Welcome to the Sanctum
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Vishweshwara, the Lord of the Universe. It stands on the western bank of the Ganga in Varanasi.
— ॐ नमः शिवाय —
Heritage
The story carved into stone, copper, and prayer.
The original shrine is believed to be more than 3,500 years old. The present structure was rebuilt by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780, and the gold plating over the two domes was contributed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835.
Sacred Offerings
Offerings performed by ordained priests under the guidance of vedic tradition — for every milestone of life.
₹500 / person
The first aarti — sanctum opens and the Jyotirlinga is awakened with conch, bell and ghee lamps.
Free
Midday offering of naivedyam — bhang, milk, sweets, fruits and bilva are offered to the Lord.
₹300 / person
Seven priests representing the seven sages perform a synchronised aarti — the most photographed worship of the day.
₹300 / person
The Lord is decorated as Bholenath with sandal, vibhuti, rudraksha and silver crowns.
₹300 / person
Last aarti of the day — sanctum doors close after a final benediction over the Jyotirlinga.
₹2,500
Vedic abhishekam invoking Lord Rudra — performed with milk, curd, ghee, honey and Ganga jal.
Daily Worship
Open every day of the week. Each hour carries its own fragrance, its own prayer.
Sacred Calendar
Days that turn the temple into a constellation of light, music, and shared prayer.
The night of Shiva — round-the-clock abhishekam, four-prahar pooja and the famous nightlong queue extending across Varanasi.
The holy month of Shravan — Kanwariyas walk hundreds of kilometres barefoot carrying Gangajal to abhisheka the Jyotirlinga.
Two weeks after Diwali — the entire Ghats line of Varanasi is lit with a million diyas in honour of the gods' return.
Mountain of food offered to the Lord the day after Diwali — over 56 varieties of bhog adorn the sanctum.
Eleven days before Holi — Lord Vishwanath plays Holi with the people of Kashi in a unique gulal-strewn procession.
Sacred Moments
A visual pilgrimage — captured in the soft light of dusk and the gold of dawn.
Devotee Voices
Words from those whose lives were touched within these walls.
They say if you die in Kashi, you attain moksha. I say — if you simply hear the Sapta Rishi Aarti once, you have already begun the journey.
I came after my mother's passing. The Lord here does not console — He simply sits with you. That was enough.
Decades in software. One Maha Shivaratri here, and I knew exactly which line of code in my life needed rewriting. Har Har Mahadev.
Plan Your Visit
Address: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nearest airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur (26 km)
Nearest railway: Varanasi Junction (6 km)
