The Palatial Edge: Cultural Heritage of Bhonsale Mahal

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