Varanasi is not only one of the oldest living cities of the world, but is also a model reflecting a comprehensive picture of our rich cultural heritage. The unique qualities of this settlement raise a number of questions, like, how old is Varanasi? What are the factors which helped this city to continue till today, particularly when other old cities on the banks of the Ganga died out? Also, why did Lord Buddha select peripheral region of Varanasi, Sarnath, for delivering his first sermon, particularly when he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya? And since when Saivism became an integral part of the varanasi culture? All these questions are deeply rooted in the history of this holy city, which are attempted in this book on account of the archaeological findings. The first colonization of Kashi region, on account of the excavated findings could be pushed back to about four/five hundred years. this bridged the gap between the antiquity ascertained by ancient texts and earlier archaeological records of Varanasi. Besides the Risipattana concept attached with Sarnath in the Buddhist literature is also corroborated by Aktha.