Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, Varanasi: Shri Kashi Vishwanath TempleVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh

About this guide

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, in Varanasi on the banks of the Ganga, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the holiest places in Hinduism. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe, in Kashi, the city that devotees believe he never leaves.

This is YatriSutra's devotee guide to Kashi Vishwanath: the beliefs of Kashi, the temple's history and architecture, how darshan works, the daily aartis, the sacred calendar and practical advice for your visit. It is written from the temple trust, government and scriptural sources listed at the end of the page.

The divine story of Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

According to the Shiva Purana, when Brahma and Vishnu argued over who was greater, Shiva appeared as an endless pillar of light, the first Jyotirlinga. Kashi is believed to be the place where that light touched the earth, and Shiva made the city his eternal home.

Devotees believe Kashi rests on Shiva's trident and is never destroyed, even at the end of an age. It is also believed that Shiva himself whispers the Taraka mantra into the ear of those who die in Kashi, granting them liberation (moksha). That is why Kashi is called the city of liberation.

YatriSutra devotee tip: begin your visit with a dip or a prayer at the Ganga, as devotees have done for centuries before going to Baba Vishwanath.

Why devotees visit Kashi Vishwanath

For many Hindus, a pilgrimage to Kashi and darshan of Baba Vishwanath is a lifelong wish. Families bring the ashes of loved ones to the Ganga, perform rituals for ancestors and seek blessings for a good life and a peaceful end.

Kashi is also home to the Vishalakshi Shakti Peetha, the Annapurna temple and countless other shrines, so a visit to Vishwanath is usually part of a larger yatra through the city.

History and architecture of Kashi Vishwanath Temple

The Vishwanath temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The present temple was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and in 1835 Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab gifted the gold that covers its spires, which is why it is often called the Golden Temple of Varanasi. The temple is managed by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust under the Uttar Pradesh government.

In 2021 the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor opened, linking the temple directly to the Ganga ghats with wide courtyards, galleries and facilities for pilgrims. Features of the temple include:

• Gold-plated spires over the main shrine.
• A compact Nagara-style shrine at the heart of the new courtyard.
• The corridor to the Ganga, so pilgrims can walk from the river to the temple.

Inside the temple

The Jyotirlinga sits in a silver-lined basin in the sanctum. Around the main shrine are smaller shrines, including those of Avimukteshwar, Vishnu, Virupaksha and Shanishwar. The Gyanvapi well, believed to hold sacred water, is close by.

Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide: timings and queues

The temple opens before dawn with the Mangala Aarti and stays open until late at night. Darshan types include:

• General darshan: free, through the queue from the corridor gates.
• Sugam darshan: a paid ticket for a shorter queue, booked on the temple trust website.
• Aarti tickets: for the Mangala, Bhog, Saptarishi, Shringar and Shayan aartis, also booked through the trust.

Timings and rules change on festivals and Mondays, especially in Shravan, so check the trust website before you go.

Your darshan, step by step

• Leave phones, bags and leather items at the official lockers near the gates.
• Enter the Kashi Vishwanath Dham and pass the security check.
• Join the general or sugam darshan queue.
• Have darshan of Baba Vishwanath and offer your prayer.
• Visit the shrines in the courtyard and walk down to the Ganga ghats.

Aarti, puja and rituals at Kashi Vishwanath

The day at Kashi Vishwanath follows five aartis: the Mangala Aarti before dawn, the Bhog Aarti at midday, the Saptarishi Aarti in the evening, the Shringar Bhog Aarti at night and the Shayan Aarti before the temple closes. Devotees also book rudrabhishek through the trust. Many pilgrims attend the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening as part of their visit.

Sacred calendar: Mahashivratri, Shravan and Dev Deepawali

• Mahashivratri: processions and night-long worship, with very large crowds.
• Shravan: kanwariyas bring Ganga water to Vishwanath, especially on Mondays.
• Rangbhari Ekadashi: the start of Holi in Kashi, when Shiva is believed to bring Parvati home.
• Dev Deepawali: on Kartik Purnima the ghats glow with lakhs of lamps.

Devotee etiquette

• Dress modestly and leave leather items behind.
• Phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple; use the lockers.
• Be careful of touts offering quick darshan; use only the trust's counters and website.
• Keep the queue moving at the sanctum.

Darshan for elderly and differently-abled devotees

The Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor has made access easier, with wide paths and facilities. Ask at the help desk about wheelchairs and any special arrangements for senior citizens. Avoid Mondays, festivals and the Shravan months for a calmer visit, and plan the walk from the ghats with rest stops.

Tips for pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple

• Book aartis and sugam darshan online well in advance.
• Visit early in the morning on a weekday for shorter queues.
• Carry very little so you spend less time at the lockers.
• Walk the ghats from Dashashwamedh to Manikarnika to feel the spirit of Kashi.

YatriSutra devotee tip: visit Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi, before or after Vishwanath. Devotees say Bhairav's permission is needed to stay in his city.

Connected sacred places

• Kaal Bhairav Temple: the kotwal (guardian) of Kashi.
• Annapurna Temple: the goddess of food, beside Vishwanath.
• Vishalakshi Temple: one of the Shakti Peethas.
• Manikarnika and Dashashwamedh Ghats: the sacred ghats of the Ganga.
• Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, founded according to tradition by Tulsidas.