Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest sites in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is the sacred abode of Lord Shiva and one of the twelve jyotirlingas. Situated along the holy River Ganga’s westerly bank, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the oldest Indian shrines. This temple has been reconstructed many times making it not only a prominent pilgrimage site but also one of the most famous historical landmarks. King Vikramaditya built the original temple, but over the years it was demolished continuously by various invaders and reconstructed by Hindu rulers.
The River Ganga flows beside the Kashi Vishwanath temple enhancing its spiritual value by manifolds. In Hindu mythology, it plays an important role and has been mentioned in scriptures such as Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, the Vedas, and the Upanishads. If you’re planning to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple then we have curated a guide that will help you in having a smooth darshan and an enlightening experience.
| Detail | 2026 Information |
| Temple Open / Close | 2:30 AM – 11:00 PM daily |
| General Darshan | Free — Morning 4–11:15 AM | Afternoon 12:20–7:15 PM | Evening 8:30–9 PM |
| Sugam (VIP) Darshan Fee | ₹250 per person | Prasad included | Book: shrikashivishwanath.org |
| Mangala Aarti Ticket | ₹500 per person — 3:00–4:00 AM | Pre-book only |
| Sandhya Aarti Ticket | ₹180 per person — 7:00–8:15 PM |
| Rudrabhishek Seva | ₹450 (1 Shastri) | Available 4:00 AM–6:00 PM daily |
| Shravan Somvar Pooja | ₹6,251 | July–August Mondays only |
| Official Booking Portal | shrikashivishwanath.org — only authorised portal |
| Electronics | Strictly banned inside — free locker at entrance |
| Best Time (Day) | 4:00–6:00 AM weekdays (shortest queue) |
| Best Season | October–March | Avoid: Shravan Mondays without pre-booking |
| Nearest Railway Station | Varanasi Junction — 6 km | DDU (Mughal Sarai) — 18 km |
| Nearest Airport | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi — 26 km |
Source: Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust | shrikashivishwanath.org | Updated May 2026.
The temple follows a strict ritual cycle. Darshan — including Sugam Darshan — stops completely during each aarti. Knowing this avoids the most common frustration: arriving at 11 AM only to find the temple closed for Bhog Aarti.
| Session / Aarti | Timing | Entry & Ticket |
| Temple Opens | 2:30 AM | All devotees |
| Mangala Aarti | 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM | Ticket ₹500 — pre-book only |
| Morning General Darshan | 4:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Free | Sugam ₹250 also available |
| Bhog Aarti | 11:15 AM – 12:20 PM | All darshan paused |
| Afternoon General Darshan | 12:20 PM – 7:15 PM | Free | Sugam ₹250 also available |
| Sapt Rishi Aarti | 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM | View from Mandapa — no ticket needed |
| Evening General Darshan | 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Free — view from outside sanctum |
| Shringar Aarti | 9:00 PM – 10:15 PM | Ticket required — book at shrikashivishwanath.org |
| Shayan Aarti | 10:30 PM – 11:00 PM | Last aarti — no ticket needed |
| Temple Closes | 11:00 PM | — |
One mistake many people make: they book a Sugam Darshan slot without checking whether it overlaps with an aarti. If your slot is 11:00 AM, the Bhog Aarti starts at 11:15 AM — you may not complete your darshan. Book slots between 7:00–10:30 AM or 1:00–6:00 PM for maximum buffer.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple has traditional architecture exuding the perfect blend of Islamic and Hindu styles, reflecting the culture and history of Varanasi. The temple spans about 5 5-acre area and comprises three distinct parts: the Mandapa (assembly hall), the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), and the Sabha Griha (congregation hall). It has two main entrances: the first one starts from the Vishwanath Gali and through a narrow lane it leads you to the temple. The other entrance starts from the Manikarnika Ghat which is situated on the river bank. It also has an exit gate, which is known to be the Kaal Bhairav Darwaza, which has an opening to the Jnana Vapi well.
The temple’s innermost part is the Garbhagriha where Lord Shiva’s deity has been enshrined in the linga form. The linga has been composed of black stone and is 90 cm in circumference and 60 cm tall. On a silver platform, the linga is placed and is completely covered with a canopy. The linga looks beautiful with various unique ornaments, such as jewels, flowers, and garlands. A silver fence surrounds the Garbhagriha with four doors. All the doors are guarded by a Nandi, Lord Shiva’s vehicle. From the south door, you can enter the Garbhagriha and touch the linga. However, a strict dress code needs to be followed by all the devotees. They are required to wear only unstitched clothes, like a sari or a dhoti.
The middle part of the temple is called Mandapa, where you can comfortably sit and watch the ceremonies and rituals performed at the Garbhagriha. The Mandapa also has Lord Ganesha’s small shrine.
Maha Rudrabhishek: While performing this ritual, recitations of Samveda, Rigveda, Atharva, and Yajurveda Veda are done at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in front of the deities.
Rudrabhishek: Rudrabhishek is dedicated to Shiva, who is worshiped as Rudra or Fire. The pooja is performed to purify the atmosphere and wipe out sins. It also removes ill occurrences related to planets. The Pradosham days and Mondays of the month are considered to be the best time for performing this pooja.
Shravan Somvar Pooja: Shravan (July – August) Mondays are considered to be very auspicious for worshiping Shiva. During the Shravan month, devotees observe Somvar Vrat and perform poojas to bring prosperity to their homes. Bilva leaves, water, honey, white flowers, and milk are used for the pooja. You will have to pay Rs. 6251 for the Seva.
Mangla Aarti: Mangla Aarti is the first aarti that is performed in the morning during the “Brahma muhurta” hour. The cost for Mangal Aarti is around Rs 500.
Sandhya Aarti: This is the third aarti of the day that is usually performed between 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM in the evening. From the Mandapa you can witness the aarti and touch the linga. For the aarti, the fee is Rs. 180 per person.
Sapt Rishi Aarti: This ancient ritual dates back around 750 years. The seven Pandit/ Shastri/Purohit who belong to a different Gotra perform the Aarti simultaneously.
| Mode | Point | Distance | Details |
| Air | Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi | 26 km | Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Lucknow. Taxi to Godowlia 45–60 min. |
| Train | Varanasi Jn. (Kashi) | DDU Jn. | 6 km | 18 km | Direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad. Varanasi Jn. is closer — use this. |
| Road | NH-19 — Kolkata–Delhi highway | — | Buses from Prayagraj, Lucknow, Patna, Delhi. Drop at Godowlia or Maidagin crossing. |
| To Gate | Godowlia or Maidagin | 10–15 min walk | No vehicles near temple. Walk through Vishwanath Gali. Wear slip-on shoes. |
November to February is the best time to visit Varanasi. Since in winter the climate is pleasant throughout the day and the temperature is low you can visit the temple without worrying about scorching heat. Summers in Varanasi are very dry with very high temperatures making outdoor excursions very problematic. In monsoons, the weather is pleasant with heavier and mild rainfalls but winter is ideal to travel to Varanasi to have a surreal experience.
What most people do not realize: Tuesday to Thursday mornings are dramatically quieter than weekends and Mondays — same temple, same Jyotirlinga, completely free.
For pilgrims: guesthouses on Dashashwamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat are 10–15 minutes’ walk from the temple, immersive, and range from ₹800–₹3,000 per night. For comfort: Taj Ganges and Radisson Hotel are in the Cantonment area — quieter, farther from the old city (5–7 km), but reliable facilities.
What most pilgrims don’t factor in: the old city lanes are narrow. Heavy luggage is a serious problem. Keep a light day bag for temple visits and leave suitcases at the hotel. NIT pre-books accommodation in Varanasi as part of complete yatra packages.
Varanasi rewards good planning and punishes improvisation. The wrong hotel puts you 7 km from the ghat. The wrong darshan slot means standing for 4 hours. Getting these details right is what NIT handles for every pilgrim.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India approved. UTDB registered. 15+ years, 1,000+ happy pilgrims. Transparent pricing, 24/7 support.
Open 2:30 AM to 11 PM. Darshan: Morning 4–11:15 AM, Afternoon 12:20–7:15 PM, Evening 8:30–9 PM. Darshan pauses during each aarti.
₹250 per person. Includes fast-track queue and prasad box. Book at shrikashivishwanath.org. Children under 12 are free.
Visit shrikashivishwanath.org → Online Services → Ticket Booking → Sugam Darshan → Select date and slot → Pay → Download e-ticket. Maximum 10 tickets per login ID.
₹500 per person. Timings: 3:00–4:00 AM daily. Must be pre-booked online. During Shravan and Mahashivratri, book 2–3 weeks ahead — slots fill fast.
No. Phones, cameras, smartwatches, power banks — all banned inside. Leave your phone at the hotel, not at the temple locker.
General darshan is completely free. VIP/Sugam Darshan ₹250. Mangala Aarti ₹500, Sandhya Aarti ₹180, Rudrabhishek ₹450.
4:00–6:00 AM on weekdays — shortest queue, free. October to March for best weather. Avoid Shravan Mondays unless Sugam Darshan is pre-booked.
Yes. Free live darshan at shrikashivishwanath.org. Also available: ‘Ask Nandi’ AI chatbot for real-time crowd and slot guidance.
General darshan: modest traditional clothing. Sparsh Darshan or sanctum pooja: unstitched dhoti-kurta (men) or saree (women). Shorts and sleeveless not appropriate.
Varanasi Junction is 6 km from the temple. Taxi to Godowlia crossing (15–20 min), then 10–15 min walk through Vishwanath Gali. No vehicles near the gate.
Entry into the sanctum to touch the Jyotirlinga. From the south door. Unstitched clothes mandatory. Not permitted during Shravan month. No separate ticket — part of general darshan queue.
Mahashivratri, Shravan Mondays, Dev Deepawali (Kartik Poornima), Makar Sankranti. All festival days have very heavy crowds — book Sugam Darshan well in advance.
Kashi Vishwanath is not a temple you rush. But the right plan means your darshan is 40 minutes of peace — not 4 hours of standing. Arrive before 5 AM for free general darshan. Book Sugam (₹250) for any Monday or festival day. Book Mangala Aarti (₹500) if you want to experience Kashi at its most sacred.
Book only at shrikashivishwanath.org. Carry original photo ID. Leave your phone at the hotel. Walk barefoot through Vishwanath Gali. After darshan, walk to the ghat. Watch the Ganga. That is what the trip is for.
For a complete Varanasi tour package — temple, Ganga Aarti, Sarnath, accommodation — Namaste India Trip handles everything from hotel booking to darshan slot guidance.
There are monuments that impress with scale. Some with ornamentation. Others with historical drama.Dhamek Stupa does none of these loudly. It stands quietly in Sarnath, a few kilometres from the crowded lanes of Varanasi, carrying one of the most powerful moments in human intellectual history. It was here that Gautama Buddha, after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, spoke publicly for the firs...
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would like to know tour package for 4 to 5 days stay at Kashi, travel from Hyderabad