Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi (Kashi), on the western bank of the Ganga · Lord Shiva as Vishwanath / Vishweshwara, 'Lord of the Universe', in a small Jyotirlinga set in a silver altar
The Jyotirlinga at the heart of the world's oldest living city, now linked to the Ganga by the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor.
Kashi Vishwanath is the most important Shiva temple of Varanasi and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The present temple was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore; its two gold-plated domes give it the name 'Golden Temple'. Since 13 December 2021 the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor has connected the temple directly to the Ganga ghats. The temple is open from 2:45 AM to 11:00 PM, with five daily aartis, the dawn Mangala Aarti being the most sought after.
Timings
- Temple open: 2:45 AM (for Mangala Aarti) – 11:00 PM (after Shayan Aarti) (official notice)
- Local devotees' slot: 4:00 – 5:00 AM (official notice)
- General darshan: 4:00 – 11:00 AM; 12:20 – 7:00 PM; 8:30 – 9:00 PM (official FAQ)
- Mangala Aarti: 2:45 – 3:45 AM per the trust's current Important Notices (its older schedule/booking pages still say 3:00 – 4:00 AM); report at Gate 1 by about 2:30 AM with a valid ticket
- Bhog (Mid-day) Aarti: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM per the current official notice (older schedule page: 11:15 AM – 12:20 PM)
- Saptarishi (Sandhya) Aarti: 7:00 – 8:15 PM
- Shringar / Bhog Aarti: 9:00 – 10:15 PM
- Shayan Aarti: 10:30 – 11:00 PM
- Ganga-side entry (Gate 1): 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM; the trust says entry/exit via Ganga Dwar may be restricted when the river is high
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- Sugam Darshan (queue-less special darshan) – ₹300 per person (official booking page and FAQ; an older schedule table still shows ₹250)
Sevas and costs
- Mangala Aarti – ₹500 per person (normal days) (2:45 – 3:45 AM per the current official notice (older pages: 3:00 – 4:00 AM); report…)
- Bhog Aarti – ₹300 per person (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM per the current official notice (booking page: 11:15 AM – 12:20 PM))
- Saptarishi Aarti – ₹300 per person (7:00 – 8:15 PM)
- Shringar / Bhog Aarti (Night) – ₹300 per person (9:00 – 10:15 PM)
- Shayan Aarti – Free (10:30 – 11:00 PM)
- Rudrabhishek (1 Shastri) – ₹450 (Any time 4:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Rudrabhishek (5 Shastri) – ₹1,380 (4:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Rudrabhishek (11 Shastri) – ₹2,600 (4:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Laghu Rudra (11 Shastri) – ₹5,500 (4:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Maharudra (11 Shastri, 11 days) – ₹57,100 (Over 11 days)
- Annakshetra (annadanam) donation – ₹11,000 (Any day)
How to book darshan
Book Sugam Darshan, aartis and Rudrabhishek on the official website or the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple app (Android/iOS), or at the Help Desk near Gate 4 and ticket counters (Mandir Chowk, YSK-1/2/3, Mandir Parisar, Dashashwamedh Ghat).
Dress code
Official FAQ: no dress code for darshan, but devotees are advised to wear decent clothes. Traditional dress is common for aartis.
Best time to visit
October to March (cool). Dawn Mangala Aarti and weekday afternoons are calmer; Mondays, Shravan (29 July – 29 August 2026 per the temple notice), Mahashivratri and Dev Deepawali are extremely crowded.
How to reach
- air: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur, approx. 25 km.
- rail: Varanasi Junction (BSB) approx. 5–6 km; Banaras (BSBS) approx. 7 km; Pt. DD Upadhyaya Junction (Mughalsarai) approx. 17 km.
- road: Vehicles stop near Godowlia/Maidagin; walk or take an e-rickshaw to Gate 4 (Dhundhiraj) or come by boat to Lalita/Manikarnika ghat and enter by Gate 1 (Ganga side, 6 AM – 9 PM).
Festivals
- Mahashivratri – Feb/Mar
- Rangbhari Ekadashi – Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi (Feb/Mar)
- Shravan month – Jul/Aug
- Dev Deepawali – Kartik Purnima (Nov)
- Annakoot – Day after Diwali