New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi
Shiva (Vishwanath) temple · Varanasi (BHU campus), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Photo: Kuber Patel, Rosehub · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
The New Vishwanath Temple, also called the Birla Temple, is a Hindu temple to Shiva on the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It was planned by Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of BHU, to replicate the old Vishwanath temple, and was built with the support of the Birla family of industrialists, according to BHU.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi
Its design was inspired by the original Vishwanath temple of Varanasi. The temple complex houses several shrines: the Shiva temple on the ground floor and the Lakshmi Narayan and Durga temples on the first floor, according to a regional tourism guide.
Heritage
History of New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi
The foundation stone was laid in March 1931 and construction took almost three decades, according to the same guide, which gives the height of the temple's spire as 252 feet. In September 2020 the temple reopened to visitors after its closure during the COVID-19 lockdown, BHU Express reported, with worship of the Shivling permitted from a distance.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
As the temple is on a university campus, access arrangements may change; confirm current visiting arrangements locally.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Banaras Hindu University before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Location
How to Reach New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi
The temple stands near the centre of the Banaras Hindu University campus in Varanasi.
Location: Varanasi (BHU campus), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
More in Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh · Shiva (Vishwanath) temples · Temples in Varanasi District
Questions
New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the New Vishwanath Temple?
On the campus of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.
Who planned the temple?
Madan Mohan Malaviya, founder of BHU; the Birla family supported its construction.
Why is it called the Birla Temple?
Because it was built with the support of the Birla family of industrialists.
When was it built?
The foundation stone was laid in March 1931, and construction took almost three decades.
Which shrines are in the temple?
A Shiva temple on the ground floor and Lakshmi Narayan and Durga temples on the first floor.
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q19894766 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Shri Vishwanath Mandir — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Banaras Hindu University — Temples of Varanasi (archived)
- Eastern UP Tourism — New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple (archived)
- BHU Express — Vishwanath Temple (VT) opened in new normal
Further reading: New Vishwanath Temple, BHU Varanasi on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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