A kaleidoscopic view of Banaras, Varanasi charts a narrative that spans from the city's present day, to its origins as Kashi, and the fin de siècle of the eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, which witnessed Varanasi's inclusionary development as a cultural and pilgrimage centre, an opulent trading hub, and a basilica of political power. Weaving facts, interesting anecdotes and untold stories to make a rich tapestry, this book is an insider's account and an unparalleled portrait of the city.