When The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) announced land acquisitions in Varanasi in late 2024 — part of a reported ₹3,000 crore investment round that also covered Amritsar, Nagpur, Shimla, and Vrindavan — it was not a speculative move. By late 2024, the firm had reported additional investments totalling ₹3,000 crore for land acquisitions across Amritsar, Khopoli near Mumbai, Nagpur, Shimla, Varanasi, and Vrindavan. The entry into Varanasi extended a clear strategic thread: HoABL has consistently targeted cities where spiritual or cultural significance intersects with accelerating infrastructure investment and constrained land supply. Ayodhya came first, then Vrindavan — Varanasi follows the same logic, applied to one of the most visited cities in India.
HoABL was founded in 2020 by Abhinandan Lodha and initially focused on land developments in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. From that coastal base, the company built what it describes as a category of its own: branded, institutionally delivered plotted land. The company was built around the idea of branded land. "We observed a clear structural shift in how Indians were approaching land ownership," says HoABL CEO Samujjwal Ghosh. "While land has always held deep financial and emotional significance, the ownership experience had not evolved to match the expectations of a modern, digitally enabled investor."
The practical expression of that philosophy is consistent across every HoABL project: gated layouts, verified title chains, master-planned infrastructure, and a fully digital transaction process. Instead of selling fragmented parcels through what Ghosh calls the traditional "barfi-cut approach," the company positions plotted land as a structured product backed by legal diligence, master planning and infrastructure readiness. According to company reports, HoABL has a portfolio of over 1,000 acres of plotted developments, with 13 million square feet of land sold and an additional 34 million square feet in the development pipeline.
The company's scale across Uttar Pradesh is notable context for any Varanasi buyer. Between 2022 and 2023, the firm expanded its land holdings into North India, acquiring 51 acres in Ayodhya. It also partnered with The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts to develop a hotel in Ayodhya as part of The Sarayu project. In Vrindavan, HoABL introduced a RERA-compliant residential plotted township spanning 65 acres, offering 500 or more premium plots designed for villas and second homes. These UP projects represent the operational precedent directly relevant to what HoABL is now bringing to Varanasi.
The House of Abhinandan Lodha Varanasi is an upcoming residential plotted development by the HoABL Group, offering an opportunity to buy land in Varanasi. One of the primary appeals of the project is the flexibility it provides: unlike pre-constructed apartments or homes, this plotted development allows residents to build homes that suit their own tastes, preferences, and requirements. The available plot sizes cater to diverse needs, whether a buyer is looking to build a villa, a family home, or a contemporary multi-story residence.
Located in a strategic area of Varanasi, the development offers residents proximity to the city's major landmarks including the revered ghats, temples, educational institutions, healthcare centres, and shopping destinations, with connectivity to both Varanasi Junction and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
The infrastructure approach follows the standard HoABL template. Sustainability is central to the development: the project incorporates eco-friendly practices such as rainwater harvesting, waste management systems, and energy-efficient lighting, and the landscaping utilises native plants that require minimal water. HoABL plots deliver fully developed communities — with modern infrastructure including well-planned roads, water supply, and electricity — ensuring that buyers are investing in land that is ready for future development.
The shift toward plotted land investment is being accelerated by infrastructure-led transformation in cities like Ayodhya, Vrindavan, and Varanasi, where public investment and connectivity are reshaping real estate potential. The specifics in Varanasi are material.
The Purvanchal Expressway is the most consequential road asset for the Varanasi region. The expressway is a 341 km, six-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 November 2021, and is one of India's longest expressways. It bridges Lucknow to the Ghazipur–Varanasi–Buxar–Patna eastern India corridor and links with the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, enabling seamless Delhi–Ghazipur travel. For land buyers, the expressway matters because it boosts land values in secondary cities of Purvanchal — and Varanasi sits at the eastern anchor of that corridor.
Within the city, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Ganga Riverfront Beautification Projects are part of a wider urban transformation, while the upcoming Varanasi Ring Road, four-lane highways, and plans for metro rail connectivity are improving regional accessibility and creating new real estate hotspots in areas that were previously considered outskirts. The Varanasi Smart City mission and enhanced road and railway connectivity are all part of a broader plan to transform the city's infrastructure, with the Smart City project in particular aimed at upgrading urban facilities.
Land price data for the Babatpur corridor — near Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport and among Varanasi's faster-moving land markets — reflects this momentum. Land rates in Babatpur, Varanasi are around ₹1,250–₹2,200 per sq ft, and have changed by 9.7% in the last one year, 21.4% in the last three years, and 61.9% in the last ten years. Established residential pockets in the city command higher rates: Mahmoorganj, considered one of the most upscale residential areas, offers a mix of modern apartments, independent houses, and commercial spaces, and is well-connected to key areas like Sigra and Lanka. Average property prices in Mahmoorganj range from ₹5,500 to ₹8,500 per sq ft.
Varanasi draws demand from several distinct buyer categories simultaneously, which is part of what makes land here a different proposition from most Indian cities. With the city attracting millions of pilgrims, students, and tourists, rental demand is consistently high. Banaras Hindu University, one of Asia's largest residential universities, anchors a permanent student and academic population. Varanasi's blend of cultural heritage and development is also attracting NRIs who wish to invest in their home country; with better property management services now available, NRIs are finding it easier to invest in Varanasi, whether for personal use or rental income.
For HoABL specifically, the Varanasi move aligns with a pattern the company has articulated clearly: the company's projects are located in areas poised for significant growth due to their strategic importance, tourism potential, or religious significance. Varanasi meets all three criteria. HoABL has also formed a joint venture with HDFC Capital Advisors, investing ₹1,500 crore in plotted and low-rise developments across India — institutional backing that underlines the structured, compliance-driven approach buyers can expect.
The firm's business model utilises a digital-only approach, where all transactions are conducted through virtual platforms. For NRI buyers or out-of-city investors looking to hold land in Varanasi without managing local intermediaries, this is a meaningful operational differentiator. The company claims it has sold nearly 13 million sq ft of developed land without meeting a single customer face-to-face, while around 34 million sq ft remains under active development.
