Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath, on the west bank of the Ganga in Varanasi, is the ninth Jyotirlinga and perhaps the most revered Shiva temple in India. Shiva is worshipped here as Vishwanatha, lord of the universe, in a city Hindus hold to be among the oldest living places of worship in the world. The gold-plated spire gives it the popular name the Golden Temple of Varanasi.

The lord of Kashi

Varanasi, also called Kashi, is held to be Shiva’s own city, where the dead are believed to attain liberation. Kashi Vishwanath is its heart, and a darshan here is counted among the most sacred acts in the Shaiva tradition. Pilgrims pair it with a dip in the Ganga and the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

History and many reconstructions

Like Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath was destroyed and rebuilt across centuries of upheaval. The present temple was built in 1780 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and its spire was later plated with gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh empire in 1835.

The Vishwanath Dham corridor

In 2021 the temple was linked to the river by the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, a broad processional avenue that cleared the dense lanes between the shrine and the Ganga and made approach and darshan far easier for the millions who come each year.

Architecture

The temple is built in the Nagara style, its sanctum crowned by the famous gold spire and a gold dome. Compact and ringed by the old city’s lanes, its grandeur lies in its gold-work and atmosphere rather than in scale.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri is the great festival, alongside Rangbhari Ekadashi, when Shiva and Parvati are honoured with colour, and Dev Deepawali, when the Ganga ghats are lit with thousands of lamps.

Darshan timings

The temple opens very early, around 2:30–3:00 am for the Mangala aarti, and closes near 11:00 pm, with several aartis through the day. Entry is free; faster darshan and aarti participation can be booked, and security is strict, so bags and phones are restricted near the sanctum.

How to reach Varanasi

• By air: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi (~25 km).
• By train: Varanasi Junction and Banaras stations.
• By road: well connected across north India.

Tips for your visit

• Reach early to avoid the longest queues.
• Use the Dham corridor entrance from the riverside.
• Deposit bags and phones at the lockers near the gates.
• Stay for the Ganga aarti in the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

॥ हर हर महादेव ॥  •  Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide