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Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

6 August 2026

Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath is among the most visited of the twelve, sitting directly on the Ganges and now connected to the river ghats by the redeveloped Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

Kashi Vishwanath stands in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and among the holiest in Hinduism. The temple sits close to the Ganges, near Manikarnika and Dashashwamedh ghats, in the heart of the old city's narrow lanes.

Architecture and significance

The temple has been rebuilt several times through history; the present structure dates largely to 1780, commissioned by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, with the golden spires added later by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A major redevelopment completed in 2021, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, created a wide, direct pedestrian route linking the temple precinct straight to the Ganges ghats, significantly changing how the temple is approached compared to the dense lanes that surrounded it before.

How to reach

Varanasi has its own airport and is a major railway junction with direct connections from most large Indian cities, making this one of the more easily reached Jyotirlingas. The temple and ghats are within the city itself, reachable by auto or on foot from most parts of old Varanasi.

Best time to visit

October to March avoids the intense heat of the Gangetic plain in summer. Early morning is the traditional time for a boat ride on the Ganges before visiting the temple.

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