Abstract
<jats:p>This book is a collective academic work produced by nine students of the 2025-27 M.Arch Architectural</jats:p> <jats:p>Conservation programme at the School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada, as part of the semester</jats:p> <jats:p>studio titled “Conservation Plan for Bhonsale Mahal, Varanasi.”</jats:p> <jats:p>The study investigates the historic, architectural, cultural, and urban significance of Bhonsale Ghat and</jats:p> <jats:p>its associated precinct within the larger sacred landscape of Varanasi. By examining the relationship between</jats:p> <jats:p>the riverfront, urban morphology, ritual systems, Maratha patronage, and contemporary pressures,</jats:p> <jats:p>the work attempts to build a comprehensive understanding of the precinct and its evolving character.</jats:p> <jats:p>The book combines historical narratives, urban analysis, measured documentation, digital recording</jats:p> <jats:p>techniques, condition assessment, heritage value mapping, and conservation proposals. It reflects an</jats:p> <jats:p>interdisciplinary approach that integrates architecture, conservation, urban studies, history, and cultural</jats:p> <jats:p>landscape studies.</jats:p> <jats:p>The documentation and proposals presented here are the result of extensive onsite studies in Varanasi,</jats:p> <jats:p>involving manual measurements, LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, archival research, stakeholder interaction,</jats:p> <jats:p>and spatial analysis. The work also reflects a collaborative process of discussion, interpretation,</jats:p> <jats:p>and critical inquiry undertaken collectively by the studio team.</jats:p>