Varanasi’s property landscape is under fresh scrutiny as authorities verify the ownership and present status of 44 properties linked to the erstwhile Jaipur State. The exercise follows a request from the Rajasthan government seeking rights over properties that once belonged to the former princely state and are now located in Uttar Pradesh.
The properties identified in Varanasi are mainly concentrated around the Maan Mandir area along the Ganga riverfront in the old city. District officials are examining historical revenue records and conducting physical verification to establish how the properties are currently recorded, occupied and used. The Rajasthan government’s claim is based on the 1949 Covenant through which the former Jaipur State merged with Rajasthan. Rajasthan has argued that properties belonging to the former princely state outside its present territory, including those in Varanasi, Prayagraj, Agra and Mathura, were to vest with the Rajasthan government following the merger. Following the request, Uttar Pradesh authorities asked district administrations in the four cities to identify the properties and examine their records. In Varanasi, the process involves comparing historical ownership documents with current revenue records and the physical status of the properties. Several of the properties being examined have religious and heritage significance. These include Shri Adi Vishweshwarnath Temple near Kashi Vishwanath, Rameshwar, Dungreshwar, Mahalakshmi and Manokameshwar Mahadev Temple near Manikarnika Ghat, along with Vakratund Ganesh and properties around Rana Mahal and Maan Mandir.
The verification is particularly significant from a property perspective because several decades of urban development may have changed the character and use of these properties. Buildings and land associated with former princely estates can now form part of established residential, commercial, religious and institutional areas. The issue also extends beyond Varanasi. In Prayagraj, authorities have identified around 1,263 houses and shops spread across 35.25 acres in Katra Sawai Jai Singh. Rajasthan’s claim in Agra covers around 100 bighas at Jaipur House, along with two mansions, a temple and a strip of road land. In Mathura, the claim covers around 2.16 acres, including six rooms at Jaswantganj Dharamshala. For Varanasi, however, no final transfer of ownership has been announced. Officials are still completing the documentary and physical verification before preparing a report for the state government.
The case highlights the continuing importance of historical land records in determining ownership of properties that have passed through major political and administrative changes. It also demonstrates how legacy property claims can intersect with today’s urban land use, particularly in older parts of cities such as Varanasi. The next stage will depend on the findings of the verification exercise and subsequent decisions by the Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments. Until then, the ownership status of the 44 properties remains under examination.
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Land Records Checked for 44 Jaipur State Properties in Varanasi
