Varanasi City Research Articles

Assessing S-wave velocity in the shallow subsurface layers of Varanasi city through a combination of passive seismic and standard penetration test measurements

Assessing S-wave velocity in the shallow subsurface layers of Varanasi city through a combination of passive seismic and standard penetration test measurements

Comparative Chemical Studies of Ponds in and around Varanasi City

Comparative Chemical Studies of Ponds in and around Varanasi City

Insights into the seasonal variation, distribution, composition and dynamics of microplastics in the Ganga River ecosystem of Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The current study explores the seasonal dynamics of microplastic (MP) pollution in the Ganga River of Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh, India, focusing on water and sediment samples collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The analysis shows significant variations in MP occurrence, shape dynamics, color distribution, and size composition across diverse sampling sites. During the pre-monsoon season, MP concentrations ranged from 17 to 36 particles/L in water samples and 160 to 312 particles/kg in sediment, indicating a moderate to high level of contamination. Post-monsoon sampling showed higher MP concentrations at most sites, indicating the influence of seasonal hydrological changes on MP distribution. Shifts in MP shape dynamics were observed between seasons, with films, foams, fragments, and filaments showing variable distributions. Similarly, color variations in MPs exhibited site-specific patterns, with white, brown, blue, and other colors being predominant. These findings highlight the diverse sources and compositions of MPs in the river ecosystem, highlighting the complexity of MP pollution dynamics. Polymer-type distributions further elucidated the composition of MPs, with notable contributions from polyethylene terephthalate, rayon, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride. PCA analysis revealed significant shifts in particle size and shape distribution between pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods in both water and sediment samples, with post-monsoon samples showing an increase in larger particles and filaments. These changes highlighted key factors driving the variance in microplastic contamination across different sites. The prevalence of these polymers features diverse sources of MP pollution, including textiles, packaging materials, and industrial waste. Ongoing monitoring and research are crucial to understanding its sources, distribution, and impact on river ecosystems, essential for protecting aquatic biodiversity and human health.

Covid-19 and its related environmental quality issues along ganga river, Varanasi, India

COVID-19 made people around the world in terrifying and appalling circumstance which held back all collaborative stitches that is the government decreed people to stay in homes for suppressing the disease spread amid people. Pandemic situation due to Covid-19 has lead to worldwide lockdown. On the other hand, it has increased the quality of the environment especially in hydrosphere and atmosphere progressively throughout the world. The global shutdown from March to June 2020 made liable in assessing the environmental condition which is eccentric accomplishment when collating with past two decades. This study demonstrates change in the water and aerosol quality with the aid of remote sensing in Ganga River of Varanasi city, Uttar Pradesh state of India. Sentinel data obtained from February to July of 2020 used to determine the variation of pollution levels during different phases of lockdown. NO2 levels derived from Sentinel data shows hazardous level of 5.64x10-5mol m-2 in March which is progressively decreased to 5.29 x10-5mol m-2 for the month of April. NO2 level further gradually increased after the unlock 1.0. Similarly, CO levels obtained from Sentinel data shows hazardous level of 0.0517mol m-2 in February which is progressively decreased to 0.0490 mol m-2 for the lockdown periods and it was gradually increased after the unlock phase. Further, Landsat data has been used to show Suspended Particulate Matter and pollution variation between lockdown phases. The high concentration of SPM value for March month ranges from -48.7773 to -48.7812 ,there is drastic decrease in concentration of SPM in which reflection value ranges from -48.7772 to -48.7806 in month of April noticed in the study area.Again there is drastic increase in July values ranging from -48.7753 to -48.7796 which is very high when compared to the lockdown SPM levels.The present study brought to light significant variations in the pollution level during the lockdown phases.

Enhancing Urban Mobility with Aerial Ropeway Transit (ART): Future Accessibility Impacts of Multimodal Transit Expansion Scenarios

Aerial ropeway transit (ART) systems are emerging alternatives to augment existing transit systems in congested cities in the Global South, especially in urban areas with limited transit coverage because of road width constraints or topography. Integration of aerial cable car stations to an existing transit network can improve the overall accessibility of various population segments with significant positive benefits in relation to reducing transport-related social exclusion. This study evaluated the impact of introducing ART in the city of Varanasi (India) and assessed the spatial accessibility improvements to critical facility locations such as heritage sites, educational institutions, hospitals, and employment centers. Several multimodal transit expansion scenarios were considered in this study and the potential benefits of each case were quantified using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was subsequently employed for identifying the optimal locations of ART stops. Microlevel analysis findings suggest that the mean accessibility values could increase up to 10.92% in the first phase of the ART implementation, which could subsequently increase to 24.7% and 49.8% for the subsequent transit expansion scenarios. The study also investigated the Varanasi ART DPR prepared by Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and showed that a significant increase of 16% in accessibility levels could be achieved if optimal stop locations identified in this study were implemented. The proposed two-step (2SFCA+MCDM) method for identifying the optimal locations of ART stations in a multimodal transit network is expected to be an effective tool for transit system redesign using place-based accessibility measures.

An Analysis of Body Composition and Physical status of middle aged Women

Background: Body composition and physical status are essential indicators of overall health, especially in middle-aged women. This group often undergoes significant physiological changes due to aging, hormonal shifts, and lifestyle factors, affecting their body composition, including fat mass, lean muscle mass, and bone density. Methodology: A total of 100 women from Varanasi city, comprising both employed individuals and housewives, participated in this study. These women were divided into two groups, each consisting of 100 subjects aged between 35 and 50 years. The selected variables for body composition analysis included total body fat, fat-free mass, bone mass, muscle mass, body mass index, and physical status. Results: The t-test for Equality of Means revealed a significant difference between the groups, t(198) = 1.660, with p-values indicating substantial differences in total body fat (p < .001), fat-free mass (p < .001), bone mass (p < .000), muscle mass (p < .001), and body mass index (p < .001). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in physical activity levels, t(198) = 11.714, p < .001). Conclusion: The study found a considerable difference in body composition parameters between employed women and housewives. Employed women exhibited lower total body fat and BMI, and higher muscle mass, fat-free mass, and bone mass compared to housewives. This suggests that employed women, likely due to more structured schedules and better access to physical exercise, maintain a healthier body composition.

Health and Environmental Effects of Residents Living Close to Open Waste Collection Centres of Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh

Health and Environmental Effects of Residents Living Close to Open Waste Collection Centres of Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh

Mapping and Monitoring of Land Use/Land Cover Transformation Using Geospatial Techniques in Varanasi City Development Region, India

Assessing the dynamics and patterns of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) and its transformation is an important practice of urban planners and environmentalists for a variety of applications, including land management, urban climate modeling, and sustainability of any urban region. Monitoring changes in LULC using geospatial techniques can help to identify areas at risk for indefensible land use, low-grade environment, and especially for sustainable urban planning. This study aims to analyze the changing pattern, dynamics, and alteration of LULC using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Machine Learning Applications for the years 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2022 in the Varanasi City Development Region (VCDR). The LULC classification was divided into seven classes using random forest classification, and Landsat-5(TM) and 9(OLI-2) satellite data were used. Saga GIS has been utilized for the detection of LULC change during the 1991-2022 period. For validation of classification results, accuracy assessment was estimated using error matrices and through user, producer, and overall accuracy estimation. The Kappa statistics were applied for the reliability of the accuracy assessment result. As a result, the built-up area increased by 507.8 percent, and other classes like agricultural, barren, fallow land, and vegetation cover rapidly declined and altered into concrete areas over the period. Water bodies and river sand classes have been slightly converted into different classes. The finding explains that 114.8 km2 of fertile agricultural land, 14.81 km2 barren land, and 12.93 km2 of vegetation cover transformed into impervious surface, which is unsustainable and causes various problems like food scarcity, environmental degradation, and low quality of urban life. This study can be a useful guide for urban planners, academicians, and policymakers by providing a scientific background for sustainable urban planning and management of VCDR and other cities as well.

Are cities ready for low‐carbon inclusive strategies? Household energy management under heterogeneous socioeconomic conditions

AbstractEnergy is an indispensable resource for economic development and the well‐being of society. Due to heterogeneity in socioeconomic conditions, households consume direct energy and produce emissions differently. Analysing energy emissions from heterogeneous socioeconomic groups helps to identify foci for intervention and create policies for sustainable cities. This study aimed to measure household emissions in Varanasi city and investigate the impact of heterogeneous socioeconomic variables on household emissions. Varanasi represents a million‐plus rapidly urbanising city. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and non‐parametric regression revealed the relationship between end‐use energy emissions and socioeconomic variables for five income classes. Biomass‐based fuels constituted a significant proportion of energy (about 16%–20%) in low‐ to middle‐income groups, however, electricity consumption dominated in upper‐middle‐ and high‐income groups. A fuel‐stacking pattern was found, particularly in cooking activities. LPG was critical to replace solid biomass‐based fuels. To meet the present needs and absorb the impact of a growing population, energy policies and infrastructure should focus on accessibility and efficiency. An inclusive low‐carbon policy with a specialised focus on socioeconomic differences is needed for energy sustainability.

Road network structure of Varanasi city based on connectivity and spatial pattern

Road network structure of Varanasi city based on connectivity and spatial pattern

Assessment of herbaceous community structure for identifying metal-tolerant species at different land uses in and around Varanasi city.

Plant community structure under different land uses provides an important understanding of vegetation dynamics to safeguard future restoration programmes and balance ecosystem services. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate the alterations in soil properties and contamination by potentially toxic metals at different land uses (industrial, brick kiln, highway, and residential areas) compared to the reference (botanical garden area) site coupled with their subsequent influence on herbaceous community structure, bioconcentration, translocation, and extraction amountof metals in different plant species. Most of the total and phytoavailable metals (Co, Cr, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn, and Zn) were higher at the contaminated sites compared to the reference site. The number of herbaceous species was highest at the reference site and minimum at the industrial site. Dominant and tolerant species were Cyanodon dactylon, Croton bonaplandianus, Achyranthus aspera, Malvestrum coromendelianum, Dicanthium annulatum, Nicotiana hindostana, Sporobolus virginicus, and Parthenium hysterophorus, found at the industrial, brick kiln, and highway sites. Based on transfer coefficients, C. bonaplandianus, D. annulatum, and Eleusine indica were recognized as potential accumulators, whereas C. dactylon, Commelina benghalensis, A. aspera, Amaranthus sessilis, and M. coromendelianum were found as excluder species for different metals. The identified tolerant herbaceous species could be used for future phytoremediation strategies and the prevention of hazardous risks to living components of contaminated sites.

Solving hospital waste management problem in a developing country – a case of Varanasi city in India

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to solve the problem of healthcare waste management in developing countries. The buildup of medical waste has attracted the attention of all spheres of society due to the expanding population and developing economy. Timely collection and processing of medical waste are extremely important due to its potential hazards. Although the problem of planning medical waste management has been addressed in developed countries, it persists in several developing countries. This research is motivated by an example of a city in India characterized by a dense population, abundant health-care facilities and a lack of planning for managing large medical waste generated daily.Design/methodology/approachThe authors address the problem of designing the network of collection and processing facilities for medical waste and optimizing the vehicle route that collects and transfers the waste between facilities. Due to distinct topographic restrictions in the considered city, the collection and transfer process needs to be conducted in two echelons – from hospitals to collection centers using smaller vehicles and then to the processing facilities using trucks. This work addresses these two problems as a two-echelon location-routing problem.FindingsA mixed-integer programming model is developed to minimize the cost of opening the facilities and transporting medical waste. Several managerial insights are drawn up to assist planners and decision-makers.Originality/valueThis study follows a case study approach to provide a descriptive and prescriptive approach to hospital waste management in the ancient city of Varanasi. The city has witnessed unplanned growth over the years and is densely populated. The health-care facilities in the city have a large catchment area and attract patients from neighboring districts. The situation analysis based on secondary data and unstructured interviews of the stakeholders suggests that the ad hoc approach prevails in present hospital waste management in the city.

People’s perspectives on heritage conservation and tourism development: a case study of Varanasi

The conservation of heritage and heritage-based tourism are interrelated activities in which the development in one can lead to the growth of the other and vice versa. In recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of heritage and the necessity of its conservation. People’s knowledge and preservation of their roots and emotional attachments to traditions and places are beneficial for heritage conservation activities. Heritage places are also considered a growth point for the tourism industry that supports small- and medium-scale industries as well as numerous cottage industries. However, with the development of tourism and related industries in heritage areas, the local community may face difficulties in performing their day-to-day activities in the area. In many cases, local communities need to relocate and people must leave their residences due to the demand for tourism development. A case study of Varanasi City was conducted to obtain a detailed understanding of the impact of a recent tourism development programme (the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project) and people’s perception of it through a review of newspaper articles. It was found that people had mixed reactions regarding the development programme. The immediate residents of the area who were directly affected by the process in terms of emotional, economic and social loss were opposed to the project, while tourists and other residents of the city were pleased with the development activities. This paper attempts to identify the changes that occurred in the area due to the project and to capture people’s perspectives regarding the corridor project of Varanasi.

The Impact of Road Side Friction on the Traffic Flow of Arterial Roads in Varanasi

Varanasi's prominence as a cultural and historical center means it receives visitors from all over the world. The city's tourism industry is a boon to the local economy. Better transportation infrastructure is crucial to attracting more tourists and increasing revenue. Varanasi is currently experiencing terrible difficulties due to various roadside frictional activities. Vehicle ownership grows in tandem with population growth. The increase in the number of vehicles on the road significantly impacts the reliability of the transportation network since land availability is fixed. The various roadside frictional activities usually found in the streets of Varanasi are on-street parking, pedestrian crossing, and Non-Motorized Vehicles (NMVs). There are not enough legal on-street parking and segregated lanes for NMVs/slow-moving vehicles or demarcation for pedestrian movements in the old city of Varanasi. Vehicles in Varanasi are traditionally parked on the street due to the narrow carriageways. Slow-moving vehicles are forced to move with fast-moving vehicles, and pedestrian crossings affect traffic flow. Integrated movement of slow-moving vehicles and rapid-moving vehicles affects traffic speed, pedestrian crossings impact the Level of Service (LOS), and on-street parking results in the reduction of the effective carriageway width and, hence, road capacity. This paper aims to identify the impact of pedestrian crossings, NMVs, and on-street parking on the traffic flow, speed, capacity, and LOS of urban arterial roads in Varanasi. To achieve this objective, two case studies were considered: the base section (with minimum side friction) and the friction section (with maximum side friction). The videography method was used for data collection. Nine hours of data were collected from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. The video was played on the screen for data extraction. The speed model was developed by using fundamental diagram methods. Speed-density curve was drawn using Greenshield’s model. The speed-flow curve was derived from the speed-density curve to estimate the capacity at the base and friction sections. Reduction in capacity was determined by comparing friction section capacity with base section capacity. V/C ratio of a particular road compared with the V/C value provided by IRC 106 to predict LOS. A correlation model was developed between the percentage reduction in capacity and road width. Increase in parking, the proportion of NMVs, and pedestrian crossing frequency reduce the traffic flow. It was observed that a 6.42% capacity loss occurs at a 7.00% reduction in effective width, and a 35.09% loss occurs at a 36.02% reduction in effective width. Roads with frictional activities found their LOS class affected up to LOS-E (for the Bhelupur section).

Quantifying carbon Stock and tree species diversity of green infrastructure of Varanasi, India

The world is undergoing rapid urbanization and experiencing its negative impacts, often due to the loss of urban green infrastructure. This study focuses on the green infrastructure of Varanasi city, India, and analyses current tree species diversity, and carbon storage in aboveground and belowground biomass and soil. The study calculated the biomass of urban green infrastructure because it serves as a carbon stock reservoir. As random sampling, data were collected from 24 sample plots across various urban green infrastructure sites via rigorous fieldwork. The biomass was then recorded using a non-destructive approach and a standard equation by King et al.2006. The diversity of tree species was recorded across urban green infrastructure sites, and was found to be higher in the BHU site, and lower in the MA site. The Pielou’s evenness index and Margellef’s richness index were found to be higher in the BHU site, while they were found to be lower in UPAC and MA sites, respectively. Aboveground biomass and total carbon stock were found to be high in the BLW site, with values of 1939.84 ton/ha and 7806 ton/ha, respectively, with trees having a larger girth circumference being the primary contributors. The findings of this study prove a better understanding of tree species diversity, biomass, and carbon stock of different green infrastructure sites of Varanasi city and generate evidence on how urban green space preservation and green infrastructure development may help to the countries' green economic transformation and sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon cities.

Still on UNESCO’s “Tentative List of World Heritage”? Heritage, Tourism, and Stunted Growth in Sarnath (Varanasi), India

It is not unusual for a place to wait for years before being inscribed on the World Heritage List, but Sarnath—the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon—has been on UNESCO’s “tentative list” for close to 25 years. As a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrimages, Sarnath continues to attract thousands of visitors annually and yet, remains under-developed, unlike other pilgrim towns or religious tourism destinations. This paper examines the reasons for the stunted growth of Sarnath. The findings are based on fieldwork conducted in Sarnath in 2019. The analysis of stakeholder interviews suggests several reasons for Sarnath not being able to capitalize on its religious and cultural heritage for tourism-led development. It was found that the protection of the site as an archaeological park by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been controlling development surrounding the park as well as prohibiting the performance of any rituals, have been the key endogenous factors that have contributed to the relative under-development of a Buddhist pilgrimage economy in the town. A handful of monasteries are where Buddhist followers stay and perform their pilgrimage rituals, rendering them as enclaves. Private-sector accommodation is also limited to around 15 hotels and guesthouses. Administratively, Sarnath does not have an independent governance structure. It is governed as just one ward (an electoral constituency) by the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi and is, thus, always under the shadow of Varanasi city. Varanasi is one of the most significant Hindu sacred cities and, hence, visitors stay there for much longer durations to soak in cultural offerings, including religious ceremonies around the Ganga River; a visit to Sarnath is secondary and often limited to a half-day tour. Moreover, the archaeological park at Sarnath serves a recreational purpose as a picnic site for domestic visitors. The exogenous factors mean that the interests of Sarnath (as a Buddhist site) are hardly acknowledged by the Hindu city of Varanasi. This paper argues that the multi-layered contestations that exist at the site level, the town–ward level, and between visitors and managers have further contributed to the poor state of heritage and tourism in Sarnath.

Comparative study of simple and modified rice husk biochar for cadmium removal: Adsorption performance and possible mechanisms

Abstract In the present study, the simple and chemically modified forms of biochar (KMnO4 and HNO3; 0.01 M) obtained from rice husks were used to study the possible mechanism behind the process of cadmium (Cd) adsorption from the synthetic solution having Cd2+ ranged from 10 to 50 ppm. At 50 ppm, the maximum adsorption has been observed and it showed 93% removal by the KMnO4 modification and 86% by HNO3 modification, whereas simple biochar led to 82% removal only. The adsorption pattern follows the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order model. With characterization techniques, it has been confirmed that the KMnO4-modified forms of biochar showed more adsorption capacity than HNO3-modified and simple biochar. Furthermore, to check its practical applicability, the modified forms of biochar have been applied to the wastewater collected from Banaras locomotive works, Bhagwanpur, and Lohta sites of Varanasi city, UP, India. Again, the maximum adsorption of Cd2+ has been observed with KMnO4 modification (92–95%) at all the sites. This result also confirmed that KMnO4 was the best modifying agent over HNO3. Therefore, its application could be promoted in metal-contaminated water and soil to decrease the availability of toxic metals.

An Analytical Study on Air Quality of Some Historical and Cultural Cities in Uttar Pradesh (India) with Special Reference to the Environment and Human Health

Abstract: The rapid urbanization, different construction works and deforestation recently increased in some famous historical, cultural and religious cities in Uttar Pradesh due to higher population pressure. Thousands of pilgrims visit these cities every year by motor and other vehicles. The motor vehicle exhaust also plays a vital role to enhance the toxic gases and aerosol in the environment. Many toxic particles, molecules, toxic gasses, chemicals, dust particles, vehicle exhausts and microorganisms also help to increase deterioration in air quality. Some factors like particulate matter, sulphur di oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon mono oxide, carbon di oxide in higher concentrations directly affect and change the air texture as well as air quality. Higher concentrations of these substances are very injurious to the environment as well as living being including human. In present investigation a comparative study is done in between the residential and industrial/commercial area of five famous historical, cultural religious cities of Uttar Pradesh i.e. Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, Gorakhpur and Ayodhya. Four air quality parameters i.e., air quality index (AQI), SO2, NO2 and PM10 average annual concentrations have been taken for this analytical study. AQI (Air quality index) was found 2 to 4 times higher in residential area while 3-6 times higher in industrial/commercial area in comparison to normal AQI value (0-50) in all studied cities/area. The highest average annual AQI value was recorded (166.40 microgram/m3) in Saket Nagar residential of Varanasi while 313.36 recorded in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur. The annual average of sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration found 26.46 (microgram/m3) and 26.12 (microgram/m3) in residential area Varanasi and Prayagraj respectively which is slightly higher than the standard value (20microgram/m3). SO2 concentration recorded higher almost in industrial area of all cities. It was found highest in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur (49.70 microgram/m3) in comparison to normal annual value (20 microgram/m3). The annual average NO2 concentration in residential area almost found below or equal to normal value but it was recorded more than 3 times (33.44 microgram/m3) in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur. The particulate matter (PM10) concentration recorded very high in all residential as well as industrial/commercial area of all studied cities. The highest PM10 concentration 198.47(microgram/m3) found in Saket Nagar residential area of Varanasi city which is about 20 times higher than the normal value (10 microgram/m3). The highest average annual concentration of PM10 recorded 355.06 (microgram/m3) in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur which is about 36 times higher than normal annual value. The increasing concentration of the studied factors adversely affecting the environment as well as human health in these cities. The long term or short-term exposure of these pollutants is responsible for increasing various pulmonary disease in these cities.

Efficient removal of endocrine disrupting compounds 17 α-ethynyl estradiol and 17 β-estradiol by Enterobacter sp. strain BHUBP7 and elucidation of the degradation pathway by HRAMS analysis.

Owing to the increased population and their overuse, estrogens are being detected in the environment at alarming levels. They act as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC's) posing adverse effects on animals and humans. In this study, a strain belonging to Enterobacter sp. strain BHUBP7 was recovered from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) situated in Varanasi city, U.P., India, and was capable of metabolizing both 17 α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2) and 17 β-Estradiol (E2) separately as a sole carbon source. The strain BHUBP7 exhibited high rates of E2 degradation as compared to EE2 degradation. The degradation of E2 (10mg/L) was 94.3% after four days of incubation, whereas the degradation of EE2 (10mg/L) under similar conditions was 98% after seven days of incubation. The kinetics of EE2 and E2 degradation fitted well with the first-order reaction rate. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of functional groups like C = O, C-C, C-OH during the degradation process. The metabolites generated during degradation of EE2 and E2 were identified using HRAMS and a plausible pathway was elucidated. It was observed that metabolism of both E2 and EE2 proceeded with the formation of estrone, which was then hydroxylated to 4-hydroxy estrone, followed by ring opening at the C4-C5 position, and was further metabolized by the 4,5 seco pathway leading to the formation of 3-(7a-methyl-1,5-dioxooctahydro-1H-inden-4-yl) propanoic acid (HIP). It is the first report on the complete pathway of EE2 and E2 degradation in Enterobacter sp. strain BHUBP7. Moreover, the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) during the degradation of EE2 and E2 was observed. It was concluded that both hormones elicited the generation of oxidative stress in the bacterium during the degradation process.

Climate change forecasting using data mining algorithms

Abstract Water management is very important for human life sustainability. Rainfall forecasting is one of the most important factors for the water management of an area. A forecast is simply a calculation of what happens in the future based on past information under the assumption that the pattern followed in the past would continue in the future also. This work aims at obtaining forecasting models for the time series data set using conventional models and computational models. Varanasi City's annual climate data for a total of 113 years is used for the analysis. Initially, the individual model is considered and used for forecasting. Later, hybrid models will be considered and a comparison between individual models and hybrid models would be obtained. The individual statistical models to be considered are moving average, exponential smoothing with one parameter, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA). The forecast is also done individually using the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) and interpolation technique cubic spline. Finally, the best-chosen statistical models and the interpolation model are coupled with kNN to develop hybrid models and with these hybrid models, the forecast is done for the data. All the models will be compared and the best among them will be chosen.