the city and specifically their role in the implementation of the CHP have been identified as follows:
S.no Institution Key function Function for Implementation CHP
National level
1. Archaeological Protection and management of Heritage Conservation and Adaptive

Survey of India notified monuments and sites reuse- Manmandir Observatory.
(ASI) as per Ancient Monuments and Bring out notification for protection of
Archaeological Sites and Remains adjacent palace property in
Act, 1958 and Rules,1959. consultation with local authorities.
As per this act areas upto 100 Give necessary permission for
meters forms the protected limits undertaking developmental activities
prohibiting development and coming within the 100m, 200m area
further beyond 200 mt is regulated around Mansingh Observatory.
area- for the purpose of both mining
and construction which requires its
interacting with various local self
government and district authorities.
The Horticultural wing within the
department is responsible for
maintaining the surroundings of
the structure, manages the security
and visitor management of the
monument and sites.
State level
2. UP Pollution Pollution control and monitoring Monitoring air pollution level
Control Board especially river water quality in the Dasashwamedh road and
(UPPCB) and regulating industries water quality in the Ganga and
evaluate environmental impact of
proposed developmental projects
in the CHP.
Public Works Construction of roads Integrate departmental projects to
Department main roads and transport the CHP in the designated project
(PWD) infrastructure including areas- Illumination of streets,
construction and maintenance Cleaning activities
of Government houses and
Institutions
3. State Urban Apex policy-making and Advisory Role
Development monitoring agency for the urban
Authority areas of the state.
(SUDA)
Responsible for providing overall

guidance to the District Urban
Development Authority
(DUDA) for Implementation
of community development
programs
4. Town and Preparation of Master Plans Advisory Role
Country including infrastructure for the
Planning state (rural and urban)
Department
(TCPD)
5. UP Jal Nigam Water supply and sewerage Advisory Role to evaluate the
including design & construction of
(JN) water supply, sewerage networks
rehabilitation and relocation plan
and treatment plants. In the last of obtrusive plumbing, sewerage
two decades ‘pollution control of
rivers’ has become one of their and storm water drain network.
primary focus areas
6. UP Avas Vikas Nodal agency for housing in the Advisory Role
state. Additionally involved in
Parishad planning, designing, construction
(AVP) and development of almost all
types of urban development
projects in the state. Autonomous
body generating its own resources
through loans from financial
institutions
7. Uttar Pradesh Integrate departmental projects
State Electricity to the HDP in the designated
Board project areas. Advisory role to
evaluate the Illumination Plan
for the delineated area. Advisory
role to evaluate Rehabilitation
and relocation plan for obtrusive
electrical services in the
delineated areas.
8. Uttar Pradesh Integrate departmental projects to
State Tourism the CDP in the designated project
Development areas.
Corporation
City level
9. Varanasi Jal Nodal agency for water supply Advisory Role
Sansthan (JS) in the city. Key functions include
O&M of water supply and
sewerage assets. JS proposes
tariffs and collects revenues –
however, tariffs need to be
approved by
10. Varanasi Nodal agency for municipal service Undertake tasks for environmental
delivery and O&M. Its key functions up-gradation and Landscaping,
Municipal include: implement tasks for Solid Waste
Corporation - Primary Collection of Solid Waste management and Public health and
- Maintenance of Storm Water management, Provision of visitor
(MCV) Drains facilities and amenities, Preparation
- Maintenance of internal roads of survey plan and inventory of
- Allotment of Trade Licenses all properties facing the street,
under the Prevention of Food making statutory provisions for
Adulteration Act developmental control in delineated
- Collection of Property tax area, conservation, Restoration, and
- O&M of internal sewers and Up-gradation of the Ghat area,
community toilets Conservation of Vrihaspatha
- Maintenance and management of temple, Prayageshwara temple,
ghats Sultankeshwara temple and
- Construction of Community Kukuteshwara temple.
Toilets
11. Varanasi Responsible for preparing spatial Preparation of Traffic management
Plan, installation of signage and
Development Master Plans for land use and site interpretation, Illumination
Authority (VDA) development of new areas as Plan for the delineated area,
plan and implement project for
well as provision of housing and developing a police Control Room at
necessary infrastructure redundant BHU library, Planning and
Development of ‘Varanasi Sanskriti
Darshan’ at the present Site of
Dasashwamedh vegetable and fish
market.
12. District Urban Implementing agency for plans Advisory Role
prepared by SUDA. Responsible
Development for the field work relating to
Authority community development –
focusing on the development of
(DUDA) slum communities, construction
of community toilets, assistance in
construction of individual
household latrines, awareness
generation etc.
6 Projection & Infrastructure

Gap Assessment (city level)
The city has a magnetic attraction for people

all over the world, owing to its rich traditional
fabric and ghats,attracting more than 30 lakh
domestic and international tourists each year.
The city, an important center for religious
tourism in India and is also a gateway to
the Buddhist circuit; with significant foreign
tourist coming from Japan, China, Malaysia.
6.1. Tourists Projection

Varanasi, the sacred corridor (tirtha) hosts a large number of fairs and festivals throughout the year.
The importance of these festivals can be seen from the number of pilgrims arriving and attending
the fairs. During the greatest festivals when more than 2500 people arrive per hour, the self-organi-
zation of the Varanasi pilgrimage system intensifies partially due to increased mutual interaction of
pilgrims who arrive in informal groups of family and friends or various kinds of pilgrimage tours.
The majority of domestic tourists are from Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of
Uttar Pradesh.
Approximately the entire foreign tourist visiting Varanasi visits Sarnath additionally. The peak sea-
son is regarded as October to March with tourist inflow being 60% of the total domestic tourist
coming in a year while for foreign tourist it is 71%. The foreign tourist comprises nearly 15% of the
total tourist coming to Varanasi. The average stay is 2-3 days for both domestic and foreign tourists.
Tourist statistics – Varanasi
Source – UP Tourism Department, Varanasi and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
On the current trend of the tourist inflow in the city, in the next year the tourist is expected to
increase at 10.4% and the approximate tourist inflow is expected to be 43,83,834. As the tourist
inflow increases, there will be stress on infrastructure facilities like accommodation, tourist hotels
and facilities. The total number of tourist accommodation required for the next 15 years will be
nearly 10,000
Tourist inflow number and growth
Month Wise Tourist Inflow
Tourist projection for the year 2035

Year Domestic International Total
No. of Visi- Growth No. of Growth No. of visitors Growth
tors trend % visitors trend % %(Yearly)
2000 431901 26.30 123786 10.40 555687 22.40
2001 454832 5.30 108546 12.30 563378 1.40
2002 496539 9.20 86267 20.50 582806 3.40
2003 534269 7.60 89658 3.90 623927 7.10
2004 597543 11.80 121942 11.20 719485 15.30
2005 792630 32.60 165714 35.90 958344 33.20
2006 1455492 83.60 289010 74.40 1744502 82
2007 2552365 75.40 400320 38.50 2952685 69.30
2008 2932446 14.90 512395 28 3444841 16.70
2015 5219567 21 5401070 44 5149289 16.00
2017 5325945 31 5628451 67 5207758 2.9
2020 5485511 52.6 5969521 11.2 5295462 2.9
2025 5751456 52.6 6537971 11.2 5441634 2.9
2030 6017400 52.6 7106422 11.2 5587807 2.9

2035 6283345 52.6 7674872 11.2 5733979 2.9
Source – UP Tourism Department, Varanasi and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

For the projection of tourism data we have adopted Arithmetic projection data.
Tourist projection for the year 2035

10000000
9000000 Arithmetic
Projection
8000000
Geometric
7000000 Projection
Number of tourists in Lakhs
6000000 Increamental
5000000 Increase (min.)
4000000 Geometric Ratio

(Max.)
3000000
Expon.
2000000 (Arithmetic
Projection)
1000000 Expon. (Geometric
0 Projection)
2015 2017 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Note: The projections for the following year 2017,2020,2025,2030,2035,2040 has been projected by using four
methods Arithmetic projection, Geometric Projection Incrementation Increase and Geometric Ratio. The graph
represents average taken out from all the four methods.
6.2 Broad Projection For Tourism Infrastructure

The state tourism department authorized guides are available for hire; however, they are very less in
number. In addition, there are four tourist information centers.
They are
• Government of India Tourist Office, 15B, The Mall, Cantt, Varanasi
• Government of India Tourist Office, Varanasi Airport
• UP Government Tourist Office, Tourist Bungalow, Near Varanasi Cantt. Railway Station
• UP Government Tourist Information Counter, Near Railway Station, Varanasi
• Modern Reception Centre, Sarnath
It can be observed from the image below that most of the information centers are located at the main
tourist entry points; however, they are all concentrated in the northern part of the city. So the tourist
will have to travel all the way to the northern part to seek assistance. There are no tourist information
centers near ghats.
Varanasi Airport
Sarnath
Tourist Bounglow
The mall cant Varanasi
Railway Station Varanasi
Source – City Development Plan for Varanasi, 2041 (Final City Development Plan)
Tourism Infrastructure Place Number of facility available
Accommodation Facility Varanasi 285

Sarnath 4
Tourist Information Varanasi 6
center/Kiosks
Parking lots Varanasi 5
Availability of transport Varanasi
services
Executive Summary - Collection of Tourism Statistics for the State of Uttar Pradesh
6.3 Broad Projection For Urban Infrastructure
The tourism projections suggests that the average number of tourists visiting Varanasi in a day will
rise upto almost 16500 by the year 2041.The Projection has been done for the horizon year 2041
starting from present year (2015) for every census decade. 50 % extra of the average tourist inflow
has been taken for the highest tourist inflow in a day calculations.
1. Water Supply (Demand Supply Gap)- Tourism Based -According to the norms the water usage
range from 80 liters per tourist per day to 2000 litres per tourist per day depending on the length
of the stay and the type of accommodation that a tourist is living in. For Varanasi average water
usage of 1000 litres per tourist per day has been assumed for tourism based future water usage.
The gap has been calculated based on the existing water supply infrastructure including the city
level water usage in the year 2015. Calculations (refer table) show that the deficit in water supply
demand and existing infrastructure capacity can go upto -191 MLD. It also shows that the existing
water supply infrastructure will not be adequate enough to cater tourism based water supply
demand by the year 2021.
Water Supply (Demand-Supply Gap) - Tourism Based (in MLD)

100.00
50.00
0.00
2015 2021 2031 2041
-50.00
-100.00
-150.00
-200.00
-250.00
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Average Inflow - Mean Usage)(in MLD)
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Highest Inflow - Mean Usage)(in MLD)
2. Sewerage Treatment (Demand-Supply Gap) - Tourism Based (in MLD)

As per UDPFI guidelines , 80 % of the water usage i.e, 65 litres to 1600 litres per tourist per day
has been taken into consideration for tourism based Sewerage generation. And average sewerage
generation of 830 litres per tourist per day has been assumed for tourism based sewerage
treatment demand.
The gap has been calculated based on the existing sewerage treatment infrastructure, also
considering the city level sewerage generation in the year 2015. It has also been assumed that the
future proposals under JNNURM and JICA , if completed, will improve the total sewerage treatment
capacity to 291.3 MLD
Calculations (refer table, Sewerage Treatment Demand-Supply Gap) show that the deficit in
sewerage treatment demand and existing infrastructure capacity will decrease by the year 2021
from -170 MLD to -45 MLD . But the deficit will again go upto -205 MLD by the year 2041.
Sewerage Treatment (Demand-Supply Gap) - Tourism Based (in MLD)

0.00
2015 2021 2031 2041
-50.00
-100.00
-150.00
-200.00
-250.00
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Average Inflow - Mean Usage)(in MLD)
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Highest Inflow - Mean Usage)(in MLD)
3. Solid Waste Collection (Demand-Supply Gap) - Tourism Based (in TPD)

In South Asian region, approximately 70 million tonnes waste is generated every year. The per
capita waste generation is ranging from 0.12 kg to 5.1 kg per day, with the average waste generation
being 0.45 kg per day. These values have been assumed to calculate tourism-based Solid waste
generation in Varanasi city.
The gap has been calculated based on the existing solid waste infrastructure development, also
considering the city level solid waste generation in the year 2015.
Calculations (refer table, Solid Waste Collection Demand-Supply Gap) show that the deficit in
generated solid waste and existing infrastructure capacity will go upto almost -740 TPD by the year
2041.
Solid Waste Collection (Demand-Supply Gap) - Tourism Based (in TPD)

0.00
-100.00 2015 2021 2031 2041
-200.00
-300.00
-400.00
-500.00
-600.00
-700.00
-800.00
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Average Inflow - Mean Usage)(in TPD)
Tourism based Demand Supply Gap (Highest Inflow - Mean Usage)(in TPD)
Water Supply (Demand Supply Gap)- Tourism Based
Tourism based Tourism based

Assuming Mean Demand Supply Gap Assuming Mean Demand Supply Gap
Projected Average City Level Water Water Usage (Average Inflow - Projected Highest Water Usage (Highest Inflow - Proj
Tourist Inflow per Supply Surplus (in (1040L/tourist/day)( Mean Usage)(in Tourist Inflow in a (1040L/tourist/day)( Mean Usage)(in Tour
Assuming Lowest Assuming Mean Year day Tourism based
MLD) in MLD) MLD) Tourism based
day in MLD) MLD) Year
Sewerage Sewerage 2015
Assuming Highest 14278
Demand Supply Gap 56 14.85Assuming Mean 41.15 Demand Supply Gap 21417 22.27 33.73 2015
Generation Generation 2021 Sewerge (Average Inflow -
14844 Projected
6 Highest 20.78 Water Usage -14.78(Highest Inflow -22266 31.17 -25.17 2021
(65L/tourist/day) (830L/tourist/day)(i Generation(1600L/to
2031 Mean Usage)(in
15622 -66 (830L/tourist/day)(in
Tourist Inflow in a 21.87 -87.87Mean Usage)(in 23433 32.81 -98.81 2031
(in MLD) n MLD) 2041
urist/day)(in MLD) 16443 MLD) -157 day 23.02 MLD) -180.02 MLD) 24664 34.53 -191.53 2041
0.93 11.85 22.84 -169.85 21417 17.78 -175.78
0.95 16.63 23.75 -45.33 22266 24.94 -53.64
1.00 17.50 Sewerage Treatment
24.99 (Demand-Supply
-131.20 Gap)
23433Tourism Based 26.24 -139.94
1.05 18.42 26.31 -204.12 24664 27.62 -213.32
Tourism based City Level Sewerage

mand Supply Gap Treatment Gap (in Assuming Mean Tourism based Assuming Mean Tourism based
(Highest Inflow - Projected Average MLD) (assuming STP Sewerage Generation Demand Supply Gap Projected Highest Water Usage Demand Supply Gap
Mean Usage)(in Tourist Inflow per Capacity increased to (830L/tourist/day)(in (Average Inflow - Tourist Inflow in a (830L/tourist/day)(in (Highest Inflow -
HRIDAY- Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana

MLD) Year day 291.3MLD from 2021) MLD) Mean Usage)(in MLD) day MLD) Mean Usage)(in MLD)
33.73 2015 14278 -158 11.85 -169.85 21417 17.78 -175.78
-25.17 2021 14844 -29 0.00 -28.70 22266 0.00 -28.70
-98.81 2031 15622 -114 0.00 -113.70 23433 0.00 -113.70
-191.53 2041 16443 -186 0.00 -185.70 24664 0.00 -185.70
Solid Waste Collection (Demand-Supply Gap) -Tourism Based
Assuming Mean Tourism based Assuming Mean Tourism based

Projected Average Waste Generation Demand Supply Gap Projected Highest Waste Generation Demand Supply Gap
Tourist Inflow per City Level Waste (450g/tourist/day)(in (Average Inflow - Tourist Inflow in a (450g/tourist/day)(in (Highest Inflow -
Year day Collection (in TPD) TPD) Mean Usage)(in TPD) day TPD) Mean Usage)(in TPD)
2015 14278 -120 6.43 -126.43 21417 9.64 -129.64
2021 14844 -297 6.68 -303.68 22266 10.02 -307.02
2031 15622 -486 7.03 -493.03 23433 10.54 -496.54
2041 16443 -726 7.40 -733.40 24664 11.10 -737.10
City HRIDAY Plan - Varanasi
Architectural Heritage, AH Division - INTACH

118
7 7.1.Prioiritization of Assets
Varanasi is a heritage city with a diverse range
of heritage components both tangible and
intangible and there are areas with high density
and significance of built and cultural heritage.
There is a need for understanding Urban
improvement and projects, there is a need to
prioritize the heritage assets.
The Master plan 2031 recognizes the following
zones as Heritage zones in the city:
1. Zone of the Ghats and Temples along the
river Ganga
2. Durga Mandir, SankatMochan and Manas
Mandir Zone
3. Kamaccha Bhelupura Zone
4. Kabir Math (Lahartara) Zone
5. Sarnath Zone
6. Panchkroshi Yatra Zone
7. Nati Imli (Bharat Milap) Zone
Based on the Cultural resource mapping, as mentioned in chapter 3 and hierarchy of significance
amongst other parameters in CHP , The identified heritage zones are :
1. 84 Ghats along the Ganga river front
2. The old city of Varanasi
3. Durga Kund SankatMochan
4. Katehar Mohallah, in Peeli Kothi
5. Assi Nala
6. Sarnath
7. Bhelupur Kamaccha
8. Ramnagar
9. BHU
10. Kunds of Varanasi
11. Kabir Chorah
12. Panchkroshi Yatra
13. Natli Imli (Bharat Milap) zone
Some of these zones (1,2,3,6 ,12 &13), have also been identified as heritage zones in the Master plan
2031 giving it a statutory backing to these zones. Other zones have been added considering there
high cultural value and Pilgrimage importance. Out of the 12 heritage zones , 6 zones have been
prioritized for implementing Urban infrastructure development.
7.2 Rationale for Selection and Cultural Significance

1. Resource mapping- Cultural resource mapping clearly indicates concentration of both built and
intangible heritage.
• Significance: The significance of the heritage asset was very important in identification of the
area. The significance was taken into consideration as there are area in the city where there is a
large concentration of heritage structures, yet they are significant for the city as a whole, either
because of their role for the whole city or because of their condition. Hence only those zones have
been selected which have the highest concentration of Grade A heritage structures in them
• Landmark zones: Apart from heritage structures, there are some important landmark zones
in the city. The selection of zones have been done according to the number and significance of
landmark zones in the area.
• Intangible Heritage: The presence of intangible heritage in an area is also taken into consideration,
for the selection of heritage zone.
1. Tourist Inflow- Overall projection of tourists in Varanasi for the present year is 52 lakhs. A
survey conducted in a 2001-2002 study gives information about the percentage of tourists
visiting different tourist attractions of the city. On the basis of this study , the tourist demand for
the zones have been calculated. (Refer table prioritisation of the Assets)
2. Local Livelihood Dependency on the Assets- The economic profile of the Varanasi city is based
on the different occupation in which its population is engaged: Religious activities and occupation
related to them. Activities in the temples and the ghats. Local livelihood of the community by
enlarge correspondences to the heritage assets and tourism. The indicator helps to identify the
dependency of local livelihood on the heritage assets.
3. Heritage significance- Considering the values associated with the heritage assets such as historic
value, archaeological value, ecological value, spiritual value, Architecture value, etc helps to arrive
at high significant heritage asset/zones and its prioritisation as per the values (For detail zone
wise heritage significance Please refer Significance analysis table)
4. Master Plan zones- The Master plan 2031 recognizes seven zones as Heritage zones in the city
on the basis of their high heritage significance and tourism potential .These zones already having
statutory backing and institutional support and therefore endorse the prioritisation of heritage
zones.
5. Infrastructure Gap- Considering the steep demand in tourism and local livelihood dependency
in these areas existing and future gaps have been analyzed in the heritage zones. The indicator is
an important factor and a major catalyst which determines city’s smart and sustainable growth.
Conclusion : Grad I buildings (of high cultural significance) and high concentration of heritage has
also been an indicator, for example areas in the Old city. Besides the heritage , there are areas with
Landmark buildings which receives high pilgrimage throughout the year such as Durga Kund and
Sankat Mochan areas. As Varanasi thrives in the rich traditional crafts, this has also been one of the
indicators like Peeli kothi area famous for weavers. The economy of Varanasi is based on various
sectors like tourism, export of famous Banarasi saree, musical instruments and education sector. The
overall economy is dominated by tourism. Cottage industries along with small scale industries form
an important base for the economy.
Zone 1 & 2: Ghats along the Ganga river front and the old city
Zone 3: Durga Kund and Sankat Mochchan
Zone 4 : Katehar Mohallah in Peeli Kothi
Zone 5: Assi Nala
Zone 6: Sarnath
Based on the above stated matrix 84 Ghats and old City

area, Durga Kund SankatMochan and Sarnath have
been prioritized.
Peeli Kothi and Assi Nala have been included based
on their high intangible values and ecological value
receptively.
1. Ghats on Ganga Riverfront
Anandmayi Ghat in Ganga river front
• Vishwanath Gali and Tripura Bhairavi lane
• Godowlia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat
• Bangali Tola
2. Old city area of Varanasi
3. Sankatmochan and Durga Kund
• Puskar Talab
• Kurukshetra Pokhra
• Durga Kund
• Durga Temple
• Anand Bagh Bangali Tola in Old city
• SankatMochan
• Road connecting Durga Kund to SankatMochan
4. Area of the weavers of Varanasi
5. Assi Nala
6. Sarnath
The above stated areas need to be upgraded with a civic
infrastructure and heritage development plan prepared
in purview of ‘Varanasi as a heritage city’. Dasahwamedh bazaar street
Sarnath
8 Civic and Infrastructure Development Plan
8.1 Introduction to delineated areas
Based on evaluation and analysis of heritage significance, tourist inflow, local livelihood dependency
on the assets, statutory backing (Master plan) and existing and projected infrastructure facilities
and potential of the area in enhancing and augmenting the identity of the city, its economy and
stakeholders consultation, the 5 high priority heritage zones have been identified are :
1. Ghats on Ganga Riverfront
2. Old city area of Varanasi
3. Sankatmochan and Durga Kund
4. Peeli Kothi (Weavers Mohalla)
5. Assi Nala
6. Sarnath
Delineation of Heritage Areas around the Heritage Assets & Base Map Creation
Within some of these high priority of

heritage zones, the areas of intervention
LA
HU
RA
BIR
have also been delineated: AD

RO
O
IN R
A
AG
MAID
D
ZONE 01: Ghats on Ganga Riverfront

A
AL
Vishwanath Gali
AN
and Tripura
UL
All 84 Ghats on Ganga Riverfront from Ravi

BH
GO D
OW L
IYA -
Bhairawi Lane
LUXA RO
AD
Das Ghat to Adikeshav Ghat Godowliya
Chowk to
Dashashwamedh Ghat
ZONE 02: Old city area of Varanasi
Area of intervention : Vishwanath Gali B e n g a l i To l a
D
ROA
URA
precinct including Vishwanath Gali, Tripura

ARP
S ON
Bhairavi lane, Street from Godowlia Chowk

Ganga
µ
to Dasashwamedh Ghat and Bangali Tola . River and Ganga River and the Ghats
the Ghats
Old City Sub Zones
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

km
Delineation of Old city, zone 2
ZONE 03: SankatMochan Durga Kund

Areas of intervention
• Puskar Talab
• Kurukshetra Pokhra
• Durga Kund
• Durga Temple
• Anand Bagh
• SankatMochan
• Road connecting Durga Kund to
SankatMochan
ZONE 04: Peeli Kothi (Area of

weavers )
Katehar Mohalla in Peeli Kothi
ZONE 05: Assi Nala Delineation of Katehar mohallah in Peeli kothi zone 4
• Assi nala flowing through a length of
2.4 km.
ZONE 06: Sarnath

Area of intervention
• The areas along Rishapattan Road, Ashok
Road, Dharampala Road and Sarnath
Station Road.
• Sarnath Talab
• Sarangnath Talab
Delineation of Durga Kund, sankat mochan zone 3
Sarnath
Sarnath
Railway
SAR
Station Raj Ghat,
Û Archaelogical
N
ATH
Site
17
ROA
D
0 0.1 0.2 0.3

µ 0.4 0.5
Delineation of Sarnath zone 6

km
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics,

CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP,
swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
1:
Shiv Temple-82
Bhaddo Mal ki Kothi
2: 28
Kunj Gali (Saree Market)
3: 29
Alamgir
Gyanwapi (Well of knowledge)
4: 30 31 Brahma Ghat
Dharma Koop
5: Masjid
6:
Vishwanath Temple/ Golden Temple
7:
Gyanwapi Mosque 33 3432 Small Shiv Temple-87
8:
Shri Duni Ganpati Temple 38 36 35
9:
Hotel Moti Mahal Sanskrit School 39 37 28: Dwitiya Brahmacharini Devi Temple
10:
Residential House-129 29: Shri Kashi Math Sansthan
11:
Shankar Swami Temple or Khichri Baba Ganesh 30: Bindu Madhav Temple
Chowk Gate 1
Thana 2 41
Ghat
Amrit
42 40 Vinayak
Mehta Ghat
31: Ancient Ganga Temple & Shiva Temple
32: Kangan wali Haveli
33: Balaji Temple
1: Ganga River and the Ghats
3 34: Balaji Ghat
35: Panchganga Ghat
43 Temple 36: Jarau Mandir
Chitra Cinema and
Laxmi Market
Kashi Karwat
Shiva Temple Vireishwar
37: Jataar Ghat
38: Ram Temple-1
39: Anand Bhairav Temple-1
2a: Vishwanath Gali and
7 45 44 Ghat/Scindia Ghat 40: Sankata Temple
8 64
Annapurna Mandir Rani
41: Kashmiri Mall ki Haveli
42: Chandrakoop
43: Siddhshwari Temple
Tripura Bhairawi Lane
44: Manikarnika Kund Chakra Pushkarni
5 Lalita Ghat Bhawani 45: Alwar Temple
2b: Godowliya Chowk to
2a:
46 Temple 46: Somrajeshwar (Nepali) Temple
Vishalakshi 47: Jarasangh Ghat
Temple 48: Vrudhadivya Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat
49: Madrasi Dharamshala
10
9 Ishan Bhawan 11 Varahi Ghat
1
13 47
16 1248 49
15 14
2c: Bengali Tola
Chittranjan
Park
18 17
2b: 12: Sangrahalaya (Museum)
2c:
19 13: Brihaspati Temple & Residential Building Baradari
Bandi Prayag Ghat
Devi
14: Dasaswamedh Boarding House
15: Residential House-118
16: Shree Kashi Nattukattam Nagar Chatram
3a: Durga Kund and Durga Temple
Temple 17: Kali Temple-4
21 20
Ranamahal Ghat 22
25 24 23
18: Kamrup Math
19: Shiv Temple-80
20: Darbhanga Ghat/Munsi Ghat
21: Rana Mahal
3b: Anand Bagh
26
Kashi Ram Ashram Digpatiya Ghat
27
22: Darbhanga Ghat
23: Bhoop Bhuwaneshwar Mahadev & Ganesh Temple
24: Causatti Ghat
3c: Kurukshetra Pokhra
25: Chaushatti Devi Temple
Khori-Pande &
Sarveshwara
Ghats
Raja
26: Residential Building-38
27: Radha Krishna Mandir (Complex) 3d: Sankat Mochan Temple
Kshemeshwara-Narad
Ghat
Ghat Kshemeshwara-Manasarovara Ghat

3e: Pushkar Talab
Chauki Ghat
3f: Durga Kund to Sakat Mochan Temple
& Environs
Karnataka &
Harishchandra
4: Katehar Mohalla, Peeli Kothi
Ghat
Hanuman
Ghat 5: Assi Nala
Shivala-Guluria
& Dandi Ghat Chet
Niranjani & Singh
Mahanirvani Ghat
Ghat-1
Jain
Svetambar
Building Mandir
(Kashi
Digambar Jain Mandir
Rup Rang)
Chetra Bhadaini-Janaki Ghat
Paleshwar
Mahadev Lolarka Kund
Old Water Station &
3c:
Age Women Temple (which Tower in Bhaidaini
House Lalarkeshwar Tuksi
3a:
Palace of Mahadev) Ghat Ganga Mahak&
Peshawas Rivan Ghat
Kurukshetra LISTED HERITAGE SITES (ZONES) HERITAGE ZONES, VARANASI
Assi
Laleshwar Ghat Residential Old City
3b:
Durga
Panch Mahadev Temple Secular Ganga River and the Ghats
Temple-3
Ratan
Imam Mandir Dumrao Commercial Godowlia Chowk to Dashashwamedh Ghat
Bara Colony ka Shiv Civic Katehar Mohalla, Peeli Kothi
Mandir
3e:
Institutional Durga Kund and Sankat Mochan
Jagannath
3f
Temple Mixed; Mixed Assi Nala
Geographical Feature PUBLIC UTILITIES
Puskar Talab
Landscape Community Toilet
Temple
Structure Drinking Water Kiosk
(Nirananji Das
Bhinga Raj Bara Akhara) Antargrahi Yatra Temples Tourist Information Kiosk
Dandli Seva
Mahaendrai Guide Map/Signage
Ashram
5
Chatrawas Pedestrian Bridge
Pedestrian Subway (Underpass)
3d: Parking Space

Police Kiosk
Fire Station
Waste Container
0 250 500 750 1,000

Meters
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
8.1.1. ZONE 01: Ghats on Ganga Riverfront

84 Ghats on Ganga Riverfront from Ravi Das Ghat to Adikeshav Ghat
Historic, Religious, Tourism, Cultural importance
The Ghats are the most important heritage asset of the city as they possess a high historic,
architectural, religious, associational value and give identity of Varanasi. The Ghats are also a
reservoir of multiple intangible practices like the religious bathing and aarti , cremating on the
Manikarnika Ghat all of which co exist in the same area.
The historicity of the ghats dates back to the 8th century BCE , when there is predicted to be
a settlement in Raj Ghat. The oldest firmly dated Ghat based on inscriptional evidence is the
Manikarnika Ghat constructed in stone in 1302. In 1580, the Vishweshwara Ghat was partially
constructed which was completed by Rao Surjan and was renamed Bundi Parkota Ghat (in the
northern reached of the city) built. This was followed by Manmandir and Kanganvali Haveli on
Manmandir Ghat and Panchganag Ghat respectively in 1600, Kedar temple and Ghat in 1695,
Dharara Mosque in 1669. Brahma and Durga ghats in 1730, Meer Pushta on Meer ghat in 1735
Rana Mahal in 1785. During 1789-1791, Dasashwamedh Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat were built as
public ghats by AhiliyaBai Holkar. The above stated construction included religious, residential and
water structures. The historic character of the Ghats is evident in the palaces and temples lined
on the ghats.
The Ghats experience cultural multiplicity with complex network of daily users, pilgrims, visitors
& tourist. They are home to a variety of cultural activities such as festivals, maha utsavas, recitals,
nautankies, and termination of religious processions to the river.
Dasashwamedh Ghat Darbangha Ghat
Location of the Ghats and Total Area Covered

It is a crescent-shaped 6.8 km built section along the bank of the Ganga river incorporating 84
ghats, from the confluence of Assi in the south to the confluence of the Varuna river in the north
lined with a series of Ghats.
The ghats delineated for the project area is the stretch from Ravi Das Ghat to Adi Keshav Ghat
stretching along a distance of 6.8km along the river.
Typology of the Built Heritage along the Ghats

The architecture lining the ghats varies from residential palaces to temples to shops, restaurants
and hotels and functional elements like aarti platforms built over a period of time by different
rulers. Every ruler built his own ghat and a palace on it with his regional architectural style. As a
result of this, the Ghats represent a myriad of architectural styles and vocabulary.
The palatial building along the ghats were built under the patronage of the Marathas during 18th-
19th centuries, Ashramas , Sanskrit schools, temples, pilgrims rest house were built by principalities
of different parts of India like Peshvas of Pune, Holkar of Indore, Scindias of Gwaliors, Bhonshalas
of Nagpur, Sursand, Bhabhua and Darbhanga estates of Bihar, Rani Bhavani of Bengla, Kings of
Nepal in between 18th and 20th centuries .
Figure round showing built vs open areas(Courtyards, Streets, Chowks) in Lalita Ghat
Schematic sections through the Ghats
Source: Reconnected Banaras Ghats & streets documentation,

Faculty of Architecture, UP Technical University Lucknow, India
Schematic sections through the Ghats
Source: Reconnected Banaras Ghats & streets documentation,

Faculty of Architecture, UP Technical University Lucknow, India
Livelihood and activities along the Ghats

The Ghats are a source of livelihood for the people of Varanasi. Due to the high footfall of pilgrims
and tourists (both national and international), the local community thrive on the tourism related
services like hotels, restaurants, transport such as rickshaws and autos , shopping such as sarees,
toys etc , boating.
Ownership:
The temples and palaces related properties along the Ghat are owned by the respective trusts. The
houses and other properties are under the ownership of the inhabitants. The Ghat area is owned
by the Municipal Corporation
Existing Infrastructure
Accessibility:
The ghats are accessible from different streets of the old city like vehicular streets leading to Raj
Ghat, Dasashwamedh Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat and Assi Ghat. To all other ghats, there is only
pedestrian access.
Parking facility:
There is a public parking area at Dasashwamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat for two and four wheelers.
Parkin space near C.R. Park on Dasashwamedh road Chunar stone signage on Dasashwamedh Ghat
Public Convenience:
There are public toilets and urinals on 12 ghats namely Assi ghat, Chowki ghat, Hanuman ghat,
Scindia ghat, Manikarnika ghat, Dasashwamedh ghat, Khrikiya ghat, Malviya bridge, Rajghat
ghat, Prahlad ghat, Trilochan ghat, Gai ghat but are in a poor condition and most of them are not
operational.
Availability of tourist information centre:

There is a tourist information center at Dasashwamedh Ghat and other at Nepali Ghat .
Sewerage:
There are 6 sewage treatment plants located at Trilochan Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat, Jalasen Ghat,
Harish Chandra Ghat, Nagwa Ghat and Dr. RP Ghat. Sewage treatment of only 87 MLD is done while
130 MLD sewerage is dumped untreated.
Drainage:
Storm water drains present at Gola, Trilochan, Mansarovar, Harishchandra, rajghat, Shivala, Brahma,
Jawala sen, Manikarnika, Ganesh , Naradghat, Teliyana, Assi and Nakhi.
Assi ghat has water logging problem and waste water outlet is dysfunctional.
Solid Waste Management:

There are very few dustbins on the ghats, which are also in a derelict condition.
Poor condition of Dustbisn on the Ghats Untreated sewer line outlet,overflowing in River
Ganga
Base map of Ghats on Ganga River Front
Source: Ghats of Varanasi on the Ganga in India , the cultural

Landscape reclaimed,Dept. of Landscape Architecture University
of Illinois at Urban Champaign, USA
8.1.2. SWOT Analysis of Ghats on Ganga River Front

• Strengths and Significance
1. Ghats of Varanasi are one of the oldest and most important character defining features of Varanasi.
2. They exhibit a wide variety of architectural styles dating to different time periods. Therefore it is a
palette of built heritage with a rich and varied vocabulary which has continued over centuries.
3. They form an important part of the lives of the local people and their religious beliefs.
4. They have a high pilgrim and tourist footfall both national and international. They are a site of many
religious activities, fairs and festivals like Sawan ka somawar, Deep Deepawali etc.
5. They have a high historic, religious, architectural, cultural, associative, intangible significance.
6. They are the largest cultural open space of the city.
• Weakness and Issues

1. Connectivity from Assi Ghat to Ravi Das Ghat and Raj Ghat to Adikeshav Ghat is absent.
2. At some ghats, there are sewers which open into Ganga, hence polluting it like Bhaidani Ghat, Chowki
Ghat, Boondi Parkota Ghat and Gola Ghat.
3. Due to lack of maintenance, some of the ghats are deteriorating with time with broken steps and
vegetation growth like Bhaidani Ghat, Boondi Parkota Ghat, Gola Ghat.
4. Some ghats have siltation and accumulation of garbage and debris like Ram Ghat, Jalasan Ghat, Teliyana
Ghat.
5. Some of the built structures on the ghats are deteriorating due to being inaccessible and unused like
Jalasan Ghat, Ram Ghat.
6. The new development on the ghats lack existence and implementation of regulations and color control
which is evident on most of the ghats like Lali Ghat, Kedar Ghat etc.
7. Owing to the high footfall, the ghats lack sufficient number of public amenities like public toilets,
changing rooms, drinking water stations, shaded seating areas, medical aid facility, tourist information
center.
8. There are hoardings and graffiti on the heritage structures.
9. Presently only some of the ghats have a high concentration of activities like Dasashwamedh, Rajendra
Prasad, Lalita Ghat, Assi Ghat while the other ghats do not have any major activities.
• Opportunities and Potentials

1. Ghats cater maximum numbers of tourists which is a good opportunity for generating economy
for local people such as boating community in Varanasi, local photographers, eatery joints,
craft shops, etc
2. Every Ghat is distinct in nature , its architecture features ,spatial Quality and views . Due to its
dynamic nature many activities can be introduced on the Ghats for cultural revival. This will
also attract different kind of tourists on the Ghats.
• Threats
1. The ghats along the river Ganga, are prone to deterioration due to rising level of water of the
river which causes the ghats to submerge under water causing erosion and deterioration of the
stone steps during peak rainy season.
2. Like many streets leading to the ghats have been encroached and built upon, other streets are
also prone to encroachment which needs to be curbed.
Broken steps on Bhaidani Ghat Disconnectivity of Ghat From Ravidas to Assi Ghat
8.1.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis

The projection has been done for the horizon year 2031 starting from 2016 for every 5 years. 50 %
extra of the average tourist inflow has been taken for the highest tourist inflow in a day calculations.
The tourist inflow for each identified heritage zone has been taken as the percentage of total
visitors visiting Varanasi. 100% of the tourists visiting Varanasi visit the Ghats.
With the implementation of HRIDAY projects in the city, an assumption has been taken for the
number of tourists expected to visit the identified heritage zone in 2021, 2026 and subsequently
in 2031(Master plan year).
a) Tourist Projection
EXPECTED % OF
% TOURIST TOURISTS EXPECTED NO EXPECTED NO
EXPECTED NO OF
ZONE VISITING THE VISITING THE OF OF
TOURISTS(2026)
PLACE PLACE (POST TOURISTS(2021) TOURISTS(2031)
HRIDAY)
Zone 01
100 100 21466 22296 23127
a) Ghats
b) Tourist Infrastructure
TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTING REQUIRED as per Norms GAP No
PUBLIC TOILETS 125 (Need upgradation) 145 20 New 1 Toilet sea

(Community T
125 to be upgraded Bharat Abhiy
DRINKING WATER STATIONS 4 (10 water taps unpurified) 145 135 taps 1 Tap/175 user
Abh
CHANGING ROOMS 25 65 40 1 Changing ro
TOURIST INFORMATION KIOSK 3 10 7 1 /10 La
GAP Norms
New 1 Toilet seat /175 users

(Community Toilets) (Swacch
e upgraded Bharat Abhiyan Guidelines)
5 taps 1 Tap/175 users(Swacch Bharat
Abhiyan
40 1 Changing room/100 users
7 1 /10 Landmarks
• There is a high deficit in the public by 2031 amenities available on the ghat to cater to the high
tourist footfall of 23127 persons per day. The existing number of toilet seats on the ghats is 125
which are not in usable condition. The required number of toilet seats to cater to the projected
footfall is 145 of which 125 existing should be upgraded while new toilets need to be added to
accommodate the deficit 20 toilet seats.
• The number of drinking water stations on the ghats is 4 with 10 water taps in totality which
serve non purified water. Therefore 135 new water taps are required which serve purified
water along with providing purified water to the existing 10 taps.
• There are 25 changing rooms on the ghats while the requirement is for 65. Therefore 40 new
changing rooms need to be built.
• At present there are 3 information kiosks located on Assi Ghat and Dasashwamedh Ghat while
10 numbers are needed to cater to the area and footfall.
c) Urban Infrastructure
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTING REQUIRED as per Norms GAP Norms
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 50 225 175 dustbins, waste 1/30 meters
(Dustbins) containers needed
SIGNAGE 0 84 INFORMATION SIGNAGE 84 signage needed 1/ghat
LIGHTING High Masts All Ghats to be illuminated Proper designed illumination

needed
ACCESSIBILTY Ravi Das Ghat and AdiKeshav All Ghats need to be Ravi Das to Assi Ghat (500m)
Ghat not connected accessible Raj Ghat ti Adikeshave Ghat
(1500m)
CONDITION 21 Ghats have broken steps All broken steps to be repaired 21 Ghats need to be repaired
Norms
s, waste 1/30 meters

needed
needed 1/ghat
illumination
• There are 50 dustbins located on the ghats which are not in usable condition. Besides the
ed
existing number, 175 more dustbins are required to cater to the solid waste generated by the
Ghat (500m)
tourists on the ghats.
eshave Ghat
m) • High light masts have been installed on the ghats. However the steps of the ghats are still insuf-
o be repaired ficiently lighted. The ghats and buildings along should also be provided with designed, efficient
lighting with low power consumption.
• There is a complete absence of information signage on the ghats. Therefore each ghat to have
one information signage giving information of the history and significance of each ghat.
• Ravi Das to Assi Ghat (500m) Raj Ghat to Adikeshav Ghat (1500m) need to be connected to
create a continuation in the ghats.
Temporary urinals, that are not usable on Ghats Organic waste from the sacred rituals, lying untreated
on the Ghats
8.1.4. Proposed Plan for Ghats

The ghats of Varanasi are the most pious place in the city which is home to multiple religious
practices and also the city’s largest cultural open space. They are a part of the daily life of the
residents of Varanasi and the main attraction for both domestic and international tourists.
The main aim in the purview of HRIDAY is to make the ghats more visitor friendly and improve their
environment by developing the ghats with public amenities and infrastructure to cater to the high
visitor footfall all round the year.
Therefore the main components of the proposal are:
1. CONNECTIVITY & ACCESSIBILITY

Building ghats and walkways to create a continuation in accessibility to the ghats binding all ghats
together (Ravidas to Assi 500 meters and Rajghat to Adhikeshav Ghat 1500 meters). This would
help in decongesting some of the internal streets and also reduce the walking distance of pilgrims
doing yatras such as Panchkroshi yatra, Avimukta, Chardham, Antargriha and Jyotir Linga.
2. URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
• Solid waste Management to be addressed by Installation of solid waste compost and Provision
for Dustbins along the ghats.
• Lighting of steps and the buildings.
• Diversion of sewers from Ganga into the interceptors already located on the ghats on the
following ghats: Baidhani Ghat, Shivala Ghat, Chauki Ghat and Gola Ghat

3. URBAN SIGNAGE and STREETSCAPE

• Street furniture (Traditional chhatris)-The traditional bamboo chattris which is a common sight
at every ghat which is used by priests is being replaced by modern shaded structures. This
should be an effort to revive the chattris being the local craft in Varanasi.
• Information signage for Ghats.
4. HERITAGE CONSERVATION
• De siltation and removal of debris to give accessibility to the Ghats and repair and replacement.
Debri of eroded stone steps leading to the Ghats on Tulsi Ghat, Janki Ghat, Sri Nisadraj Ghat,
Prabhu Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Lali Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat, Kshameshwar Ghat,
Babua Pandey Ghat, Mir Ghat, Nepali Phuta Ghat, Jalasan Ghat, Ganaga Mahal Ghat, Ram Ghat,
Boondi Parkota, Lal Ghat, Nandeshwar Ghat, Sakka Ghat, Teliyana Ghat, Nishad Ghat.
5. VISITOR AMENITIES
• Toilets, Drinking water stations, Changing rooms- As numbers have identified in the gap analysis
• Information Kiosks- Numbers as identified
• Informal sectors, cafes and other public activities on Babua Pandey Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat,
Kshameshwar Ghat, Mir Ghat to decongest Dasashwamedh Ghat , Rajendra Prasad Ghat, Assi
Ghat and Lalita Ghat .
Before
After
. Proposed Plan for Ghats
Repair of the steps at Gola Ghat
BEFORE
Gola Ghat
AFTER
Color control and removal of encroachments from the Ghat

BEFORE
Jalasen Ghat
AFTER
Signages control on the Ghats and removal of paints and Graffitis

BEFORE
Janki Ghat
AFTER
Removal of debris and reviving historic pavilions and facade

BEFORE
Ram Ghat
AFTER
Removal of garbage and developing steps on the Ghats
BEFORE
Sakka Ghat
AFTER
Landscaping on the Ghats
BEFORE
Tehliyana Ghat
AFTER
Provision of cafes/pavilions on the Ghats
BEFORE
Babua Pandey Ghat
AFTER
Provision of toilets and changing room on the Ghats

BEFORE
Lalita ghat
AFTER
Development of cremation platforms and wood storage pavilions
Wood storage cremation platform
Manikarnika Ghat
8.2.1. ZONE 02: Old city of Varanasi

• Historic, Religious, Tourism, Cultural importance
The old city of Varanasi is a traditional city with a high density built fabric with narrow organic
street pattern. The web of streets leads to the Ghats and connects other important heritage
areas within the old city. There are some significant heritage areas in the old city like Vishwanath
temple, Thatheri bazaar, Ganga Mahal area, Bangali tola, Shivala, Raj Ghat etc within which there
are significant heritage sites including temples, havelis, mosque etc with a high historic, religious,
architectural, associative and cultural value.
Today the old city has undergone several transformations with the changing lifestyles. There is new
construction and demolition of old buildings, encroachment, traffic issues, haphazard caballing,
improper drainage systems which are changing the character of the old city fabric.
• Location of the Old city

The old city area is situated along the ghats between the ghats and the parallel road which divides
the old city from the new city.
• Total Covered area

The area between Ravi Das park to Raj Ghat and Bhelupura Road to Rabindranath Tagore Road
spread over an area of 500acres. This includes the area from the bank towards the city covering a
distance of 200m which has been declared as the riverfront heritage. Within this zone, Vishwanath
Gali precinct has been identified as area of intervention including Tripura Bhairavi lane, Street
from Godowlia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat and Bengali Tola encircling the following heritage
structures:
• Vishwanath temple
• Gyanvapi Mosque
• Vishalakshi devi temple
• Dharmakoop
• Tripura Bhairavi Mata Temple
• Nepali temple
• Annapurna temple
• Dundi Ganpati temple
• 32 Antargrahi pilgrim route spots
• Ishan Bhawan
Vishwanath Gali gateway from Dasahwamedh
road
• Brahspati temple
• Sankatswami temple(Khichdi Baba Temple)
• Dasashwamedh Boarding house
• Chitranjan Park
• Madrasi Dharamshala
• Man Mahal Observatory and Museum
• Sri Kashinattukattam Nagar Chatram
• Agast Kund temple
• Kamroop Math
Tara badi in Bangali tola
• Tara badi
• Chausathi devi temple
• Radh Krishna Mandir complex
• Ahiliya Bai Brahmpuri Gate
• Livelihood and Activities of the old city

The old city is a commercial, religious and tourist center with important commercial, religious and
heritage areas. These act as a source of livelihood to the local and floating population of Varanasi.
There is a high footfall of tourists and pilgrims and providing services to them is one of the major
livelihoods of the people of the old city.
• Ownership
The residential structures are under private ownership.
Temples are managed by temple Trusts.
The Maths are under their own respective trusts.
The streets, public chowks and open spaces are under the ownership of Municipal Corporation.
• Existing Infrastructure
Accessibility:
The old city is approached from the Bhelupura road and Sonarpura road through narrow streets. It
can also be accessed from the Ghats opening into the old city area.
Parking facility:
There are parking areas at Dasashwamedh, Assi Ghat and Raj Ghat. However the dense residential
fabric does not have any parking lots and the streets and chowks are used for parking.
Public Convenience:
The old city lacks public amenities. There are few public toilets and drinking water stations which
are highly insufficient for the high visitor footfall.
Availability of tourist information center

The old city has only two information kiosk on the streets leading to Vishwanath temple from
Chowk and Godowlia Dasashwamedh Street.
Sewage
Sewage lines are laid underground in the streets.
Solid waste disposal

There is inefficient solid waste management in the old city. The streets are littered with garbage as
there are insufficient garbage bins and containers.
Streets are littered with garbage as there are insufficient garbage bins Condition of streets in Vishwanath Gali
and containers in old city
8.2.2. SWOT Analysis of Old City of Varanasi
1. This is one of the oldest living heritage area of Varanasi with a varied typology of built heritage
like religious structures- temples, mosques, churches, residential structures like havelis,
bungalows, badis, old commercial spines and bazaar streets like Thatheri Bazar, market on
street leading to Dasashwamedh Ghat, water bodies like kunds, talabs etc.
2. Its planning is based on traditional city planning principles with climate responsive architecture
and planning.
3. It has structures of high religious, architectural, cultural, functional, associative, cultural value.
4. It provides service to the high footfall of tourists in the form of hotels, restaurants, shopping
areas etc.
1. The Vishwanath Gali precinct has a high density of built fabric which has undergone immense
transformation over time. This has resulted in increased encroachments and loss of the planning
principles. This is detrimental to the character and quality of life and space and affects the
residents and users of the spaces.
2. Many of the streets and open spaces have been built upon therefore reducing the open spaces
in the high density area.
3. The area lacks public amenities like public toilets, drinking water stations, lighting and has
caballing criss crossing the streets and on the heritage structures.
4. The heritage structures do not have adequate visibility and awareness about their existence
with respect to tourism.

The Vishwanath Gali precinct is an example of one of the oldest living heritage cities and exhibits a
diverse range of architecture, culture and lifestyle.
However, presently the tourists/pilgrims visiting Varanasi are not aware of the diversity in the area.
They only visit the popular spots like Kashi Vishwanath temple. However there are many other
structures of architectural and cultural significance which need to be endorsed. This would also
reduce the pressure on the other popular tourist spots as there would be diversion and distribution
of tourists to other potential areas.
8.2.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis for Old CIty
of Varanasi
visitors visiting Varanasi. 80 % of the tourists visiting Varanasi visit the old city.
EXPECTED % OF
% TOURIST TOURISTS EXPECTED NO EXPECTED NO OF
EXPECTED NO OF
ZONE VISITING THE VISITING THE OF
TOURISTS(2021) TOURISTS(2031)
PLACE PLACE (POST TOURISTS(2026)
HRIDAY)
ZONE 2
60 80 %
Old city 16,722 17,345 17,968
b) Tourist Infrastructure Projection

TOURIST EXISTING REQUIRED as per GAP Norms
INFRASTRUCTURE Norms
PUBLIC TOILETS 30 seats 107 seats 77 seats needed 1 Toilet seat /175
users (Community
Toilets)
DRINKING WATER 15 taps 107 92 taps needed 1 Tap/175

STATIONS users(Swacch
Bharat Abhiyan
TOURIST INFORMATION 2 10 8 tourist information 1 /10 Landmarks

KIOSK kiosk needed
The old city has a huge deficit in the required infrastructure versus the existing infrastructure for
tourists.
For a tourist foot fall of 23126, the number of toilet seats and drinking water taps required is 107
while presently there are only 30 seats and 15 taps. Therefore more toilets (77 seats) and drinking
water stations (107 taps) are needed to cater the high footfall of tourists.
In spite of multiple tourist spots within the old city, there are only 2 tourist information kiosk while
according to the requirement, there should be 10 kiosks to provide information to the projected
number of tourists.
c) Urban infrastructure Projection
URBAN EXISTING REQUIRED as per GAP Norms

INFRASTRUCTURE Norms
COMMUNITY - 0.5% of residing - 1 Toilet seat

TOILETS population uses /175 users
community toilet (Community
(Source: CDP) which can
Toilets)
be accommodated
(Swacch Bharat
within the public toilets
Abhiyan
required by tourists
Guidelines)
DRINKING WATER - Not required - 1 Tap /175

STATIONS users (Swacch
Bharat Abhiyan
Guidelines)
STREET LIGHTING NA 600 Insufficient street 1/30 meters

lighting
SIGNAGE NA 83 Information signage Insufficient directional 1 Information

signage
signage
/Landmark
WATER SUPPLY 2.872MLD 3.446 MLD 0.574 MLD needed 135lpcd (UDPFI
norms)
SEWAGE TREATMENT 0.979 MLD 3.525 MLD 2.546 MLD needed 80% of water
supply demand
(UDPFI norms)
SOLID WASTE 4.177 TPD 8.407 TPD 4.23 TPD needed 414 gm/c/d
COLLECTION (CDP Varanasi
20141)
SOLID WASTE NA 600 Insufficient dustbins and 1/30 meters
MANAGEMENT waste containers
(Dustbins)
ROADS, PAVING 20 KM of streets to be 20 KM of streets to be

INCLUDING STORM repaired, upgraded and repaired, upgraded and
WATER DRAINAGE paved (15 streets) paved (15 streets)
AND UNDERGROUND
CABALLING
WATER SUPPLY
Heritage Zones Old City Peeli Kothi Durga Kund Sarnath City
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

Water Supply Demand for
2011 (in MLD)
1.575 0.631 1.687 1.572 274
Current Water Supply
Capacity (in MLD) 1.884 0.754 2.017 1.879 330
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) 0.308 0.123 0.330 0.308 56
Estimated Population
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
2021 1.849 0.741 1.981 1.845 324
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in MLD) 0.034 0.014 0.037 0.034 6
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
2031 2.260 0.905 2.421 2.255 396
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in MLD) -0.377 -0.151 -0.403 -0.376 -66
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
2041 2.780 1.113 2.977 2.773 487
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -0.896 -0.359 -0.960 -0.894 -157
Demand Supply Gap (Water Supply)(in MLD)

0.4 400
300
0.2 200
100
0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041 -100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
Old City Peeli Kothi Durga Kund Sarnath City
Demand Supply Gap (Sewage Treatment)(in MLD)
0 0
SEWAGE
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

Access to Toilets (%
Households)
0.991 0.935 0.739 0.372
Sewage Treatment Demand
for 2011 (in MLD)
1.284 0.514 1.375 1.281 225
Current Sewage Treatment
Capacity (in MLD)
0.642 0.257 0.688 0.641 102
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) -0.642 -0.257 -0.688 -0.641 -123
Future Sewerage Treatment
Capacity 1.661 0.665 1.779 1.657 291
Estimated Population (2021) Demand Supply Gap (Water Supply)(in MLD)
0.4 10727 4297 11489 10703 400
Sewage Treatment Demand 300
0.2for 2021 1.826 0.732 1.956 1.822 200 320
100
Demand-Supply Gap
0 0
2021 (in MLD)
2015 -0.166
2021 -0.066
2031 -0.177 2041 -0.165 -100 -29
Estimated
-0.2Population (2031) -200
13124 5257 14056 13094 -300
Sewage-0.4
Treatment Demand -400
-500
for 2031 2.312 0.926 2.476 2.306 405
-0.6 -600
Demand-Supply Gap -700
2031
-0.8 (in MLD) -0.651 -0.261 -0.697 -0.649 -800 -114
Estimated Population (2041) -900
-1 -1000
16129 6460 17274 16093
-1100
-1.2 -1200
for 2041 2.723 1.091 2.916 2.716 477
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -1.062 -0.425 -1.137 -1.059 -186

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Katehar
Heritage Zones Old City Mohalla, Durga Kund Sarnath City
Peeli Kothi
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491
Solid Waste Generation
for 2011 3.425 1.372 3.668 3.417 600
Current Solid Waste
Collection 2.740 1.097 2.934 2.734 480
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in TPD) -0.685 -0.274 -0.734 -0.683 -120
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
for 2021 4.435 1.776 4.750 4.425 777
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in TPD) -1.695 -0.679 -1.816 -1.691 -297
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
for 2031 5.514 2.209 5.905 5.501 966
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in TPD) -2.774 -1.111 -2.971 -2.768 -486
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
for 2041 6.883 2.757 7.372 6.868 1206
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in TPD) -4.144 -1.660 -4.438 -4.135 -726
Demand Supply Gap (Solid Waste Collection)(in TPD)

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-0.5 -500
-1 -1000
-1.5 -1500
-2 -2000
-2.5 -2500
-3 -3000
-3.5 -3500
-4 -4000
-4.5 -4500
-5 -5000
Old City Katehar Mohalla, Peeli Kothi Durga Kund Sarnath City
For the residing population, the present water supply is 1.575MLD while as per the population
growth in 2031, 0.377 MLD is required; the present solid waste collection is of 3.425 MLD while
collection of 2.774MLD more is required, sewage treatment is of 0.642 MLD while 0.651MLD
more is required, There is adequate water supply until 2021, however which becomes inadequate
afterwards. For solid waste management, the door to door collection is 0% creating a high shortfall.
99.9% population in the old city has access to toilets. Therefore, community toilets and drinking
water is not needed. The shortfall can be fulfilled by the public toilets which are needed for the
tourists.
Street infrastructure in the old city is poor. There are insufficient street lights because of which the
streets remain dark at night and are unsafe.
In such a complex street pattern, there is insufficient signage to give direction to the major
landmarks.
The condition of street paving is poor in Vishwanath Gali while in Bengali Tola, Godowlia Chowk to
Dasashwamedh Ghat, repairs are needed in patches.
The streets have a web of cables criss crossing all over the buildings in the street. Therefore along
with paving repair, underground cabling and efficient storm water drainage needs to be included.
The number of dustbins in the old city streets is negligible and there is a huge amount of solid
waste being disposed on the streets itself. There is a requirement of 600 dustbins.
Native street furniture from the old city Street lights in the old city (Bengali Tola)
8.2.4. Proposed Plan for Old City

The main aim is to improve the environment of the old city and to improve its imageabilty .This
will be done by developing and improving the tourist and urban infrastructure so as to cater to the
high footfall of visitors.
Following are the proposals:
1. CONNECTIVITY and ACCESSIBILITY

• Paving the streets leading to the Ghats with a distinct paving such as Vishwanath gali and
Dasashwamedh road stretch from Gowdowlia chowk.
• Highlighting the access to important heritage sites like Vishwanath gali leading to Vishwanath
temple with a gateway and signage at the entrance .
• Provision of dustbins for efficient solid waste collection which otherwise is littered on the
streets and treating the waste collected and the temple waste through solid waste compost.
• Development of 15 identified roads linking the heritage sites within Bangali Tola, Vishwanath
Gali and street leading from Godowlia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat including repair, paving,
storm water drainage and underground cabling along with creating a safe and secure pedestrian
environment with street lights and street furniture.
3. URBAN STREETSCAPE and SIGNAGE

• Provision of signage (Directional, Information and shop signage’s) to important tourist and
heritage structures highlighting them and creating a uniform language all across.
• The heritage in the old city has gone through a lot of neglect and exploitation by erecting
hoardings, graffiti etc. Therefore removal of hoarding and graffiti from the facade of heritage
structures to clean and conserve the heritage structures.
• With the old city being a living city, there is uncontrolled development which needs to be
curbed and regulated. Therefore provision of bye laws and regulations for the sub zones in the
old city.
5. OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT

• With little open spaces in the old city, the existing ones like Chittranjan Park have to be
redeveloped as public open spaces with visitor infrastructure.
• Provision of Public Toilets, Drinking water stations( Nos as identified in the gap analysis) for
catering to the high footfall of tourists.
• Proposing a heritage trail linking the identified heritage zones and buildings in order to create
and promote tourism in the old city.
Provision for street paving and wall mounted in signage in old city
BEFORE
Narrow lane in Bengali Tola
AFTER
Proposal for Vishwanath Gali
Heritage walk for Vishwanath temple area in old city
GOWDOLIYA TO MAIDAGIN STRETCH DEVELOPMENT
GOWDOLIYA TO MAIDAGIN STRETCH DEVELOPMENT - FACADE REPAIR
DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNHALL AS HERITAGE CENTER FOR VISITORS AND
PARKING FACILITY AT MAIDAGIN
Proposals for Bangali tola – Identified Streets
Proposal for Bengali Tola street 1- Architerctural significance
Proposal for Bengali Tola street 2- Religious significance
Proposal for Bengali Tola street 3- Cultural significance
8.3.1. ZONE 03: Durga Kund and SankatMochan
This area contains numerous temples like SakatMochan temple, Durga temple, Tulasi Manas tem-
ple, Jagannath temple and kunds like Durga Kund, Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar talab.
Sankat Mochan temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi with a high historic and religious
significance. It is dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. Every Tuesday and Saturday, thousands
of devotees queue up in front of the Sankat Mochan temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. It
is considered that the temple was built from the time when Tulsidas had a vision of the Hanuman.
Durga Kund was built in the 18th century. On its south edge is the Durga Temple dedicated to God-
dess Durga built by a Bengali Maharani.
Both these heritage sites have a high historic and religious significance and hence a high footfall as
well.
Located in close proximity are two kunds: Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar talab dating to 18th
century which has a religious and historic significance.
The Assi river also flows through this area which has been converted into a nala today.
Therefore it is an area with a high concentration of natural and built heritage with kunds, river and
temples having a high historic, architectural and religious significance.
Entrance gate to Sankat Mochan temple Encroachments on Front facade of Durga Temple
• Location of the Site and Total Area Covered
The zone is located in the southern part of Varanasi from Assi ghat as the eastern extent to Durga
Kund in the western extent.
The delineated area consists of the following intervention sites:
Puskar Talab
Kurukshetra Pokhra
Durga Kund and Anand Bagh
Durga Temple
Anand Bagh
SankatMochan Temple
Road connecting Durga Kund to SankatMochan
• Typology of the heritage area

The zone consists of built and natural heritage as follows:
1. Temples, Samadhi
2. Kunds
3. Talab
4. Road
• Livelihood and Activities

The SankatMochan temple and Durga temple are a source of livelihood as they support a number
of small shop keepers selling flowers, sweets etc.
There is also a high footfall of pilgrims in the area for which the local population provides ser-
vices.
• Ownership
The temples are under the management of their respective trusts and the kunds are under the
Municipal Corporation.
Accessibility
The zone is accessible from a road which leads from Assi Ghat to Durga Kund and further to
SankatMochan temple. This road is a vehicular road with heavy vehicular and pedestrian move-
ment.
Parking facility
There is parking facility available on the road between Durga Kund and Anand Bagh for Durga
temple and Tulsi Manas temple.
There is parking available at SankatMochan outside the temple within the complex.
Public Convenience
There are toilets within the temple complex in Durga temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and SankatMo-
chan. There is a Sulabh toilet on the road leading to SankatMochan.

There is an information center within the SankatMochan temple complex. On a zonal level, there
is no information center.
Two-wheeler parking facility in Sankat mochan complex Sacred waste lying untreated near Durga Temple
8.3.2. SWOT Analysis of Durga Kund and SankatMochan
1. The area is historically, religiously significant and rich in both natural and built heritage.
2. It contains some very significant structures like SakatMochan temple, Durga temple, Tulasi Manas
temple, Jagannath temple and kunds like Durga Kund, Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar talab.
3. The area has a high pilgrim footfall especially on Tuesday and Saturdays , on Hanuman Jayanti and
during Navratri.
4. The Assi River also flows through this area

1. The road connecting the different heritage resources is vehicular while there is a lot of
pedestrian traffic to the temples. Therefore there is conflict of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
2. The kunds and talabs in the area have lost the ground water recharge as the areas around have
been built up and are dirty and not maintained.
3. There is no access to Durga Kund and its access is closed for public.
4. Durga Kund has become a garbage collection area especially as people throw garbage from the
road into the Kund.
5. There is insufficient parking area for both Durga Kund and SankatMochan.
6. The area around Durga Kund has many small shops encroached onto the road and around the
entrance making the entrance shaded with encroachments.
7. The area lacks public amenities like public toilets, drinking water stations, lighting.

At present only SankatMochan and Durga Temple are visited by the pilgrims.
However ,other assets in the area like Anand Bagh, Durga Kund, Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar
Talab have the potential to be developed as public open spaces.
These areas can be used as cultural centers for the residents of the city and also be included in the
tourist map of Varanasi.
8.3.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis for Durga
Kund and SankatMochan
visitors visiting Varanasi. 25% of the tourists visiting Varanasi visit SankatMochan and Durga Kund.
EXPECTED %
% TOURIST OF TOURISTS
EXPECTED NO OF EXPECTED NO OF EXPECTED NO OF
ZONE VISITING THE VISITING THE
TOURISTS(2021) TOURISTS(2026) TOURISTS(2031)
PLACE PLACE (POST
HRIDAY)
ZONE 03
Durga Kund,
25 50 11,148 11,563 11,979
SankatMocha
n
TOURIST EXISTING REQUIRED GAP Norms

INFRASTRUCTUR as per
E Norms
PUBLIC TOILETS 6 seats 67 seats 61 seats needed 1 Toilet seat /175
users (Community
Toilets) (Swacch
Bharat Abhiyan
Guidelines)
DRINKING WATER 12 taps 67 taps 55 taps needed 1 Tap/175

STATIONS users(Swacch
Bharat Abhiyan
Guidelines)
TOURIST 1 4 3 tourist information 1/Landmark

INFORMATION kiosk needed
KIOSK
At present there are public toilets and drinking water facility at SankatMochan and Anand Bagh
only. These facilities are required at Durga Temple, Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar Talab also and
the number of seats and taps need to be increased at SankatMochan and Anand Bagh to cater to the
increase in tourist footfall.Therefore 61 seats and 67 taps are needed.
c) Urban Infrastructure Projection
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTING REQUIRED as GAP Norms

per Norms
ACCESSIBILTY Durga Kund not accessible, Accessibility to Durga Kund
Accessibility to Kurukshetra Durga Kund, not
Pokhra and Pushkar Talab Kurukshetra accessible,
not distinct Pokhra, Pushkar Accessibility
Talab to
Kurukshetra
Pokhra and
Pushkar
Talab not
distinct
SOLID WASTE 5 60 55 dustbins 1/30 meters

MANAGEMENT (Dustbins) needed
STREET LIGHTS 2 60 58 street 1/30 meters

lights needed
SIGNAGE 0 5 Information 5 1
signage Information Information
signage signage
4 Directional needed /Landmark
Signage
4 Directional
Signage
needed
CONDITION OF WATER Durga Kund, Kurukshetra All water bodies Durga Kund,
BODIES Pokhra, Pushkar Talab non to be functional Kurukshetra
functional by cleaning and Pokhra,
dredging Pushkar
Talab to be
cleaned and
functional
The urban infrastructure in the area is insufficient and poor.

Durga Kund is unapproachable. All its entries have been locked and are not open for public. The
approach road to Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar Talab are in a poor condition. Also the condition
of the water bodies is poor. They are dirty and non functional.
There are 5 dustbins in SankatMochan while none in Durga Temple, Anand Bagh and Kurukshetra
Pokhra and Pushkar Talab. However the existing number is highly insufficient as 60 dustbins are
needed in the area.
There is only one high mast light at SankatMochan and Durga Temple respectively. However the
area has no street lights including the road connecting Durga Kund and SankatMochan which has
a high footfall of pilgrims and is a major pedestrian movement route. The area completely lacks
directional and information signage.
WATER SUPPLY
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

2011 (in MLD)
1.575 0.631 1.687 1.572 274
Capacity (in MLD) 1.884 0.754 2.017 1.879 330
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) 0.308 0.123 0.330 0.308 56
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
2021 1.849 0.741 1.981 1.845 324
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in MLD) 0.034 0.014 0.037 0.034 6
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
2031 2.260 0.905 2.421 2.255 396
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in MLD) -0.377 -0.151 -0.403 -0.376 -66
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
2041 2.780 1.113 2.977 2.773 487
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -0.896 -0.359 -0.960 -0.894 -157

0.4 400
300
0.2 200
100
0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041 -100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
0 0
SEWAGE
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

Households)
0.991 0.935 0.739 0.372
for 2011 (in MLD)
1.284 0.514 1.375 1.281 225
Capacity (in MLD)
0.642 0.257 0.688 0.641 102
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) -0.642 -0.257 -0.688 -0.641 -123
Capacity 1.661 0.665 1.779 1.657 291
0.4 10727 4297 11489 10703 400
0.2for 2021 1.826 0.732 1.956 1.822 200 320
100
Demand-Supply Gap
0 0
2021 (in MLD)
2015 -0.166
2021 -0.066
2031 -0.177 2041 -0.165 -100 -29
Estimated
-0.2Population (2031) -200
13124 5257 14056 13094 -300
Sewage-0.4
-500
for 2031 2.312 0.926 2.476 2.306 405
-0.6 -600
2031
-0.8 (in MLD) -0.651 -0.261 -0.697 -0.649 -800 -114
-1 -1000
16129 6460 17274 16093
-1100
-1.2 -1200
for 2041 2.723 1.091 2.916 2.716 477
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -1.062 -0.425 -1.137 -1.059 -186

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
Katehar
Peeli Kothi
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491
for 2011 3.425 1.372 3.668 3.417 600
Current Solid Waste
Collection 2.740 1.097 2.934 2.734 480
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in TPD) -0.685 -0.274 -0.734 -0.683 -120
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
for 2021 4.435 1.776 4.750 4.425 777
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in TPD) -1.695 -0.679 -1.816 -1.691 -297
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
for 2031 5.514 2.209 5.905 5.501 966
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in TPD) -2.774 -1.111 -2.971 -2.768 -486
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
for 2041 6.883 2.757 7.372 6.868 1206
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in TPD) -4.144 -1.660 -4.438 -4.135 -726

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-0.5 -500
-1 -1000
-1.5 -1500
-2 -2000
-2.5 -2500
-3 -3000
-3.5 -3500
-4 -4000
-4.5 -4500
-5 -5000
8.3.4. Proposed Plan for Durga Kund and SankatMochan Zone

At present only SankatMochan and Durga Temple are visited by the pilgrims. To include other
assets in the area like Anand Bagh, Durga Kund, Kurukshetra Pokhra and Pushkar Talab in the visitor
map and improve the environment of the area, tourist and urban infrastructure is proposed to be
developed as follows:

• Providing proper access streets with paving leading to Durga Kund (Road between Durga Kund
and Anand Bagh), Kurukshetra Pokhra, Pushkar Talab
• Efficient solid waste collection in and around the temples and kunds with provision of dustbins
and treatment of waste collected from the area through bioneers.
• Access streets to be developed with new paving and repair of exisiting paving along with storm
water drainage and underground cabling.
• In order to cater to the high footfall of visitors, provision of a dedicated parking area adjacent
to Anand Bagh.

• For pedestrian friendly movement around the Durga temple and Kund, proposal to pedestrianize
the road between Durga Kund and Anand Bagh and creating a pedestrian friendly environment
with street furniture and street lights
• The kunds and pokhras are non functional due to encroachment of their catchment area.
Therefore conserving and reviving the ecological cycle by reviving the Kurukshetra Pokhra,
Pushkar Talab and Durga Kund
• To cater to the increasing number of tourists, visitor amenities to be provided like public toilets
and drinking water stations and information kiosk
• Development of Kurukshetra Pokhra, Pushkar Talab , Durga Kund as public open spaces for the
city and tourists with visitor amenities.
Existing situation Sankat Mochan and Durga Kund
Existing situation of Durga Kund/temple complex
Proposed Plan for Durga kund complex and Pushkar Talab
Pushkar kund
The total area of intervention includes the immediate surroundings and the approach roads leading
to the Kund area.
8.4.1. ZONE 04: Peeli Kothi
Varanasi is home to a very fine art form, a living tradition, the weaving of Banarsi sarees. The art of
weaving is an age old practice in the city and is one of the character defining features of Varanasi.
Therefore along with the art form, the people who practice it and their habitat are equally import-
ant to the city.
The weavers are spread over a several mohallas namely Peeli Kothi, Kachi Bagh, Batan Shahid,
Chora, Jainpura, Jaitpura, Rasulpura, Badi Bazar and Bakrabad with the maximum concentration
at Peeli Kothi area with 1660 households practicing traditional saree weaving out of which 468 are
located in Katehar Mohalla.
The mohallas exhibit traditional planning principle with pedestrian scale streets and open spaces
between clusters of houses. The houses have been upgraded and spaces have been modified ac-
cording to the requirements of the weaving activity. However the civic infrastructure has not seen
any progression. The sewage disposal, storm water drainage and solid waste disposal is improper.
There are no public amenities like drinking water stations and public toilets.
• Location of the Site

The zone is located on the western side of the road leading from Maidagin to NH29 to the south
of Maidagin.
• Total Area covered

The area delineated for this zone is the Katehar mohalla in Peeli Kothi which spreads over an area
of approximately 60acres.
• Typology of the Heritage area

The area is a dense built up zone with narrow streets and cluster open spaces. It is based on tra-
ditional settlement planning principles. The residences are traditionally planned with courtyards
which now have undergone transformation due to the changing needs of the weaving craft.
• Livelihood and Activities

This zone has the maximum concentration of Banarsi saree weavers whose livelihood is supported
by the traditional craft of saree weaving.
• Ownership
The residences of the weavers are privately owned while the streets and open spaces are under the
management of Varanasi Municipal Corporation.
Accessibility
The zone is accessible from the road leading from Maidagin to NH29. From this primary road,
secondary roads lead into the mohalla which is further interconnected through narrow lanes.
Parking facility
There is no consolidated parking area in the mohalla. Parking of two wheelers and cycles takes
place in the narrow lanes and open spaces onto which the houses open.
Public Convenience
There is complete absence of public amenities: public toilets and drinking water stations.

Presently there is no tourist activity in the area because of which there is no tourist information
center.
Sewerage
There are underground sewers laid.
Drainage
The area lacks a proper drainage system with choked drains and water logging during monsoons.
Solid Waste Management

Solid waste is managed by VDA. Solid waste collection and disposal takes place once in 3-4 days
which is highly inadequate.
8.4.2. SWOT Analysis of Peeli Kothi

• Strengths and significance
1. The area is based on traditional settlement planning principles. The residences are traditionally
planned with courtyards and cluster open spaces within a cluster of houses.
2. This area is historically significant as it is the production center of one of the finest art of
Varanasi of saree weaving.
3. It caters to a very important section of the society of craftsmen who have been residing here
through centuries and have been practicing a long living craft.
4. This area also exhibits a very strong social culture where people live in coherence with each
other and use the common spaces in their daily routine.

Also this area is a fine example of traditional city planning, social life and how the architecture takes
1. The area is very weak in infrastructure with inefficient storm water drainage, solid waste disposal
its form based on the spaces required for the craft.
which are the two main issues of the area. There is extreme water logging in monsoons and
streets are unaccessible.
2. The public spaces, chowks become garbage dumping grounds as there is no separate area for
solid waste disposal or regular garbage collection.
3. The area lacks any designated parking areas and therefore the streets and chowks are used for
parking.
4. There is complete absence of public amenities like public toilets, water drinking stations.
• Opportunities
Peeli kothi is the home of the weavers of Varanasi and an age old tradition of Saree weaving. This
craft is a very strong identity of the city.
Therefore this area has the potential to be developed as s display of the traditional craft of saree
weaving. Tourists can be brought in to see the whole process involved in producing the traditional
Banarsi saree and the weavers can display their art and final product.
8.4.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis for Peeli
Kothi
visitors visiting Varanasi. 50 % of the tourists visiting Varanasi visit SankatMochan and Durga Kund.
EXPECTED %
PLACE PLACE (POST
HRIDAY)
ZONE 03
Peeli Kothi
0 25 5,574 5,782 5,989
(Katehar
Mohalla)
At present, there is no inflow of tourists to Assi Nala because of complete absence of any tourist
attracting activity.
With the implementation of HRIDAY projects in the city, an assumption has been taken for the
number of tourists expected to visit the identified heritage zone in 2021, 2026 and subsequently
in 2031(Master plan year).
The assumption is based on the fact that on implementation of HRIDAY projects, the tourist
inflow to the heritage zones will increase. HRIDAY envisions to develop and attract tourists to
Peeli Kothi introducing a tourist inflow of 25%.
TOURIST EXISTING REQUIRED as GAP Norms

INFRASTRUCTURE per Norms
PUBLIC TOILETS 0 34 seats 34 seats 1 Toilet seat

needed /175 users
(Community
Toilets)
(Swacch
Bharat
Abhiyan
Guidelines)
DRINKING WATER 0 34 taps 34 taps 1 Tap/175

STATIONS needed users(Swacch
Bharat
Abhiyan
Guidelines)
TOURIST 0 2 2 tourist
INFORMATION KIOSK information
kiosk needed
Peeli Kothi does not have any tourist footfall at present and therefore no tourist infrastructure as
well. By including Peeli Kothi in the tourist map, the number of tourists expected is 5,989 per day
and therefore infrastructure facilities need to be created. According to the tourist , public toilets
and drinking water (34 seats and 34 taps ) are needed and provision of 2 information kiosks in the
area to guide the tourists.
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTING REQUIRED as per GAP Norms

Norms
PUBLIC TOILETS 0 Not needed for Not needed for 1 Toilet seat
residing population residing /175 users
since every house population since (Community
has a toilet every house has a
Toilets)
toilet
DRINKING WATER STATIONS 0 Not needed for Not needed for 1 Tap/175 users
residing population residing
population
SOLID WASTE 0 25 25 Dustbins 1/30 meters

MANAGEMENT needed
(Dustbins)
STREET LIGHTING 0 25 25 street lights 1/30 meters

needed
SIGNAGE 0 2 Information 2 Information 1 Information

signage signage signage
4 Directional 4 Directional /Landmark
Signage Signage
WATER SUPPLY 2.678 MLD 2.232 MLD 0.466 MLD more 135lpcd (UDPFI
needed norms)
SEWAGE TREATMENT 1. 968MLD 2.739 MLD 0.771 MLD more 80% of water
needed supply demand
(UDPFI norms)
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION 3.246 TPD 6. 533TPD 3.287 TPD more 414 gm/c/d
needed (CDP Varanasi
20141)
ROADS, PAVING INCLUDING Condition of 500m of 500 m Paving of 500m of

STORM WATER DRAINAGE streets is poor streets needed
AND UNDERGROUND
CABALLING
For the residing population, there is no requirement for community toilets and drinking water as
every house has toilets. However toilets and drinking water stations are needed for the workers and
floating population. The water supply at present is 5.104 MLD which needs to be increased to
6.124 MLD for the projected population; present sewage treatment is 0.257 MLD which needs to
be increased to 0.926 MLD and solid waste collection is 1.097 MLD which needs to be increased
to 2.209 MLD. The condition of solid waste management and is poor. There are no dustbins and
the collection and management system is poor. The approach streets need to be repaired with
underground caballing and efficient storm water drainage.
WATER SUPPLY
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

2011 (in MLD)
1.575 0.631 1.687 1.572 274
Capacity (in MLD) 1.884 0.754 2.017 1.879 330
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) 0.308 0.123 0.330 0.308 56
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
2021 1.849 0.741 1.981 1.845 324
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in MLD) 0.034 0.014 0.037 0.034 6
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
2031 2.260 0.905 2.421 2.255 396
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in MLD) -0.377 -0.151 -0.403 -0.376 -66
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
2041 2.780 1.113 2.977 2.773 487
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -0.896 -0.359 -0.960 -0.894 -157

0.4 400
300
0.2 200
100
0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041 -100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
0 0
SEWAGE
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491

Households)
0.991 0.935 0.739 0.372
for 2011 (in MLD)
1.284 0.514 1.375 1.281 225
Capacity (in MLD)
0.642 0.257 0.688 0.641 102
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in MLD) -0.642 -0.257 -0.688 -0.641 -123
Capacity 1.661 0.665 1.779 1.657 291
0.4 10727 4297 11489 10703 400
0.2for 2021 1.826 0.732 1.956 1.822 200 320
100
Demand-Supply Gap
0 0
2021 (in MLD)
2015 -0.166
2021 -0.066
2031 -0.177 2041 -0.165 -100 -29
Estimated
-0.2Population (2031) -200
13124 5257 14056 13094 -300
Sewage-0.4
-500
for 2031 2.312 0.926 2.476 2.306 405
-0.6 -600
2031
-0.8 (in MLD) -0.651 -0.261 -0.697 -0.649 -800 -114
-1 -1000
16129 6460 17274 16093
-1100
-1.2 -1200
for 2041 2.723 1.091 2.916 2.716 477
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in MLD) -1.062 -0.425 -1.137 -1.059 -186

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-100
-0.2 -200
-300
-0.4 -400
-500
-0.6 -600
-700
-0.8 -800
-900
-1 -1000
-1100
-1.2 -1200
Katehar
Peeli Kothi
Population (2015) 8126 3255 8703 8108 11,98,491
for 2011 3.425 1.372 3.668 3.417 600
Current Solid Waste
Collection 2.740 1.097 2.934 2.734 480
Demand-Supply Gap
2011 (in TPD) -0.685 -0.274 -0.734 -0.683 -120
(2021) 10727 4297 11489 10703
for 2021 4.435 1.776 4.750 4.425 777
Demand-Supply Gap
2021 (in TPD) -1.695 -0.679 -1.816 -1.691 -297
(2031) 13124 5257 14056 13094
for 2031 5.514 2.209 5.905 5.501 966
Demand-Supply Gap
2031 (in TPD) -2.774 -1.111 -2.971 -2.768 -486
(2041) 16129 6460 17274 16093
for 2041 6.883 2.757 7.372 6.868 1206
Demand-Supply Gap
2041 (in TPD) -4.144 -1.660 -4.438 -4.135 -726

0 0
2015 2021 2031 2041
-0.5 -500
-1 -1000
-1.5 -1500
-2 -2000
-2.5 -2500
-3 -3000
-3.5 -3500
-4 -4000
-4.5 -4500
-5 -5000
8.4.4. Proposed Plan for Peeli Kothi

The proposal is to develop centers to display of the traditional craft of saree weaving. Tourists can
be brought in to see the whole process involved in producing the traditional Banarsi saree and
the weavers can display their art and final product. For the same, tourist and urban infrastructure
needs to be developed in the area. The proposals are as follows:

• The accessibility and condition of streets in Peeli Kothi needs to be upgraded and improved.
Therefore providing paving in the streets which are not paved and repairing the existing pav-
ing to provide access within the mohalla.
• Along with improving the paving of the streets, basic infrastructure like storm water drainage,
sewage lines and underground cabling to be provided for overall up gradation of the streets
and the area.
• For efficient solid waste management, dustbins to be provided at regular intervals and identi-
fied locations to collect the solid waste being disposed off in the streets.

• To provide proper access and direction to the tourists and visitors, installation of directional
signage and information signage providing information about the art of saree weaving and
the weavers practicing it.
• Provision of street lights in the streets for creating a safe environment and easy accessibility.
• In order to upgrade the living standard of the weavers, upgrading 20 weaver houses as model
houses with proper living conditions and infrastructure.
To develop the peeli kothi area as a tourist attraction, introduction of a center to represent the
art of weaving and a display area of the sarees produced by the weavers which is equipped with a
visitor friendly environment having visitor amenities like:
• Provision of public toilets
• Provision of drinking water stations
• Provision of information kiosk
Along with tourist infrastructure, urban infrastructure also needs to be developed. The river needs
to be accessed and therefore access streets need to be developed with paving, street lighting,
storm water drainage and underground caballing.
Along the riverfront development, there is s requirement of 33 dustbins, street lights and signage
both directional and information.
Proposed Plan for Peeli Kothi
8.5.1. ZONE 05: Assi Nala
The name Varanasi is derived from the River Varuna and River Assi between which the city existed.
Therefore Assi River formed the physical boundary and extent of the historic city of Varanasi.
In ancient times, inland water bodies dotted the watershed of Assi Nala and they drained and
stored water. During monsoons the overflow and the river mixed.
Therefore the river was an integral part of the hydrological system of Varanasi and therefore had a
very high ecological significance.
A few years ago, Assi nala was diverted southwards and the inland water system was destroyed.
Currently the water shed of the nala is heavily encroached and the nala is merely a drain carrying
sewerage and solid waste. Today the river is lost which was once one of the identity of the city
Varanasi.
Location of the site

A narrow stream of the nala can be seen flowing from near Sri Dev Nath Girls Inter college, crossing
DLW road to Sunrise inter college beyond which it widens in Saket Nagar crossing the Sankat
Mochan Road flowing ahead into the old city and finally draining into the River Ganga along Ravi
Das Park.
• Total area covered

The total length across which the nala/river flows is 2.4km

The nala/River flows through new and old residential areas and crosses under roads at many
points.
• Livelihood and activities

Presently the nala/river is merely a drain which supports no activities or livelihoods.
• Ownership
The nala/river is under the Municpal Corporation.
• Existing infrastructure
The river has converted into a nala and is used as a drain for solid waste disposal and sewerage
disposal and therefore the infrastructure is lacking.
Nagwa Nala (Previously Assi river)
8.5.2. SWOT Analysis of Assi Nala
1. The river is a historic river and therefore has a high historic value.
2. The river was a part of the hydrological system of Varanasi and therefore has a high ecological
value.

1. The river is converted into a drain and has become an area for disposal of solid waste and
sewage.
• Opportunities
River Assi was one edge of the city and gives the city its name. Therefore it is a historical and
ecological asset of the city. Reviving the river will lead to improving the hydrological cycle which
has been hampered due to its conversion into a nala.
8.5.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis for Assi Nala
visitors visiting Varanasi.
a)Tourist projection
EXPECTED %
PLACE PLACE (POST
HRIDAY)
ZONE 04
0 30 6689 6938 7187
Assi nala
HRIDAY envisions to develop and attract tourists to the spot introducing a tourist inflow of 30%
including the local community
b)Tourist Infrastructure Projection
TOURIST EXISITNG REQUIRED as GAP Norms
INFRASTRUCT per Norms

URE
PUBLIC 0 40 seats 40 seats 1 Toilet seat /175

users (Community
TOILETS
Toilets) (Swacch
Bharat Abhiyan
Guidelines)
DRINKING 0 40 taps 40 taps 1 Tap/175

users(Swacch
WATER
Bharat Abhiyan
STATIONS Guidelines)
TOURIST 0 2 2 1/20,000sqm
INFORMATION
KIOSK
At present Assi Nala is a dirty drain .Post reviving the nala as the Assi River and developing it as
riverfront public cultural open space, infrastructure needs to be developed for the tourist. Therefore
there is a requirement of public toilets (40 seats), drinking water(40 taps ) and 2 information kiosks.

URBAN EXISTING REQUIRED as GAP NORMS
INFRASTRUCTU per Norms
RE
SOLID WASTE 0 33 33 1/30 meters

MANAGEMENT
(Dustbins)
STREET 0 33 33 1/30 meters

LIGHTING
SIGNAGE 0 4 Information 4 Information 1 Information

Signage Signage signage/land
4 Directional 4 Directional mark
Signage Signage
ROADS, Assi nala not 1km stretch 1km stretch

PAVING, CYCLE developed along the Assi along the Assi
TRACK nala to be nala to be
INCLUDING developed with developed
STORM WATER paving and cycle with paving
DRAINAGE AND track and cycle
UNDERGROUN track
D CABALLING
Along with tourist infrastructure, urban infrastructure also needs to be developed. The river needs
to be accessed and therefore access streets need to be developed with paving, street lighting,
storm water drainage and underground caballing.
Along the riverfront development, there is s requirement of 33 dustbins, street lights and signage
both directional and information.
8.5.4. Proposed Plan for Assi Nala

River Assi was one edge of the city and gives the city its name. Therefore it is a historical and
ecological asset of the city which will be revived and developed as a city open space along with
tourist and urban infrastructure development as follows:

• At present the Assi nala has no proper running in between residential areas. Therefore on
cleaning and developing the nala, proper access roads need to be developed providing access
from the city to the riverfront.
• Developing ghats along the riverside to carry out rituals which will also in turn decongest the
Ganga ghats
• Developing a recreational area along the river with a cycling track .
• Presently the nala is a dumping ground and sewage disposal ground for the surrounding resi-
dential areas. Therefore proper solid waste management and sewage treatment needs to be
done before any of it is disposed into the river or an alternate way of solid waste and sewage
needs to be identified for the waste of the residential areas.

• As a part of the riverfront development, developing a pedestrian friendly environment along
the river with a well paved pedestrian walkway with street furniture, signage, street lighting.
• Cleaning and reviving the Nala into the river and developing a riverfront as a city scale open
space and recreation zone.
• Developing a riverfront will also include it on the tourist map thereby attracting tourists who
• visit Varanasi. Therefore the area to be developed with visitor amenities like Public Toilets,
Drinking water stations and Information Kiosks.
• Developing a heritage trail along the river along with surrounding heritage structures like
Durga Kund, Anand Bagh, SankatMochan, Pushkar Kund, Kurukshetra Pokhra leading into the
narrow residential lanes of the old city.
Proposal for Assi Nala

8.6.1. ZONE 06: Sarnath
Sarnath is situated 13Kms to north-east of Varanasi. It is the place where Gautam Buddha gave
his first sermon to his five disciples named Kaundinya, Bashpa, Bhadrika, Mahanaman and Ashva-
jit after he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya (in present day Bihar). Sarnath is of high histori-
cal , religious and associative significance as it is one of four holy Buddhist sites sanctioned by the
Buddha himself for Pilgrimage.
Buddha developed Sarnath as a parallel city with majestic stupas, massive pavilions, beautiful
shrines and extensive monasteries.
Sarnath is a major pilgrimage and tourist destination with a very high footfall of Indian and Inter-
national tourists both. However, the condition of the civic infrastructure at present is limit and
needs to be upgraded owing to the number of visitors.
• Location of the site

Sarnath is situated 13Kms to north-east of Varanasi. It lies in the Municipal Boundary of Varanasi.
• Total area covered

The area delineated for intervention is along Rishpattan Road, Ashok Road, Sarnath Station road,
Sarangnath Kund and Sarnath Talab.

The area is a rich in both built and natural heritage with the following typologies:
Buddhist monuments like Dhamik stupas, Chaukhandi Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara temple,
Excavated remains,
• Livelihood and activities

Sarnath thrives on the high influx of pilgrims and tourists. The villagers of the surrounding villages
provide services to these tourists and pilgrims which becomes a source of income for them.
1. Buddhist monuments like Dhamik stupas, Chaukhandi Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara temple,
Excavated remains,
2. Monasteries and Viharas of respective countries
3. Jain temple
4. Sarangnath Shiva Temple
5. Sarangnath Kund
6. Deer Park
• Ownership
1. Ancient buddhist site of Sarnath, including the Dhamek stupa, Jagat Singh Stupa, the monastery
of Major Kitlee and all the monuments excavated, the whole area to the east of the Buddhist
site explored by the Archaeological department extending upto the limits of the lake named
Narokhar Tal and Chaukhandi Stupa are under the management of ASI.
2. The Monasteries and temples of different countries have their own trusts.
3. Jain temple and Sarangnath temple are under their respective trusts.
4. Sarangnath kund is under the management of State government.
5. The Deer Park is under the management of Forest Department.
• Existing infrastructure
Accessibility
Sarnath is accessible by road from Varanasi through NH56 leading to Rishpattan road. Sarnath can
also be reached by train from Gorakhpur and Varanasi.
Parking facility
There is road side parking opposite the museum and opposite Sarangnath Kund.
Public Convenience
There are two public toilets and drinking water stations each of one located near Sarangnath Kund
and opposite Mulagandhakuti Vihara temple respectively. Both of these are not maintained and in a
bad condition
Availability of tourist information centre
There is a UP Governments Tourist Bureau as an information kiosk.
Information ce nter at Sarnath
8.6.2. SWOT Analysis of Sarnath
1. Sarnath has a very high religious significance owing to it being the place where Buddha gave his
first sermon. It is part of the Buddhist Circuit.
2. Sarnath is of high historical, religious and associative significance as it. It is one of four holy
Buddhist sites sanctioned by the Buddha himself for Pilgrimage.
3. It has a very high footfall of pilgrims and tourists both national and international.
4. It is rich in both built and natural heritage like Sarnath Talab, Sarangnath Kund, Deer Park.

1. The road in front of Dhamek Stupa is vehicular and also has a lot pedestrian movement which
causes a conflict between pedestrian and vehicular movement.
2. The present condition and numbers of tourist facilities are not sufficient and to handle such a
high footfall of pilgrims and tourists.
3. Public amenities like public toilets, drinking water stations are insufficient and the existing ones
are not maintained.
4. Lack of an organized market, shopping area and food outlet for tourists.
5. Insufficient parking for the high number of vehicles in Sarnath.
6. Lack of directional signage for approaching Sarnath.
• Opportunities
Sarnath has a very high historic and religious significance with both domestic and international
pilgrims and tourists.
With Sarnath being on the Buddha Circuit, it will have the potential of attracting an increased
number of visitors. Therefore, it has the opportunity to generate more employment for the
residents in the nearby villages.
8.6.3. Tourist and Urban Infrastructure Projection and Gap Analysis for Sarnath
visitors visiting Varanasi. 60% of the tourists visiting Varanasi visit Sarnath. Sarnath features tourists
from two directions; tourists who come only to Sarnath (Buddhist pilgrimage) and the other being
the tourists who come to Varanasi and visit Sarnath also. The assumption is based on the fact that
on implementation of HRIDAY projects, the tourist inflow to the heritage zones will increase, rising
to 80% in Sarnath.
a)Tourist projection
EXPECTED % OF
% TOURIST TOURISTS PROJECTED
EXPECTED NO OF
ZONE VISITING THE VISITING THE RESIDING
TOURISTS(2031)
PLACE PLACE (POST POPULATION
HRIDAY) (2031)
ZONE 05 24,533
60 80
Sarnath (5,368 + 19,166) 24,533
TOURISTS PROJECTION COMING ONLY TO

SARNATH
b)Tourist Infrastructure Projection
TOURIST EXISTING REQUIRED GAP Norms
INFRASTRUCT as per
URE C Norms
PUBLIC 14 seats 114 seats 100 seats 1 Toilet seat

/175 users
TOILETS needed
(Community
Toilets)
(Swacch Bharat
Abhiyan
Guidelines)
DRINKING 8 taps 114 taps 96 taps 1 Tap /175

users (Swacch
WATER needed
Bharat Abhiyan
STATIONS Guidelines)
TOURIST 2 5 3
INFORMATION informatio
KIOSK n kiosk
needed
Sarnath mainly thrives on the tourism industry and has a very high footfall of tourists which is
projected to increase. Therefore the existing tourist infrastructure needs to be upgraded and
increased. At present there are 2 public toilets in Sarnath which are in a bad condition, 2 water
stations and 2 information kiosk .There is a requirement of 100 more toilet seats, 114 more drinking
water taps and 3 more information kiosk along with up gradation of existing ones.
c)Urban Infrastructure Projection
URBAN EXISTING REQUIRED GAP NORMS

INFRASTRUCTU as per
RE Norms
SOLID WASTE 12 115 103 1/30 meters

MANAGEMENT dustbins
(Dustbins) needed
STREET 20 115 95 needed 1/30 meters

LIGHTING
SIGNAGE 10 information 20 10 1
signage Information Information Information
2 directional Signage Signage signage/land
signage 10 8 mark
Directional Directional
Signage Signage
ROADS, PAVING, No cycle track 3.5km of 3.5km of

CYCLE TRACK road to be road to be
INCLUDING developed developed
STORM WATER with paving with paving
DRAINAGE AND and cycle and cycle
UNDERGROUND track track
CABALLING
Sarnath also needs to be developed with urban infrastructure which includes improvement of
the streets with a pedestrian pathway, cycle track, street lights, dustbins, signage, underground
caballing and efficient storm water drainage and sewage disposal.
8.6.4. Proposed Plan for Sarnath
Sarnath being on the Buddha Circuit, it will be attracting an increased number of visitors. There-
fore there is a requirement to upgrade and introduce tourist and urban infrastructure as follows:
1. CONNECTIVITY and ACCESSIBILITY

• Developing a cycle track and pedestrian walkway along Rishpattan road, Ashok road, Dharam-
pala Road, Station road and Sarangnath Kund road
• Development of railway station with information kiosk, public toilets and visitor infrastructure
to cater to the increasing number of tourist footfall.
2. STREETSCAPE and SIGNAGE

• In order to cater to the high pedestrian footfall and movement on the Dharampala and Rish-
pattan road, pedestrianization of these two roads with no vehicular movement on these
roads.
• Provision of directional and information signage to the monuments and temples in Sarnath.
• Provision of street lights on the pedestrian walkways and along vehicular roads for creating a
safe and secure environment.
• Providing paving on the pedestrian walkways and roads along with proper storm water drain-
age and underground cabling.
• Solid waste disposal to be made efficient by provision of Dustbins at regular intervals.
• Provision of storm water drainage system to avoid any kind of water logging in the area caus-
ing the roads to deteriorate and hence causing inconvenience to the visitors.
• Revival of Sarangnath Kund and Sarnath Talab which are of high historic and ecological value
and developing them as public open spaces.
• In order to cater to the high tourist footfall, the existing public toilets, drinking water stations
need to be upgraded along with provision of new toilets,drinking water stations
• Provision of information kiosk to provide easy information to the visitors.
• Sarnath lacks a public space which can hold the tourists. Therefore provision of a dedicated
open space for development of a haat incorporating the informal market and food stalls lined
on the roadside which can be developed as a tourist spot.
• Development of Sarangnath Kund and Sarnath talab as cultural open space which will cater to
the tourist and pilgrim inflow in Sarnath.
• Nature trail in Deer Park to give the visitors an experience of the forest as a recreational activity.
Proposed Plan for Sarnath
City level proposal on Panchkroshi yatra
City level proposal on Panchkroshi yatra
9 Creation of shelf of Projects
9. SHELF OF PROJECTS
ZONE 01: GHATS
1. Connecting ghats: Development of River-
front Stretch between Assi and Ravidas Ghat
2. De siltation and removal of debris from Tulsi
Ghat, Janki Ghat, Sri Nisadraj Ghat, Prabhu
Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Lali Ghat, Kedar
Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat, Kshameshwar Ghat,
Babua Pandey Ghat, Mir Ghat, Nepali Phuta
Ghat, Jalasan Ghat, Ganaga Mahal Ghat, Ram
Ghat, Boondi Parkota, Lal Ghat, Nandesh-
war Ghat, Sakka Ghat, Teliyana Ghat, Nishad
Ghat.
3. Diversion of sewers from Ganga on Baidhani

Ghat, Shivala Ghat, Chauki Ghat and Gola
Ghat
4. Provision of Public Toilets
5. Provision of Drinking water stations
6. Provision of Changing rooms
7. Illumination on ghats and steps
8. Landscape development of Ghats covered in
debris
9. Information signage
10. Cafes , Performance centre, pavilions on
Babua Pandey Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat,
Kshameshwar Ghat, Mir Ghat to decongest
Dasashwamedh Ghat , Rajendra Prasad
Ghat, Assi Ghat and Lalita Ghat
11. Repair of Steps
12. Façade Improvements and Restoration of
Important Landmarks on the ghats
13. Provision of dustbins
14. Solid Waste Management through Bio Com-
post
ZONE 02: OLD CITY of VARANASI

1. Multilevel parking at Godowlia Chowk and
Maidagin
2. Development of pedestrianization in the her-
itage precinct of old city of Varanasi from
Maidagin to Godowlia Chowk to Dasash-
wamedh Ghat, façade improvement, multi-
level parking and solid waste management.
3. Development of nodes on the historic road
connecting Dasashwamedh Ghat to Godowlia
Chowk to Maidagin: Godowlia Chowk, Node at

Chowk police station, Node at Ghanta Ghar ,
Node at Town Hall.
4. Provision of gateway to Vishwanath Gali
5. Directional, Information and Shop Signage
6. Street lighting in the streets
7. Paving streets of the old city and road from
Godowlia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat
8. Provision of Public Toilets
9. Provision of Drinking water stations
10. Façade Improvements and Restoration of Im-
portant Landmarks identified in the zone
11. Solid Waste Management through Bio com-
post
12. Development of town hall as heritage centre
for visitors and Pilgrims
ZONE 03: DURGA KUND and SANKATMOCHAN

1. Revival of Durga Kund (7500sqm), Push-
kar Talab (8000sqm), Kurukshetra pokhra
(2500sqm)
2. Paving along the Kunds and Talabs
3. Temporary kiosks on the road between Durga
Kund and Anand Bagh
4. Street lighting around the kunds and temples
and road connecting Durga Kund and Sankat-
Mochan
5. Provision of public Toilets
6. Provision of Drinking water stations/ATM’s
7. Façade Improvements and Restoration of
Important Landmarks in the zone
8. Solid Waste Management through Bio com-
post and provision of dustbins
ZONE 04: PEELI KOTHI

1. Paving the streets in the Mohalla Katehar
2. Street lighting in the streets
3. Toilets for tourists and workers
4. Drinking water for tourists and workers
5. Solid waste collection, management, disposal
in the Mohalla
6. Centre for displaying sarees in teh identified
open spaces
7. Upgradation of 10 Weavers’ Houses as Model
houses
ZONE 05:Assi Nala

• Cleaning and development of Assi Nala/River
riverfront with pedestrian walkway, cycle track,
plantation, street furniture, street lighting and
waste bins
ZONE 06: Sarnath

• Pedestrian walkway paving along Rishpattan
road, Ashok road and Dharampal road
• Cycle track along Rishpattan road, Ashok road
and Dharampal road
• Development of road link between Varanasi and
Sarnath
• Parking area development at junction of Rish-
pattan road and Ashok road
• Creating haat with foodstalls on Dharampala
road
• Revival and development of Sarnath talab
• Revival and development of Sarangnath Kund
• Craft center opposite Sarangnath Kund
• Street lighting
• Benches
• Information and Directional Signage
• Upgradation of existing toilets, drinking water
stations and provision of new toilets and drink-
ing water ATMs
• Information kisok and interpretation center and
Nature trail development in Deer Park
• Development of Sarnath Railway Station
CITY LEVEL PROJECTS

The following projects have been identified on a city :
Development of heritage sties

Heritage sites in the heritage city of Varanasi have been identified on the basis of their historic sig-
nificance, associative significance, architectural significance and visitor footfall for upgradation of
civic infrastructure and visitor facilities. Some of the identified sites are as follows:
1. Durga temple, Durgakund
2. Sankatmochan temple
3. Bharat mata Mandir
4. Vidyapeet playground (Dushehra ravana celebration)
5. Urban hat Sanskrritik Sankul
6. Sanskrit university museums
7. Gurubagh Gurudwara
8. Laxmi temple
9. Old Varuna Bridge
10. Lat saraia idgah
11. Naag kuan, near dav college
12. Chandan shaheed ki mazhar
13. Adi Keshav Mandir
14. Lal Khan ka roza
15. Beniabag
16. Bismilah khan residence
17. Pt. ravi shankar residence
18. Lal Bahadur Shastri residence
19. Parasnath ki janm bhumi
20. jal sansthan
21. Vijaynagram Gateway and palace
22. Kamachha devi temple
23. Batuk Bhairav temple
24. Suparsnath ki janm bhumi
25. Kedarnath temple
26. Tilbhandeshwar temple
27. Cooch bihar kali bari
28. Gurudham temple
29. Gurudham chauraha Ram mandir
30. Girija Devi residence
31. Rajan Sajan Mishra residence
32. Birju Maharaj residence
33. Kabir math
34. Lolark Kund
35. Rani lakshmibai birthplace
36. Ram Janki Mandir
37. Ravidas park
38. Dwarkadheesh temple
39. Annapurna temple
40. Gautameshwar mahadev mandir, Godowlia
41. Sankatha temple
42. Brahaspati temple
43. Bhartendu Bhawan

44. Sheetla mata mandir,sheetla ghat
45. Dharhara mosque
46. Townhall
47. Kal Bhairav temple
48. Mahamrityunjay temple
49. Dhai kangura mosque
50. Angrey ka bada
The development of these sites includes:

• Approach roads development including drainage, pavement, street lights, manhole, under-
ground cabling ,etc
• Illumination of heritage structure
• Signage (Information signage, directional signage)
• Impact signages-you are here maps for sanskritik lehar identification heritage structures
• Solid waste management- Dustbins
• Solid waste management – solid compost
• Heritage facade improvement
• Drinking water and toilet
• Landscaping (includes benches, paving,planters,bollards)
• Parking (surface parking)
• Information Kiosk
• Ho ho buses on the sanskritik lehar route connecting these sites
• Bust stands/shelters
Development & Beautification of 34 heritage roads & main city chaurahas

30 roads in the city of Varanasi have been identified which are significant based on their:
• Connecting Heritage sites
• Located in Heritage areas as per the CHP
• City level connectivity to improve access & approach to Heritage and tourism attractions.
The following are the identified roads:

1. Road upto Sankat Mochan from Sundarpur Nariya via Saket Nagar
2. Road from Kotwali Ward D.A.B. tiraha via Badhuveer Mandir and Kamlakar Chaubey inter col-
lege upto Bharat Milap colony and from tiraha upto K 67/84-4-C
3. Road from west gate of Machodri Park upto primary school
4. Road from G.T. road to Bhaisasur Ghat
5. Antargrahi Hanuman Mandir road in Sarayyandan
6. Road from Saraiya Police station to Hanuman Mandir, Shailputri tiraha
7. Road from Bhairav Nath chauraha to Mahamrityunjay temple and from Trineshvar Mahadev
temple to Medwin hospital
8. Road from Gurudham chauraha to Ram Mandir along with feeder roads
9. Road from Kamachha Hanuman temple to Kaliji temple
10. Ghanti Mill road
11. Kranti palli Sai baba mandir Road to kankadwabir mandir
12. Harishchandra Ghat to sonarpura tiraha
13. Nima mayi temple via islamia university to rewari talab police station
14. Jawahar nagar extension via jaibir hanuman mandir to shivshankar hanuman mandir
15. Assi abhay cinema via lane no 14 to vankhandi mahadev mandir

16. Assi ghat to sant ravidas park via lanka samne ghat till panchkoshi yatra marg
17. Purndas mandir to ramleela ground
18. Lahurabir to beniabagh to girjaghar chauraha
19. Tilbhandareshwar mandir via rewari talab park
20. Chetgunj via badshabagh pishacmochan kund
21. Ramkund via shrinagar colony
22. Chandrika nagar colony
23. Hartirath chauraha to mahamrityunjay mandir
24. Bhaironath chauraha to kal bhairav chauraha
25. Bada ganesh mandir lane
26. GT Road kali madir to nati imli chauraha
27. Adampura ward machodari park to swami narayan mandir
28. Chitrakut maidan via dhoopchandi mandir
29. Nati imli chauraha to digiya chauraha
30. Ishwarganagi to nagkuwan
31. Bajardiha police chowki to Devpokhri to Kakkarmatta to DLW
32. Amar Nagar Colony Road
33. Shankuldhara to Daha chowk Gandhi Chabutra upto Chungi
34. SantRaghuveer Nagar Colony road
The development of these roads includes:

• Base concrete coat with stone blast
• K.C drains provision along the roads
• Brick circular M.H with foot rest and SFRC
• Connection with existing sewer line
• Sand fling in trenches with all complete
• Street light and signage
• Underground cabling
• Rubber molded pavers
• Theme based art work on road, on walls along the roads, sculptures & art installations
HERITAGE SITES
Agenda 2 -Consideration for App City HRIDAY Plan - Varanasi 230
IDENTIFIED HERITAGE ROADS
16
18
19
13
10 17
08 15
14
15
12 11
16
03
09
02
04 04
07
05
06
10 Investment Planning and

Source Funding
10.1. Project Costing under HRIDAY

The following projects have been identified under HRIDAY . Zone 1 includes Maidagin-Gowdoliya0
Dasashwamedh heritage precinct along the road. This zone also includes development of Town hall
as heritage center for visitors and pilgrims in the Maidagin old city area. Zone 3 includes Durgakund
to Assi ghat heritage precinct along the road. Other two project includes Development of 20
heritage roads and Development of tourist infrastructure in 50 heritage sites. The total cost of the
five identified projects is 80 cores.
S No Zone 01: Ghat COST (in Crores)

Cleaning
S No Zone 01: of ghat facades
Ghat COST2.00
(in Crores)
Cleaning of ghat facades 2.00
S No Zone 02: Old city area COST (in Crores)
S 1No Zone 02: Old city
Dasahwamedh area Cultural Quarter
Godowlia COST (in Crores)
1 Development
Dasahwamedh Godowlia
of Road Cultural Quarterto Godowlia including
from Dasashwamedh
a)
paving, signage,
Development streetfrom
of Road lights, dustbins, drinking
Dasashwamedh water station,
to Godowlia toilet
including
a) 2.04
b) paving, signage,
Cleaning, repair, street lights,and
restoration dustbins, drinking
illumination of 4water station,
historic toilet
facades
b) Cleaning,
c) repair,
Landscaping and restoration
developmentandofillumination
ChitranjanofPark
4 historic facades 2.04
c) Solid Waste Management through organic compost converter
d) Landscaping and development of Chitranjan Park
Solid Waste Management through organic compost converter
d)
Development of Town Hall as a Heritage centre for Visitors &

2
Piligrims
Development of Town Hall as a Heritage centre for Visitors &
2
a) Cleaning
Piligrims & Repair of building
b)
a) Landscape
Cleaning & development
Repair of building 2.58
b)
a) Landscape
Auditorium &development
Interpretaiton center development 2.58
a)
b) Auditorium & Interpretaiton
Surface parking development center development
b) Surface parking development
S No Zone 03: DURGA KUND & SANKATMOCHAN COST (in Crores)

Development of Durga Kund precinct including boundary wall,
a)
seating and temporary kiosk
0.90
Road development from Durga Kund to Assi Ghat inlcuding entry

b)
portals, signage, paving, parking, art work
1.83
c) Cleaning, repair, restoration and illumination of historic facades 0.65

Total 3.38
S No CITY LEVEL PROJECTS COST (in Crores)

Development & Beautification of 34 roads including bitumen
1
road, KC drain, walkway, median, street lights, & art work
40.00
Development of tourist infrastructure in 100+ heritage sites
2
including:
Approach roads development including drainage, pavement,
a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
HRIDAY- street lights, manhole, underground cabling ,etc Architectural Heritage, AH Division - INTACH
b Illumination of heritage structure
a)
seating and temporary kiosk 0.90
Road development from Durga Kund to Assi Ghat inlcuding entry
b)
portals, signage, paving, parking, art work 1.83
c) Cleaning, repair, restoration and illumination of historic facades 0.65
Total 3.38
S No CITY LEVEL PROJECTS COST (in Crores)

Development & Beautification of 34 roads including bitumen
1
road, KC drain, walkway, median, street lights, & art work
40.00
Development of tourist infrastructure in 100+ heritage sites
2
including:
Approach roads development including drainage, pavement,
a
street lights, manhole, underground cabling ,etc
b Illumination of heritage structure
c Signage (Information signage, directional signage)
Impact signages-you are here maps for sanskritik lehar
d
identification heritage structures
e Solid waste management- Dustbins
f Solid waste management – solid compost 30.00
g Heritage facade improvement
h Drinking water and toilet
i Landscaping (includes benches, paving,planters,bollards)
j Parking (surface parking)
k Information Kiosk
oject Cost Total Project Cost
l Ho ho buses on the sanskritik lehar route
72.09 7
ned Projects Sanctioned
(DevelopmentProjects
of 10 roads)
m Bust stands/shelters (Development of 10 roads) 7.91
otal Grand Total 80.00 80
11 Implementation Plan &

Monitoring Mechanism
Key governance issues are to be addressed for smooth implementation of the City HRIDAY Plan of
Varanasi .Clarity of roles and responsibilities of institutions is a per-requisite for good governance.
This clarity is Conducive for role separation that in turn is an enabling factor for a host of good
governance practices like Effective implementation, project development, accountability, and
transparency etc – factors that lead to efficiency in service provision as well as efficiencies in
institutions. The CHP in its attempt to examine key Issues of governance in Varanasi, the roles has
been identified and responsibilities of the various institutions in terms of planning, implementation
and maintenance.
The above table highlights a key issue in Urban Governance- Overlapping of Roles & Accountability
of different Urban Local Bodies (ULB).
• There are many functional overlaps at the departmental level. For example, both PWD and the
Street Lighting departments are undertaking the construction and maintenance of streetlights
and municipal properties; MCV as well as PWD clean drains; etc. Several activities of MCV
and JS are also similar and carried out separately. These functional overlap costs in terms of
man-power (most of these institutions spend 30-40% of their expenditure on manpower at
worker level) and revenue and is not conducive to institutional efficiency. Quite like the other
development authorities, the VDA functions as the ‘Developer to the Government’. Functional
overlaps are seen between the VDA and the TCPD with both being responsible for spatial
planning. Functional overlaps are also seen in the implementation and maintenance functions
that are performed by both the VDA and the MCV.
• Most of the above institutions are conducting maintenance work post breakdown. Routine and
preventive maintenance is lacking.
• The institutions with overlapping roles and responsibilities work in isolation and do not interact
much with public or call for sharing of operational matters and development issues between
themselves in their common area of jurisdiction
• There are issues related to transfer and O&M of the assets created.
• Therefore the smooth implementation of the tasks, program and actions in the city HRIDAY CHP
requires innovations and modifications in organizations and strengthening capacities, conflict
resolution and reconciliation between various stakeholders. The different ULB’s need to engage
in a consultative process for streamlining project planning, implementation, maintenance, and
for sharing of operational matters in the project area. This will help to bring clarity of roles and
responsibilities of institutions and effective implementation that would lead to efficiency in
service provision as well as efficiencies in institutions.
Proposed road map for implementation of CHP

1. The objective of city Mission directorate- The city mission directorate (CMD) Municipal
corporation which is presently the model agency in Varanasi t implement CHP and projects
proposed there in.
• To promote socio-economic, physical and cultural development of the identified heritage zones
surrounding areas of impact.
• To bring together and create a common platform for various ULB to engage in a consultative
process for streamlining project planning, implementation and maintenance in the project
area.
• Ensure compliance of the activities of CMD with the vision and strategies for Urban Renewal,
Environment, Heritage and Tourism, which are prioritized in the city HRIDAY Plan Mission for
Urban Infrastructure and Governance.
2. Framework for Review and monitoring

In the context of the ever changing landscape of the developments in the city, the impacts on the
growth of the city shows by factored into the CHP process in a dynamic manner. The CHP should
have a fixed time frame for its implementation, and shall be followed by a review to study and
analyse the impact of the implementation of the plan, in order to make mid-term course corrections,
wherever necessary. A monitoring mechanism should also be established for measuring success of
CHP and thereafter implementation of CHP .
CHP
12 Promotion Program
Marketing Strategies
and
Marketing is one of the most critical aspects of any heritage or interpretive attraction operations. Marketing
brings in visitors – and gets them to come back for return visits. For marketing and Promotional scheme for
Varanasi various design aids are proposed
1. Tourism Development Strategies
1. Information Kiosks- At the entry points to Varanasi at Airport, Varanasi Railway junction,
Bus terminal ,etc. These information kiosks will have maps, brochures, handouts ,etc for better
interpretation of Varanasi for the visitors
2. Guide Maps- Guide maps, stand alone and fold out maps are an important tool for visitor’s
experience and way finding. Heritage of Varanasi can be highlighted and brief historical background,
things to do, where to stay, community , intangible craft, etc
3.Way Finding Maps on Smart phone App- The way finding map of Varanasi Ghats is designed
for aiding tourists when they are walking to and along the ghats. It shows the traffic routes from
the airports and railway station to the Ghats and its attractions. It also shows the street network,
walking and boat trails, and significant sites. Heritage trails proposed on six ghats: Assi Ghat, Kedar
Ghat, Dasashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat and the historic buildings and temples are marked
on the detailed maps. The way finding maps can be made available as an application for smart
phone. Visitors can scan QR Code o the way finding map brochure and download the App. It has
the map of Varanasi Ghats, local weather, facilities nearby, myths and legends associated with each
ghat, as well as historic and sacred sites
4. Audio-guides
1. Procurement of audio guides, and preparing their material
2. Kiosks for giving audio-guides on rentals
1. Educational and awareness Strategies

•Education and public awareness:
Public responsibilities - The responsibility for care and maintenance of heritage must be entrusted
to the local community, for the protection and conservation of any cultural resource is ensured
only if it enjoys the love and respect of the local people.
In conformity with the intent of the Constitution of India, conservation of heritage must be the
duty of every Indian citizen, and all administrative, legislative and financial assistance must be pro-
vided in this regard at all levels.
Public awareness - It is essential to create public interest, awareness and concern regarding the
significance of cultural heritage, its protection, conservation an enhancement for the benefit of
both present and future generations. This public education can be achieved by utilizing communi-
cation and promotion techniques: thematic publications, print and electronic media, cultural pro-
grammers, educational fairs, heritage site visits and excursions, exhibitions, workshops, lectures,
seminars and so on.
Regional, national or international historically significant days, festivals and similar occasions could
provide opportunities for community celebrations sensitively designed to draw public attention.
Such events can be organized in or around historic structures/areas thereby reinforcing the role of
heritage in the well-being of society.
• Heritage walks can be used as an effective tool to involve local people in the informed appreci-
ation and protection of their historic surroundings and cultural context. Such small-scale activ-
ities could precipitate a chain reaction of localized conservation projects involving community
participation and contribution. These collective efforts need to be publicized so that they can
serve as models to be adopted and adapted by other communities.
• Cultural walks linking various historic nodes must also be tailored to promote tourism, thereby
creating economic benefits for the local community.
• The legislation and regulations laid down in the administrative system, building by-laws, town
planning acts and other measures relevant to the protection and conservation of architectural
heritage must be made accessible to the public through user-friendly manuals and publications.
• Governments at all levels and their associates authorities should support and facilitate non-gov-
ernment organizations, registered charitable trusts, heritage cooperatives and private initia-
tives to organize awareness programs highlighting various aspects of heritage conservation,

consequently informing local people of the means to deal with the challenges involved therein.
• Education in primary and secondary schools: Respect and affection for heritage – both natural
and cultural - and concern for its protection and conservation should be inculcated for school
children, and this must form a crucial aspect of education. Children must be encouraged to ex-
perience historic environs by engaging them in outdoor play activities, cultural events, picnics
and extra-curricular subjects involving drawing or painting of cultural sites. School teachers
should be given specialized training in order to make them aware of the issues involved in
appreciation & preservation of heritage. Education curricula should include subjects on India’s
natural, cultural, and living heritage that highlight the multifaceted relationship between cul-
tural resources and society, reinforcing their inseparable bond.
• Undergraduate education: The institutes, colleges and universities for the education of ar-
chitects, engineers, archaeologist planners, administrative service officers, management pro-
fessionals, material chemists and other professions relevant to heritage conservation and
management should encourage inter-disciplinary interaction on shared issues and common
concerns and inculcate a holistic understanding of heritage with reference to social, cultural
and economic aspects of the society. The education of conservation professionals must include
short training periods when students work with master craftspeople in their own learning en-
vironment or at building/conservation sites.
• This would provide an opportunity for students to acquire practical experience in the appli-
cation of skills and use of materials, thus strengthening their theoretical training. In order to
respond sensitively & constructively to India’s special conservation challenges, conservation
professionals must be trained to appreciate and integrate both traditional & modern principles
in their work.
• Education and training of craftspeople: The ideal way to preserve a craft is to practice it. In
order to ensure the continuity of craft traditions, it is essential that systematic education and
training environments be provided and supported at all levels by the Government, non-govern-
mental organizations and private entrepreneurs. In addition to individual initiatives of modest
scale within limited resources, NGOs can support small to medium-sized schools, and Central
and State governments can operate fully equipped training centers that specialize in traditional
building and conservation crafts. Building Centers set up by HUDCO (Housing and Urban De-
velopment Corporation of the Government of India) are important initiatives that can be lever-
aged to promote traditional conservation practices. These Centers train and upgrade the skills
of various trades of builders, with a focus on the use of appropriate materials and technologies.
Conservation architects should associate themselves with these Centers in order to systematize
the dissemination of traditional building principles and practices.
• Publication: In all works of preservation, restoration or excavation there should always be pre-
cise documentation in the form of analytical and critical reports illustrated with drawings and
photographs. Every stage of the work of clearing, consolidation, rearrangement and integra-
tion, as well as technical and formal features identified during the course of the work, should be
included. This record should be placed in the archives of a public institution and made available
to research workers. It is recommended that the report should be published.
13 Strategies for Operation and

Maintenance
Strategies for Operation and Maintenance
The Assets created under HRIDAY include different projects related to pavement of roads, repair of
Ghats, streetscaping, Assi nala revival project, public amenities like signage, street lights, etc and
also the project under funding of other Government schemes such as (PRASAD,NGP, SWADESH,
DARSHAN, SWACH BHARAT, etc)
While most of the operation and maintenance of the assets shall be the local authority’s responsibility
(Municipal corporation of Varanasi), a detailed financial operation plan should also be prepared to
outline the expenses and revenues (if any from souvenir shops, pay and use toilets, cafeterias,
etc). Over a period of time financial operation plan would use past performances revenues and
expenses to forecast what to expect in the following years. In connection with the O & M , CSR
funds and Public Private Partnerships should be encouraged.
The hotel and tourism industry could play a vital role and get involved in the O &M by the municipal
corporation. In tourism the travel agencies are very important entities. At one time they were
only offering ticketing services but today their services include from hotel accommodation to
transportation , local sight seeing, entertainment, leisure, recreation and adventure activities.
Whether all assets should be privatized or only some is a policy decision to be undertaken by the
State government. Some options are stated below which can be taken into consideration by local
authority (MCV)
Option 1
Privatize where the industry is already developed: This will imply that MCV would focus its attention
on playing a pioneering/need based role of servicing the requirements till site area becomes
more developed in this regard. The objective is to encourage tourist to visit these areas that are
underdeveloped from an overall infrastructure perspective.
Option 2
Privatize only the loss making units: This policy option is sometimes suggested on the grounds that
profit earning/revenue generating entities can be kept with the MCV
• Implication/ Assessment: Loss-making reasons have to be carefully assessed; reasons could
range from inappropriate management control/marketing to inappropriate location strategy.
If loss making is because of the latter reasons, there could be “few takers” in the privatization
exercise.
Option3
Privatise all eventually on the policy principle that MCV is not to be in the business of “operations”;
but in providing for policy guidelines, strategy, and facilitating the growth of infrastructure and
industry.
Option 4
Privatize through “unbundling” of operations and by management contract: Under this option,
the MCV brand name could be retained and ownership of land and assets would be vested with
MCV. Some or all services, could be awarded to single or several entrepreneurs on the basis of
management contract. There would be no lease under this concept and the same can be defined
as limited privatization.
To understand certain projects like the street scaping of Dasashwamedh road, the encroached area
needs to be notified by the Varanasi development authority and removal and demolition of visual
and physical encroachments to be undertaken by MCV. Similarly, certain reforms such as heritage
bylaws, guidelines , adaptive reuse guidelines need to be implemented and be able to operate and
maintain certain HRIDAY projects. A detailed public health and sanitation plan would be required
for placing an integrated solid waste disposal system for the entire city without which solid waste
management for the designated area would not be effective.
Creation of HRIDAY
Creation of HRIDAY cell inside the Municipal corporation would help in O&M matters. The HRIDAY
cell would appoint officials and building craftsmen with specialized skills of maintaining the historic
facades and other assets created under HRIDAY. Special training could also provided to existing staff
of MCV.
In order to ensure long-term benefits it is necessary to train local craftsmen and masons involved
in O&M of assets. Masons shall be trained in traditional construction techniques and materials
and craftsmen shall be trained to restore, repair and reproduce the traditional building elements,
furniture, etc. Engineers shall be encouraged and trained to adopt appropriate traditional construction
techniques, processes and materials so as to carry out restoration and repair works on heritage
buildings and also to advice heritage building owners and builders about the simple routine
preventive- maintenance strategies in order to minimize the need of repair. Training
may be carried out in different ways: through seminars, workshop, manuals
and guidelines, audio-visual media showing the steps of restoration works, etc.
Operation and maintenance diagram
14 City Specific Toolkits Creation
14.1 Area Wide Urban Toolkit

The City Specific Toolkit will be divided into four categories: area-wide urban guideline toolkit,
public street scape, plaza and open space guideline toolkit, building guideline toolkit and Pallet
Creation. The four sections of the guideline toolkit are explained in further detail below:
1. Buffer/setback/No construction zones from the heritage delineated area :

1.1 Framework for Natural heritage protection and management (Existing) :
• The presence of the three rivers - Ganga, Varuna and Assi, along the banks of which Varanasi
is situated-The area from the bank towards city covering a distance of 200 meters is declared
as the riverfront heritage. No development activities can take place 200 meters from the
riverbank. Eighty-four ghats cover a length of 6.8km along the crescent-shaped bank of the
River Ganga from the confluence of Asi drain in the south to the confluence of the Varunā river
in the north. Other water bodies in the city.
• River Varuna has setback of no development activities of 50 meters both side within the city
whereas outside the city it is 150 metres each side. Assi Nala has setback of no development
activity
• The Kachhua (Tortoise) Sanctuary, along the 7-km stretch between Raj Ghat and Ram Nagar,
declared so in 1989
• Forests (reserved, protected and unclassed) and forest land, if any within the jurisdictions of
VDA-Forest on the Eastern bank of River Ganga in Varanasi should be protected under the act
of U.P State Forest Policy 1998 which may affect the urban pattern of Varanasi.
• Protection of rights of tribes and rural settlements that have been traditionally sustaining
upon forests. There are several Scheduled Tribes in Varanasi and surrounding areas that may
be dependent so, as well as the many villages that have been included in the VDA jurisdiction
• Overall environmental aspect of Varanasi that is intricately linked with development
Proposals- No development activity area of 200 meters on the eastern bank of the River Ganga
(upper Lowland) has started to develop and encroach upon even after the firm applicable
regulation. The proposal for Riparian corridor is to provide buffer and protection of critical habitats
for Biodiversity. These narrow areas along river banks are potential conservation areas vital for
sustainable agriculture as well as for fisheries as local livelihood. It will protect the ecologically
sensitive river front heritage.
Buffer and Setback zones
LEGEND
200 m Protected zone
50 m protected zone at R. Varuna
25 m protected zone at Assi Nala
200 m protected zone ASI Monuments
Proposed no build zone
Proposed Riparian Corridor
Scale 1:40000
2. Guidelines for Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Structures
Through adaptive re-use, a heritage building may be rejuvenated in terms of both physical and
economic values. It is an effective strategy to conserve architectural heritage, particularly by using
traditional craftspeople in the process. Such re-use distinguishes between preservation as an ideal
on the one hand and, on the other, the goal to prolong the useful life of architectural heritage
by retaining as much (and not necessarily, all) of the surviving evidence as a vestigial presence.
Following are the guidelines to be taken care during such interventions:
• Priority or reuse must be accorded to retaining the continuity of original functions.

• Any new use must be introduced only after studying its effect on the local context, and must
conform to the carrying capacity and vulnerability of the architectural heritage.
• When structural documentation record is not available, site measurement, non destructive
investigation and, where appropriate, destructive tests such as taking material samples from
existing structure for strength tests, and opening up for structural investigation are to be
adopted for assessing the design parameters.
• Structural appraisal for heritage buildings should be carried out in a scientific and rational way,
taking into consideration the deterioration in material properties over time and the validity of
design parameters.
• Any building proposed for reuse should consider the fire fighting strategies.
• All changes to the original fabric should be preceded and followed by comprehensive
documentation.
• Additions and alterations must respect the coherence of the whole, and must, to the extent
possible, engage traditional materials, skills and knowledge in the process.
• When it becomes necessary to modernize and comprehensively alter the original internal
functional characteristics of the building or site, its external image must be retained.
Proposal: The sanskritik lehar for Varanasi have identified for Adaptive reuse purpose . The historic character of a property
shall be retained and preserved where as proposing new cultural uses as a part of Sanskritik Lehar in Varanasi .
3. Guidelines for creating nodes, vistas, etc

• Use of Sculptures at important nodes to signify cultural identity of places.
• Contribute to a memorable impression by creating focal points and integrating symbols of
community identity.
• Add character and interest by incorporating public art, fountains, or aesthetic pieces.
• Define boundaries and unify special areas with themed public amenities such as benches,
banners, light fixtures, planters, waste bins, bike racks, etc.
• Creation of vistas at entrance of important places like entrance to Vishwanath Gali.
• The historic views and vistas should be clear of any service, advertisement or any other
obtrusive visual elements.
4. Visual Improvement Guidelines:

Visual improvements can be achieved through removal or relocation of negative factors that affect
the historic visual character of the place, such as obtrusive hoardings, unsightly poles, banners and
overhead wires.
• Any services that are above the grade such as overhead water tanks, air conditioning units,
plumbing lines, etc. should screened within the parapet height of the proposed building.
• The advertisement billboards should not exceed the allowable building heights and should
comply to the signage design guidelines
• No services should be visible on the face of the buildings (proposed and existing)
• No private brand promotion or campaigns should be allowed in vicinity of the site.
Existing situation of Dasashwamedh Bazaar street-signages disturbing the visual integrity of

facades
Visual Improvement: Prototype of Present and Suggested

Placement of Signage
14.2. Public Streetscape Guideline Toolkit

1. Creating a pedestrian friendly visual environment:
• Removal of obtrusive display signage, advertising banners, overhang hoardings, visual and
physical encroachments, etc.
• Control on hawking activities around the temples and ghat.
• Providing a single level pedestrian connection from Pandey Ghat to Lalita Ghat as heritage trail-
barrier free, with provisions of ramps and slopes for handicap access with the heritage trail
provided with building illumination, signage, waste bins etc
2. Guidelines for streetscape :

• Remove all obtrusive display signage, advertising banners, visual and physical encroachments
for the restoration of the arcade.
• Provide the facades with uniform surface finishes.
• Leveling and relaying of pavements to be undertaken with appropriate material and having
uniform surface finish.
• Features like AC grills, window boxes etc within the arcade space must confirm to a uniform
design scheme.
• Colonnades in the public realms to undergo mandatory inspection and structural stabilization
wherever they are in a state of deterioration.
Proposed street and skyline

Recommended example of one of the street: Source: SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural
Conservation; Batch 2014-2016
3. Guidelines for location of air-conditioning units:

• Location of A/C units and compressors for split units should be restricted to the side elevation
and service alleys in order to avoid visibility along the main façade. This should be strictly
enforced for offices with access to the side elevation.
• For smaller office spaces that do not have window openings along the side setback, A/C units
could be recessed from the external façade in a manner that allows for minimum protrusion of
the unit on the external elevation.
Recommended example of one of the street: Source: SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural
4. Plantation of Trees and Shrubs:

• Plantation and increase in naturally shaded areas but the plantation should not cover the
historic buildings.
• Protection of existing trees by providing tree guards.
• The existing park such as C.R Park will serve as sacred landscape area
Proposed road section with Plantation at C.R Park
Proposed Plantation for sacred landscape

Recommended example of sacred gardens: Source: SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural
5. Heritage Sensitive Street Furniture:

• The street furniture for the area needs to respond to the ambiance of the heritage precinct.
• The local authorities to outline and standardize the design considerations for provision of street
furniture such as benches, bins, sign posts, information kiosks, weather shelters etc
6. Street Furniture Design Guidelines:

• The street furniture like garden benches, fountains, bollards, children play equipments, etc.
should be placed necessarily wherever required by the proposed function.
• Necessary provisions should be made to accommodate temporary structures (during festivals
and special occasions) in the ground surface so that the built environment is not damaged or
desecrated.
• The street furniture should adhere to the anthropometrics and ergonomic standards as
prescribed internationally.
• The design of the street furniture should have local design influences and should not superimpose
contemporary out of context identity.
• The street furniture should have10% of its visual surface reserved for advertisement for the
entrepreneurs maintaining and managing it.
• The street furniture should be strong and non portable but should be modular or knock down
in assembly.
• The furniture should be able to resist vandalism and weathering conditions.
• The materials used in the furniture should be vernacular and non contrasting to the historic
character of the place.
Native street furniture elements from the old city
7. Regulation for street dwellers and Hawker:

• Strict monitoring against the proliferation of uses within
arcades and streets dwellers and hawking activities to
be regulated as per statutory provisions in the municipal
act.
• To make statutory provisions to regulate street dwellers
and hawkers in the absence of any such provisions in
the municipal act.
• To design hawker stand that is harmonious to the
heritage street’s ambiance and that does not hamper
movement of traffic and people. Designs of hawker
stand to be standardized and made public by the local
authorities.
8. Lighting and Illumination Guidelines:

• A coordinated and comprehensive lighting strategy is recommended on a site-wide basis both
to achieve a hierarchy of lighting that makes the site more legible and attractive at night and to
identify a palette of lighting fixtures for all categories of appropriate lighting needs. This lighting
study should address energy efficiency to achieve sustainability and power-smart objectives in
a balanced approach with heritage conservation standards.
• Lighting should contain consistent, unifying elements throughout the entire area. In specific
areas, lighting can be specialized to create a sense of identity as long as they contain the
unifying elements.
• Lighting should be designed to accommodate the scale of the user. Thus, there should be taller
lighting fixtures for vehicular traffic and shorter lighting fixtures for pedestrian movement. For
places with both types of movement, multiple types of lighting should be used concurrently.
• Wherever required the old lighting fixtures should be retained and preserved that contribute to
the overall historic character of a building, site, or streetscape.
• The maintenance and repair of lighting should be easy and mechanical.
• If replacement of a missing or deteriorated historic exterior lighting fixture is necessary, replace
it with a fixture that is similar in appearance, material, and scale to the original, or with a
fixture that is compatible in scale, design, materials, color, finish, and historic character with
the building and the streetscape.
• Introduce new site and street lighting that is compatible with the human scale and the historic
character of the district. Consider the location, design, material, size, color, finish, scale, and
brightness of a proposed fixture in determining its compatibility.
• Locate low-level or directional site lighting and motion detectors with care to ensure that the
light does not invade adjacent properties.
• It is not appropriate to introduce indiscriminate area lighting in the historical areas.
• It is not appropriate to introduce or eliminate exterior lighting fixtures if doing so will detract
from the overall historic character of the building, site, or streetscape.
• It is not appropriate to introduce period lighting fixtures from an era that predates the structure
in the historic district in an attempt to create a false historical appearance, or that are stylistically
inappropriate or anachronistic.
• It is not appropriate to diminish the historic character of a site by introducing incongruous
lighting, such as creating a runway effect with multiple footlights along front walks.
Typical street section of old city: Recommendation for wall

mounted lighting and street furniture
Recommended for street illumination: Source: SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural Conservation;
Batch 2014-2016
14.3. Building Guideline Toolkit:

Owners, architects and engineers intending to carry out restoration works or development
within conservation areas are required to comply with the following conservation principles and
guidelines:
1. Guidelines for the conservation, repair and retrofitting of historic building fronts:
• All ficus plants should be uprooted and injected with biocide to prevent further re-growth.
• Moss lichen and micro biological growth should be carefully scraped off and cleaned with a
dilute wash of hydrofluoric acid solution.
• Stone Cleaning: The stone bands and cornices should be carefully cleaned with non abrasive
methods such as water misting, gentle non-ionic surfactants and ammonia poulticing. The
process should be only conducted under the guidance of a qualified conservation architect.
• Any re-pointing and re-plastering work should use the same material as originally used.
• Original design for the window frames and shutters should be strictly adhered to in all cases of
repair, restoration or renewal.
• No new design should be inserted within a building facade that does not match the original
scheme.
2. Guidelines for interventions in heritage structures:

• Any intervention made to the building should be reversible.
• The original building height of all the listed heritage structure is to be retained if possible or
new floor to be constructed in the same architectural vocabulary, symmetry and pattern.
• Use of any modern material on facades undermining the building and street character should
not be allowed.
• The original building profile is to be retained. If it has undergone unauthorized alterations, the
original profile is to be reinstated.
• The original size and ornamentation of the wall and gate are to be retained and restored.
• The balcony or verandah is to be kept open and not enclosed with window or fixed glazing or
any other element.
• Structural strengthening or supports like steel or reinforced concrete roof beams, if required
to be added, are to be sensitively designed to minimize visual impact on the traditional timber
system which is to be retained.
• Any advertisement or other banner will not be allowed over architectural elements on historic
facades.
• In case of doing property divisions and partitioning, light weight construction material to be
used to avoid overloading on structure. Partitions should not be allowed to obstruct existing
window opening, but if at all a junction is created between the two, the partition should match
the window mullions.
Using steel or aluminum frames for closing the openings and creation of new openings in the walls, changing the
shape of existing fenestration is not recommended
Source: SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural Conservation; Batch 2014-2016
3. Guidelines for designing new buildings in the heritage zone:

Following are the guidelines applicable for Heritage Zone: I & II
Heritage Zone I: The Ghats along the Riverfront
Heritage Zone II: The Core Heritage Area in Old City
• New construction in these zones should always respond appropriately to its context.
• Any new construction near heritage structures should use similar height, form and façade
composition.
• Up to the width of 1m balcony can be projected from first and above floors from front facades
based on the existing streetscape and abutting heritage structures.
• The similar vocabulary of architectural elements as of existing heritage structures should be
used in new building.
• Wooden doors and glass panel windows should be used on external facades instead of glazing
with aluminum frames.
• Generally use traditional patterns for columns, brackets, balconies, gates, etc.
4. Guidelines for Various Signage, Displays and Advertisement Hoardings:

• The location of the sign boards, advertisements, etc, on building facade should be carefully
regulated, so as not to conceal or obstruct any detailing, cornice band or keystone or any such
decorative element that is integral to the building elevation.
• Signage should be restricted to be inset within the arches or any other original front profile.
• All advertisement hoardings on buildings that are not located on the ground level shop front
are highly incongruous and should be completely removed.
• Building which have its name in traditional mounted letters in stucco or metal, embossed or
engraved in stone should be retained. Such building name display should be encouraged and
no panels, boards or hoardings should be allowed to conceal them.
• Single color lettering on a single colored background should be encouraged and multi hued
backgrounds should be avoided as far as possible.
• Box signs should be discourages specially those which form porch like sun-shade projections on
the external face of the building. These neither follow the arcade profile, nor relate in terms of
material, form or fenestrations pattern to the building.
BEFORE
EXISTING GRAFFITI AND SIGNAGE
AFTER
PROPOSED SIGNAGE ON THE GHATS
14.4.Pallet Creation for various Components

1. Color Palette
• Only colors that blend into the elevation of the Ghats and merge with the historic structures
should be used.
• Colors other than those given in the color palette should be avoided.
• Stone should not be painted over.
• Lime plaster is recommended for historic structures.
BEFORE
Existing facades with non uniform and contrasting colors
AFTER
Recommended façade painted from proposed color palette
Proposed Elevation treatment
2. Guidelines for Façade-scape Restoration (at Dasashwamedh street):

Restoration of arcades and paving
• To provide the arcade with uniform surface finishes.
design scheme.
• Arcades in the public realms to undergo mandatory inspection and structural stabilization
3. Guidelines for texture and paint finishes on the external walls:

• Lime based paints in a white or off white color must be the allowable paint finish for all historic
masonry walls.
• Exposed stone surfaces in elevation should not be given any surface coat, tile work or fascia.
4. Re-plastering of damaged masonry in lime:

• Any re-pointing and re-plastering work should use the same material as originally used.
5. Restoration and repair of window frames:

• The original design for the window frames and shutters should be strictly adhered to in all
cases of repair, restoration or renewal.
• No new design should be inserted within a building facade that does not match the original
scheme.
6. Guidelines for Property divisions and partitioning:

Restoration of arcades and paving
• To provide the arcade with uniform surface finishes.
design scheme.
• Arcades in the public realms to undergo mandatory inspection and structural stabilization
7. Palette for paving:

• The inner streets and open spaces to be paved in sandstone or Chunar stone.
• Cobble paving to be used at junctions.
• Proper spacing to be given between stones to increase the porosity of the surface.
8. Site Signage Guidelines:

The types of permissible signage within the zone are:
• Historical Description Interpretive Signage: A sign permanently attached to the ground on its
own supportive structure independent of any building or backing support. This should describe
the historical narrative of the significant building or structure supported by plans, pictures, text
on history, event & personalities, narrative & notional linkages, artwork conveying significance,
project logo & title, tourist circuit information, etc. This signage should be located near the
important building or site. The signage should accommodate the logo & title of the public
agencies and sponsor logo & title of private entrepreneurs (if any selected for maintenance).
• Integrated Site Facility Interpretive Signage: A sign permanently attached to the ground on its
own supportive structure independent of any building or backing support. This should describe
the location of the visitor in the plan of the entire site, highlight important places, locate visitor
services & amenities, features and facilities and businesses and indicate the project title and
logo. This signage should be located near the important nodal points, entrance and vantage
points within the site. The signage should only locate the public services and should not indicate
any private facilities. The signage should accommodate the logo & title of the public agencies
and sponsor logo & title of private entrepreneurs (if any selected for maintenance).
• Visitor Directional Signage: A sign erected on a pole, or a pylon independent of any building,
provided it is not designed or used as a poster panel (billboard). This signage should indicate
the direction of the visitor movements towards the important facilities and places of interest.
The signage should contain only textual information with directions sign. This signage should
be located at crossroads of facilities, bifurcating points, parking and pedestrian intersections
within the site.
• Way Finding Signage: A sign mounted on built structures or freestanding on low single post
(below the eye level of visitor). The signage should display the name and direction of the
particular facility located near to its installation place. The signage should be placed at a point
where the visitor might end up in multiple facility zone and they should be able to identify
the further route to the specific service. The signage should be in bilingual script (Roman and
Devanagri).
• Historic Building Identity Signage: A sign painted on or attached parallel to the wall or window
of a historical building or structure or horizontally projected from the wall of the building
supported by a bracket indicating the name of the building. The authenticity of the name
should be determined from the Historic Property Inventory. The signage apart from the name
text should indicate the ownership & maintenance agency logo and title. The signage should be
in bilingual script (Roman, Devanagri).
• Visitor Amenities Signage: A sign painted on or attached parallel to the wall or window of a
building indicating the name of the service or amenities like toilets, drinking water fountains,
rest rooms, handicap information, first aid facility, rain shelter, phone charging deck, ramps,
lifts, staircase, etc. The signage should be in bilingual script (Roman, Devanagri)
• Community/ Public Facility Signage: A sign painted on or attached parallel to the wall or
window of a building indicating the name of the community service swimming pool, lawns,
gardens, open air theaters, skating rink, milk booth, information kiosk, sons- et- lumiere, etc.
The signage should be in bilingual script (Roman, Devanagri).
DO’s and DON’TS
Control on banners/hoardings/etc is requires for maintaining Historic facades are not visible on narrow streets due to projected
uniformity on streets shades
Insensitive intervention on heritage structures should not be

allowed. Extension of floors can be done using similar architectural
features as lower floors. Signage, hoardings, etc should not be
allowed on pedestrian pathways
Modern facades undermining the character of heritage

structures should be avoided
Redoing of existing haphazard electrical wiring

on facades or streets is recommended
Insensitive interventions deforming the composition of facades and form of building

should not be allowed
Insensitive additions to heritage facades should not be Deteriorated columns details on façade from new
allowed. Control on banners/hoardings/etc is required solid parapet
for maintaining uniformity on streets
Sealed Balcony space with brick wall and glazed Chaotic nodes and important junctions in town. Redesigning of such nodes are
openings with aluminum frames recommended using façade control regulations, paving, street furniture, new
organized electrical wiring and control on signage and hoardings.
Pallet Creation- Design toolkit
Varanasi is an embodiment of rich tangible heritage assets. Built structures of different typologies and time periods
are abundantly found in Varanasi including religious structures varying from temples, Gurudwaras ,Jain teerth sthals,
mosques to Asia’s oldest Garrison Protestant Church, public structures like Ghats, residential structures like palaces,
havelis, dharamshalas and archaeological sites . The natural heritage is manifested in built structures in the form of
kunds, talabs , pokhras and open spaces.
Besides being rich in built heritage, Varanasi is also brimming with varied intangible heritage assets such as popular gha-
ranas of music and dance, weaving clusters of the world famous Benarasi sarees and handicrafts like toy making,metal
workers, ivory work, hand woven carpets, glass bangles, clay toys, musical instruments is being carried out in nook and
corners of many mohallas.
By and large the local economy and livelihood of the people of Varanasi is dependent on the intangible crafts.
The toolkit design is inspired from the built heritage of Varanasi which is rich in design elements, ornamentation and
details such as intricate carving from jalis, parapets, patti pattern which is commonly found in the built structures. The
toolkit uses local materials and crafts such as Chunar stone , metal work and bamboo weaving to encourage the local
crafts of Varanasi and give them a economic boost and livelihood regeneration.
The toolkit is city specific and is designed to create a common vocabulary in Varanasi.
A. DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE
1. SIGNAGE SYMBOLS : Directional Signage
Ghats Temples Aarti
Ghats Ravan Dahan Ganga Aarti
Mosque Boating
SPECIFICATIONS
Size : 270 x 270 mm
Colour : Dark shades of grey
Dark Grey Black

Material: Mild steel Panel
2. DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE
INSPIRATION
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 3500 mm
Distance : varies according to height
Dark Grey Black Beige
OPTION- 01 OPTION- 02 OPTION- 03 Material: Wrought Iron post and CHUNAR stone
for pedestal (For option- 03)
DETAIL OPTION- 01 DETAIL OPTION- 02 DETAIL OPTION- 03

Wall Mounted Directional Signaage (Mohallahs)
Wall Mounted Signage
SPECIFICATIONS
SIZE
Type A : 3000 x 900 mm
Type B : 1500 x 900 mm
Dark Grey Black
Material: Mild Steel Panel
Present Condition of a Bangali Tola street
Depiction of Wall Mounted Directional Signage at the Bangali Tola Street
SIGNAGE SYMBOL : Information Signage
SPECIFICATIONS
Size : 500 x 150 mm
Dark Grey Black
Material: Mild steel panel
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 1.2 m
Colour : Subtle colours suggested
Beige Black
Materials: Chunar Stone and steel sheet
B. INFORMATION SIGNAGE
SIGNAGE OPTION: 01
Plan
Side Elevation
Front Elevation
Module
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 1.2 m
Beige Black
Materials: Chunar Stone

Inspiration
SIGNAGE OPTION: 02
Abstract
Module
Front Elevation
Section
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 1.2 m
Beige Black
Materials: Chunar Stone and steel sheet
Inspiration
SIGNAGE OPTION: 03 (Mohalla’s)
Elevation
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 3500 mm
Dark Grey Black
Material: Wrought Iron post with mild steel panel.
Inspiration
SHOP SIGNAGE: Dasashwamedh Street
Shop signage single Unit in one module
Shop signage double Unit in one module
SPECIFICATIONS
SIZE
Type A : 3000 x 900 mm
Type B : 1500 x 900 mm
Dark Grey Black
Material: Mild Steel Panel
SHOP SIGNAGE: Vertical Unit for Hotels/Heritage street on Dasashwamedh road
ENTRY GATE SIGNAGE
2. Street Paving
COBBLE STONE PAVING
CHUNAR STONE PAVING SANDSTONE PAVING

The inner area to be paved in sandstone and the
street to be paved in Chunar stone
SPECIFICATIONS
PAVING 01
Size : 200 x 200 x 60 mm
Material: Concrete Cobble
Colour : Grey Grey
PAVING 02
Size : 600 x 300 x 460 mm
Material: Chunar Stone/Sandstone
Colour : Beige Beige
Paving 01 SPECIFICATIONS
Design: paving on streets and Ghats

Location: Ghats and city
dimension: 425mmx425mm and 425x120
Material: Chunar stone and Cobble paving
Colour :
Paving 02 SPECIFICATIONS
Design: paving on streets and Ghats

dimension: 550mmx300mm and 550x100
Material: Chunar stone and Cobble paving
Colour :
3. Illumination
Wall mounted street lighting
Free Standing Light Single sided Free Standing Light Double sided
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 3500 mm
Dark Grey Black Beige
Material: Wrought Iron post and CHUNAR stone

for pedestal
Inspiration
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 3500 mm
Inspiration
Height :Heritage
HRIDAY- 3500 mmCity Development and Augmentation Yojana
Distance : varies according to height Architectural Heritage, AH Division - INTACH
Present Condition of the Gurudham Road
Proposed Road Section of Gurudham Road
4. Street Furniture
Plan
Elevation
SPECIFICATIONS
DESIGN – backless bench with patti pattern detail
SIZE- 1500 x 600 x 450mm
Distance : varies according to location
Colour :
Material: CHUNAR stone
5. Toilet layout on the Ghats: Type 1
Plan
SPECIFICATIONS
Front Elevation
Design: Octagonal Portable Unit with outer
free standing panels
Location: Ghats
SPECIFICATIONS
Height : 3000 mm
Design: Octagonal
Material: Portable Unit
Fibre Reinforced with
Plastic outer
Sheet
free standing
Colour : panels
Location: Ghats
Height : 3000 mm
Material: Fibre Reinforced Plastic Sheet
Layout:
Colour
Urinals: – 03 nos
WC (Indian) – 02 nos
Changing Room – 02 nos
Layout:
Urinals – 03 nos
WC (Indian) – 02 nos
Changing Room – 02 nos
Toilet layout on the Ghats: Type 2
CHANGING
CHANGING ROOM
ROOM
SERVICE
ROOM
Plan
Front Elevation
View of toilet type- 2
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: Octagonal fixed toilets on the Ghats Layout:
Location: Ghats Urinals – 03 nos
Height : 3000 mm WC (Indian) – 04 nos
Material: Bricks cladded with chunar stone Changing Room – 02 nos
Colour : Service room -1 nos
Present Condition of Toilets on the Ghats
Depiction of Proposed Toilets at the Ghats
Plan
Front Elevation
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: Octagonal fixed toilets on the Ghats Layout:
Material: Bricks cladded with chunar stone
Colour :
Toilet layout in the city
Plan
Front Elevation
Toilet layout in the city
View of toilet in the City
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: rectangular fixed toilets on the Ghats Layout:
Colour :
6. Pavilions on the Ghats
Front Elevation
PAVILION /CAFE
DESIGN – COLONADE with PATTI
PATTERN DETAIL
HEIGHT- 3100mm
MATERIAL- BRICK with CHUNAR STONE
COLOR-
LOCATION- GHATS
Reference - Existing Pavilions on Ghats

REFERENCE- EXISTING PAVILIONS ON GHATS
View of the Pavilion

Present Condition of the Ghat
Depiction of Pavilion/Cafe at the Ghats
7.Information Kiosk
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: Octagonal fixed Information Kiosk on

the Ghats and Old City
Location: Ghats
Height : 3000 mm
Colour :
8. Water ATM: Type 1
Plan
Elevation
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: water atms around the ghats and city

Height :785mm
Material: Bricks claded with chunar stone
Colour :
9. Water ATM: Type 2
Plan
Elevation
SPECIFICATIONS
Design: water atms around the ghats and city

Height :785mm
Material: Bricks claded with chunar stone
Colour :
10. Planters
Plan
Inspiration
Elevation Section
PLANTER
DESIGN - octagon with patti pattern with seating
HEIGHT- 450mm
MATERIAL- brick planter with chunar stone cladding and
coping
COLOR-
LOCATION – GHATS
11. Dustbins
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

1200
600 600
DRY WET
450
115
DISPOSAL DISPOSAL
770
PVC Bins
Metal Jali
815
335
700
300mm X 150mm X 815 mm

stone base cutting,carved
(local stone as per spec)
200

115
PVC Bins
Metal Jali
815
700
300mm X 150mm X 815 mm

stone base cutting,carved
(local stone as per spec)

SPECIFICATIONS FOR DUSTBINS
Size- 1200 mm X 600 mm
Material- PVC Bins, Meteal Jali and Chunar

Stone Slab including Cutting, Carving, Polish-
ing
Color-
12. Boundary Wall
Option - 1
Option - 2
Option - 3
BOUNDARY WALL
DESIGN – LOW WALL mounted with GRILL and PATTI pattern detail
HEIGHT- 2500mm
MATERIAL- LIGHT AND DARK SHADES OF C HUNAR STONE, MILD STEEL RAILING
COLOR-
LOCATION – DURGA KUND
13. Wells
The design is based on the local tradition of construction of wells in Varanasi and the design
scheme can be adjusted according to the site condition and context.
• The size of the panels and columns can vary according to the site conditions.
• The stone should be of local origin and preferably in the shades of earthy colors.
14. Parapet for Wells & Kunds
15. Bollards
Specifications
Distance between bollards must be decided such to allow only pe-
destrians to enter.
Material: Chunar Stone, Brickwork with texture paint as per ap-
proved sample.
Colors: Color matching to chunar stone color.
Height of the bollard must to exceed 900mm so as to have the visual

connection.
SARNATH TOOLKIT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PROD
1. Street lights
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT 1265


2900 3000
515
CED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

2. Directional signages
2210

2800
2750
2260 1800

BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
13.Indigenous Shrubs
Carissa Macroca Kher Tree
Durenta Golden Duranta Golden Edge
Mussanenda Eryth Ropphylla Golden Dewdrop
Ficus Benjamina Cosmos Yellow Bush
Tulsi Bhadra Plants
Barachandrika Plant Tecoma Stans Flowers
Adhakpuspi Flowers Kariyartharani Plants
Duckweed Water Lily Bottom Rooted and Floating
References and acknowledgment

1. City Development Plan for Varanasi, 2041 (Final City Development Plan)
2. Master Plan, Varanasi , 2031
3. Uttar Pradesh state tourism corporation, 2006
4. Varanasi detailed project report, Varanasi municipal corporation, Technical Assistance by CEPT
University, 2013
5. Draft heritage Development Plan , Varanasi, INTACH 2009
6. HDP, Varanasi Dasashwamedh Cultural Quarter Urban Heritage Rejuvenation & Management
Plan,INTACH 2009
7. Reconnected Benaras Ghats & streets documentation, Faculty of Architecture, UP Technical
University Lucknow, India
8. SPA Studio Work of Masters in Architectural Conservation; Batch 2014-2016
9. Ghats of Varanasi on the Ganga in India, the cultural Landscape reclaimed, Dept. of Landscape
Architecture University of Illinois at Urban Champaign, USA
10. Banaras, The city revealed, Marg publications, George Mitchell and Rana P B Singh.
11. Banaras walks through India’s sacred city, Mandini Majumdar, 2014
12. Ministry of Urban Development
13. National Institute of Urban Affairs
14. KPMG
15. Varanasi Development Authority
16. Banaras Hindu University
LISTING OF BUILT HERITAGE OF VARANASI

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15 September, 2015

PREPARATION OF CITY HRIDAY PLAN INCLUDING

1. 1.1Purpose of City HRIDAY Plan 16

4. Review of Existing Initiatives

7. Prioritization of Assets 117

8. Civic and Infrastructure Development

8.2.2. SWOT Analysis 158

8.2.4. Proposed Plan 165

Zone 3 Durga kund Sankatmochan

9. Creation of Shelf of Projects 220

11. Implementation Plan and Monitoring Mechanism 234

Zone 01 : 84 Ghats & The Old City

Zone 02 : Durga Kund & Sankatmochan Area

Zone 03 : Peeli Kothi

Zone 04 : Assi Nala

Zone 02 : Durga Kund and Sankatmocham Area

Zone 03 : Peeli Kothi

Zone 04 : Assi Nala

Development of 50 identified sites

Development of 34 identified roads

1 1.1Purpose of City HRIDAY Plan

The HRIDAY Scheme focuses on development

1.2 Vision of the City

Signage, Heritage Conservation, Open space development and Visitor amenities.

For Urban infrastructure development of PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE with heritage sensitive

Cost/Uni COST (in

Cost/Uni COST (in

Total 25.00 4.62

ZONE 03: DURGA KUND and Cost/Uni COST (in

Cost/Uni COST (in

Cost/Uni COST (in

Grand Total 154.69 10.00

Total (in HRIDAY

Zone 1: Ghats 36.98

d) Development of Music school and performance center at Rewa Kothi

1.4 Sanctioned projects for zones

Zone 2: Old City

Zone 4: Peeli Kothi

5 Zone 5- Assi Nala NA

2 a. Introduction of the city

Varanasi’s “Old City,” the quarter near

Figure 1: Location of Varanasi

Figure 3: Uttarapath, historic route passing through Varanasi

Figure 4: Excavations at Rajghat- existence of an ancient settlement

3. Late Medieval Period

2.3 Regional Setting

Road Connectivity- Varanasi

2.4 Physiography and Climate

ponds of Varanasi 1822 ponds of Varanasi 1931

TABLE 1: CLIMATE DATA, 2013

FIGURE 1: TEMPERATURE VARIATION, 2013

2.5 Forest and Bio Diversity

FOREST MAP OF UTTAR PRADESH

TABLE 2: COMPARATIVE POPULATION OF VARANASI CITY

Population Growth Trend

TABLE 3: POPULATION TREND FOR VARANASI CITY

2.7 Tourist Footfall

TABLE 4: ANNUAL TOURIST FLOW IN VARANASI DURING 2002- 2005

ANNUAL TOURIST FLOW THROUGH 2002-2005

TABLE 7: EMPLOYMENT PROFILE OF VARANASI CITY

FIGURE 1: EMPLOYMENT PROFILE OF VARANASI CITY

2.9 Tourism Infrastructure

TABLE 5: AVAILABILITY OF ROOMS IN VARANASI