Home / Temples / Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Shiva Temple · JyotirlingaIf one temple defines Varanasi, it's this one. Kashi Vishwanath is among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva named in Hindu scripture, and for most pilgrims who travel to the city, darshan here is the whole point of the trip.
The temple standing today was rebuilt in 1780 under the patronage of Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore, after earlier structures on the site were destroyed. Its gold-plated shikhara, added later with donations of gold from Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, is now one of the most recognisable skylines in the old city.
Darshan involves a short queue through a corridor that leads straight down to the river, after the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project widened and opened up the approach from Lalita Ghat in 2021. Most visitors combine a Vishwanath darshan with a dip in the Ganga right outside and a stop at the nearby Gyanvapi well and Annapurna Devi temple, since all three sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Mornings are quieter than evenings, and the Mangala Aarti before sunrise is worth getting up for if your schedule allows it — it's a different, calmer experience than the crowded daytime darshan.
Early morning (Mangala Aarti) or late evening, to avoid the midday crowd
Modest clothing; stitched leather items aren't allowed inside
Gyanvapi, Annapurna Devi Mandir, Vishalakshi Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat
It isn't compulsory, but a pre-booked slot through the official portal or a local operator cuts your waiting time substantially, especially on weekends and during Shravan.
No — electronics, bags and leather items have to be deposited at a locker counter outside before you enter the darshan queue.
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