Kashi Vishwanath Temple, in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is a shrine to Lord Shiva (worshipped as Vishwanath / Vishweshwara), one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is also known as Vishwanath Temple, Golden Temple of Varanasi, Vishweshwara.
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest Shiva shrines in Hinduism. Hindus believe a darshan here combined with a dip in the Ganga grants moksha (liberation), and try to visit at least once in their lifetime. Regarded as the most sacred temple in Varanasi, the shrine has been an integral part of Shaiva worship for centuries.
Uttar Pradesh carries a distinct temple identity of its own: The spiritual heartland of India, home to Kashi, the birthplaces of Rama and Krishna, and revered Shakti and Vaishnava shrines along the Ganga and Yamuna.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 3:00 AM - 11:00 AM (general darshan window); temple opens 3:00 AM overall |
| Evening | 12:20 PM - 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM (general darshan windows); temple closes 11:00 PM overall |
Per the temple trust's own official website (shrikashivishwanath.org) and its official FAQ document, the temple is open 3:00 AM to 11:00 PM overall, with general (free) darshan available in three windows: 4:00-11:00 AM, 12:20-7:00 PM and 8:30-9:00 PM; these gaps correspond to the four paid-ticket Aarti sessions, during which general-queue darshan is paused. The trust's own FAQ states there are four named Aartis, not five as previously listed: Mangla Aarti (3:00-4:00 AM, reporting from 2:30 AM, entry via Gate No. 1), Mid-Day/Bhog Aarti (11:15 AM-12:20 PM), Sapt Rishi Aarti (7:00-8:15 PM) and Shringaar/Bhog Aarti (9:00-10:15 PM); each is individually confirmed with a live price on the trust's own booking pages (see ritualSchedule/darshanTiers below). A separate promotional blurb elsewhere on the same official site references 'five' aartis including a distinctly named Sandhya Aarti, but gives no time or price for it, so it was not added as a sixth ritualSchedule entry - a genuine, honestly-flagged inconsistency within the official site itself. Ganga Ghat-side entry via Gate No. 1 is allowed 6:00 AM-9:00 PM.
Poojas and daily rituals
Four daily paid-ticket Aartis (Mangla, Mid-Day/Bhog, Sapt Rishi and Shringaar/Bhog) plus Rudrabhishek (offered in 1-Shastri, 5-Shastri and 11-Shastri, Laghu Rudra and Maha-Rudra variants, performable any time between 4 AM and 6 PM, with the Shastri's dakshina already included in the ticket price) can be booked via the official website or its official app.
Daily aarti and pooja schedule
| Ritual | Time |
|---|---|
| Mangla Aarti | 3:00 AM - 4:00 AM (reporting from 2:30 AM, Gate No. 1) |
| Mid-Day / Bhog Aarti | 11:15 AM - 12:20 PM (reporting 10:45 AM) |
| Sapt Rishi Aarti | 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM (reporting 6:30 PM) |
| Shringaar / Bhog Aarti | 9:00 PM - 10:15 PM (reporting 8:30 PM) |
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivratri | February-March | The most important festival, celebrating Lord Shiva with special poojas and huge crowds |
| Dev Deepawali | Kartik Purnima (15th day after Diwali) | The ghats and temple are lit with countless lamps |
| Makar Sankranti | 14 January | Auspicious bathing and worship |
| Sawan (Shravan) | July-August | The holy month of Shiva draws enormous numbers of devotees |
History and architecture
Architecture
Known for its gold-plated domes and spires and the Nandi bull statue; the complex was greatly expanded with the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor connecting the temple to the Ganga ghats
History
Regarded as the most sacred temple in Varanasi, the shrine has been an integral part of Shaiva worship for centuries. It was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times, and the current structure stands near the original site, commissioned in 1780 by Ahilya Bai Holkar. The adjacent Gyanvapi Mosque shares a wall with the complex, reflecting centuries of layered history.
Planning your visit
Darshan types and fees
| Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Queue Darshan | Free | Available in the windows between the four ticketed aartis |
| Sugam Darshan | ₹300 | Queue-less entry escorted by a Shastri; includes free locker and prasad box; not available during aarti times or on special days |
| Mangla Aarti ticket | ₹500 | First aarti of the day, 3:00-4:00 AM; entry from Gate No. 1 |
| Mid-Day/Bhog Aarti ticket | ₹300 | 11:15 AM-12:20 PM; entry from any gate |
| Sapt Rishi Aarti ticket | ₹300 | 7:00-8:15 PM; entry from any gate |
| Shringaar/Bhog Aarti ticket | ₹300 | 9:00-10:15 PM; entry from any gate |
How to reach
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is about 25 km from the city; Varanasi Junction, Banaras (Manduadih) and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Mughal Sarai) are the main railway stations. Cabs drop visitors at Godowlia or Maidagin crossings, from where it is a 10-15 minute walk through the old-city lanes.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple in photographs
4 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. All four aarti timings and prices (Mangla ₹500; Mid-Day/Bhog, Sapt Rishi and Shringaar/Bhog each ₹300), the Sugam Darshan price (₹300) and its rules, the overall temple hours (3 AM-11 PM), the three general-darshan windows, the Annadanam donation amount and the Ganga Ghat-side entry hours were all confirmed directly on the temple trust's own official website (shrikashivishwanath.org) - both its official FAQ PDF and its live individual aarti-booking pages - verified in September 2026. This corrects the previous entry's count of 'five daily aartis' and its Sandhya/Shayana naming, and adds confirmed, individually-sourced prices where the entry previously only described darshan tiers qualitatively.
- shrikashivishwanath.org
- shrikashivishwanath.org
- shrikashivishwanath.org
- skyscanner.co.in
- narayankothi.com