Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath Temple stands in the old city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, a short distance from the western bank of the Ganges. It is dedicated to Shiva as Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, among the holiest places in Hinduism.

A temple has stood in the area for many centuries. The earlier temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times; the one rebuilt under Akbar's reign was demolished in 1669 on the order of the emperor Aurangzeb, and the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on the site. The present temple was built next to it in 1780 by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore. In 1835 Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab gave gold to cover the spire and dome, which is why it is often called the Golden Temple of Varanasi.

The temple is fairly small, with the lingam in a silver-lined sanctum. In December 2021 the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor opened, clearing old lanes to create a wide paved approach from Lalita Ghat and Manikarnika area on the river up to the temple, with courtyards, galleries and visitor facilities. Visitor numbers have risen sharply since, with tens of thousands of pilgrims a day.

Security is tight. Phones, cameras, bags and leather items are not allowed inside and must be left in lockers. Non-Hindus may visit, though at busy times priority is given to worshippers.

Entry is free, with paid options such as special darshan and aarti tickets bookable on the official website. The temple opens before dawn and closes late at night. Early morning has the shortest queues.

What are the aarti times and ticket prices? The Mangala Aarti, held from 3 to 4 am, costs INR 500. The midday Bhog Aarti, from about 11.15 am to 12.20 pm, the Saptarishi Aarti from 7 to 8.15 pm and the Shringar Bhog Aarti from 9 to 10.15 pm cost INR 300 each. The final Shayan Aarti, from 10.30 to 11 pm, is free. Darshan pauses during the aartis.

Sugam Darshan, a faster queue, costs INR 250 and must be booked in advance on the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust website. It is not offered during aartis or on major festival days, and it includes a free locker. Differently abled devotees receive darshan without charge. General aarti tickets open each day at 11 am for the following 30 days, and tatkal tickets open at 11 am for the next day.

Entry gates and festivals. General aarti ticket holders enter through Gate 1, tatkal holders through Gate 4B, and the help desk is by Gate 4. Crowds reach their peak on Mondays in the month of Shravan, in July and August, and at Maha Shivaratri in February or March, when queues can last many hours. The temple is about 10 minutes on foot from Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the evening Ganga Aarti takes place.