Kāśī Viśvanātha Temple
The Jyotirliṅga at the heart of the eternal city
From the official temple website
Managed by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust
Official timings
- Darśan round the clock, 24x7
- Trust office answers queries 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Contact: +91 7080292930, WhatsApp +91 6393131608 · support@shrikashivishwanath.org
⭐ Why it is famous
The golden-spired Jyotirliṅga of Kāśī, where dying is said to grant liberation, now opening onto the Ganga through the Vishwanath Corridor.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Destroyed and rebuilt many times; the present temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780 and gold-plated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. The 5-lakh-sq-ft corridor to the ghāṭs opened in 2021.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Maṅgala Ārati 03:00
- Darśan 04:00 – 23:00
- Sapta Ṛṣi Ārati 19:00
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; ₹300 Sugam darśan and ₹500 Sparśa slots bookable online
- Maṅgala Ārati tickets ₹350 — book a day ahead
- No phones, cameras or leather inside; lockers at the gates
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Kāśī Viśvanātha Temple, Varanasi, VaranasiVaranasi Jn (BSB) — 5 km
- Government: Varanasi Cantt UPSRTC bus stand, 5 km
- Private buses: Private coaches from Rajatalab and Cantt
Varanasi (Babatpur) (VNS) — 25 km
Autos to Godowlia, then walk through the lanes or enter via the ghāṭ gate.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
| Seva | Price |
|---|---|
| Sugam darśan6:00 am – 6:00 pm | ₹300 |
| Maṅgalā ārati3:00–4:00 am, ordinary days | ₹500 |
| Bhoga ārati | ₹300 |
| Saptaṛṣi ārati | ₹300 |
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Guesthouses on the ghāṭs
- Heritage hotels in the old city
- Business hotels in the Cantonment
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹15,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Dashashwamedh Ganga Ārati
- Sarnath
- Sunrise boat ride
- Banarasi silk bazaars
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
October–March; Mahāśivarātri and Dev Deepāvalī are extraordinary