This chapter tries to assess developments in health and healing practices in Banaras and the patterns of patronage which influenced these developments. Western and Indian authors writing on religio-cultural aspects of Banaras highlight its rich history of medical knowledge and its prominence in traditions of Ayurveda. The ‘father of Indian medical science’ ‘Dhanvantri’, the ‘physician of gods’, is said to have imparted his skills and knowledge to Sushruta at this site. Various classical works on Ayurveda such as the Sushruta Samhita, the Chikitsa Kaumudi, and the Chikitsa Darshan were written in Banaras. Banaras also evolved as a centre of Unani system of medicine with the rise of Muslim power in northern India from the twelfth century and Western allopathic medicine was introduced with the advent of British rule along with Christian missionaries during the late eighteenth century. Plurality in healing practices is one of the characteristic features of Banarsi with Ayurveda, Unani, Allopathy, on offer along with homoeopathy, folk medicine and witchcraft. Providing instruction in Ayurveda or Unani medicine was also a means to increase recruits from the Vaidyas and other communities featured by a convention of medicine practice. On their recruitment, the superiority of western medicine, irrespective of quality and cost, would be recognized. Certain temples, shrines, ghats and wells are believed to posses a healing power, that is, a capacity ‘to cure, protect and treat the suffering.’