Most Famous Temples to Visit in Varanasi - Temples in Varanasi

Varanasi is an ancient city known for its collection of sacred temples on the banks of the holy river Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India.

Varanasi is known with different names like Banaras (Benares), Kashi (Kasi) and played a vital role in the development of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

Temples of Varanasi - Kashi Temples

Varanasi is present between the Ganges confluence with two rivers: the Varuna and the Assi stream. The city has many holy temples built in different times by different kings, monasteries, saints and communities throughout history.

Some famous temples to visit in Varanasi are mentioned in this blog post.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest Shiva temples in India. It is one among the twelve Jyotirlingas present on the western bank of the Ganga River in the holy city of Varanasi.

The importance of this temple is also mentioned in different Puranas.

This ancient temple was first destroyed by Qutub ud-Din Aybak, the first sultan of the sultanate of Delhi in 1194 CE and the existing structure was built in the 18th century. This sacred temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times in the last 800 years.

A person who enters the temple will transform their life by soul cleansing experience and turn their path towards Bhakti and knowledge.

Temple Timings: 02.30 am to 11.00 pm every day

Address: Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Kashi Vishalakshi Temple

Kashi Vishalakshi Temple is present near Mir Ghat. The Vishalakshi temple or Vishalakshi Gauri temple is one of the 18 most sacred Shakti Peethas dedicated to the Hindu mother Parvati.

The history reveals that the Goddess Parvati Devi eyes had fallen on this holy place Varanasi.

There are two statues of Parvati Devi. One is located at the back, which is Swayambhu and it has more power, where as the front one is added by Adi Shankaracharya. We can see both deities here.

The temple is small and the Goddess can be seen from the streets in close proximity.

Temple Timings: 05.00 am to 09.00 pm

Address: Sri Kasi Vishalakshi Devi Temple, Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Annapurna Devi Mandir

Annapurna Devi is Goddess of cereals. Normally people refer to Annapurna Devi as Bhavani Devi, located on the Dashashwamedh road, near Vishwanath Gali and close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

The present temple was constructed Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I in 1729 AD.

The temple has the Nagara architecture and is located just 15 meters northwest of the famous Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir.

Temple Timings: 05.00 am to 11.00 pm

Address: Annapurna Math Mandir, D 9/1, Vishwanath Gali, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Tulsi Manas Mandir

Tulsi Manas Mandir is an ancient temple in the holy city of Varanasi. The temple was built in the year 1964 at this place where Ramcharitmanas was composed by bhakti poet Goswami Tulsidas.

Address: Durga Kund Sankat Mochan Rd, Near Jalan, Durga Kund, Tulsi Manas Mandir Colony, Naria, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005

Sankata Devi Mandir

Sankata Mata Mandir is another popular temple in Varanasi present high above the Sankata Ghat. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Remedy, Sankata Devi, who protects her devotees from obstacles and danger.

Within the temple complex you can also find the enormous statue of the lion, a huge Shiva Lingam and a Banyan tree that contains the idols of Lord Ganesh and Hanuman.

Address: CK 21/20, Shitala Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Ghasi Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Birla Vishwanath Mandir:

Located just 1.7 km from the main entrance of Banaras Hindu University campus, the famous Birla temple in Varanasi is also called Vishwanath Mandir or the New Vishwanath Temple.

The construction of Shri Vishwanath Mandir was completed in the year 1966 and is made entirely of marble.

There are 9 shrines in this temple, including:

Lord Shiva Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Durga Temple, Nataraj, Goddess Parvati Temple, Lord Ganesha Temple, Panchmukhi Mahadev Temple, Nandi, Lord Hanuman Temple and Goddess Saraswati Temple.

Address: Banaras Hindu University Campus, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221011

Kaal Bhairav Mandir

Kaal Bhairav Mandir is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Varanasi, India. Kal Bhairav, also called the 'Kotwal of Varanasi', means the keeper of the city who plays an important role in the story of Varanasi.

It is said that without Kala Bhairav permission, nobody can stay in Kashi. It is 10-minute drive from Viswanath Mandir.

Temple Timings: 05.00 am to 01.30 pm and 04:30 pm to 09:30 pm

Address: k37/124, Golghar, Bazardiha, Maheshpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221002

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is present on the banks of the Assi River. There are many monkeys present in the temple premises and is often called the Monkey Temple.

Temple Timings : 5.00 AM and 10.00 PM.

Address: Sankatmochan Saket Nagar Rd, Saket Nagar Colony, Sankata Mochan Leprosy, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005

Durga Kund Mandir

Durga Kund Mandir at Varanasi is a richly carved temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga present on the Sankat Mochan road. Durga Mandir was built by the Bengali Queen in the 18th century.

Temple Timings: 05.00 am to 11.00 pm

Address: 27, Durgakund Rd, Jawahar Nagar Colony, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005

Bharat Mata Temple

Bharat Mata Temple is dedicated to the Mother India and is present at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus.

The temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt before India's independence and was inaugurated in the year 1936 by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.

The temple consists of a relief map of undivided India carved out of white marble brought from Makrana depicting the mountains, oceans and plains with great precision.

Address: Vidyapeeth Road, Cannt Road, Lalapura, Chanuwasatti, Chandua Chittupur, Guru Nanak Nagar Colony, Chetganj, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Nepali Mandir

The Nepali Mandir is also called as Kanthwala Mandir and Mini Khajuraho. It was built in 19th century AD by the King of Nepal. This temple is a replica of the famous Pashupatinath Mandir present in Kathmandu.

The temple displays exquisite wooden works that reflect fine Nepali craftsmanship. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the 19th century AD the temple was constructed by Rana Bahadur Shah, following the style of Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath temple.

Temple Timings: Morning 04.00 am to Afternoon 12.00 noon and Afternoon 01.00 pm to Night 09.00 pm.

Address: Near Lalita Ghat, Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Lalita Gauri Temple

Lalita Gauri Mandir is dedicated to Goddess Lalita Devi (incarnation of the Goddess Durga). It is a famous temple to visit in Varanasi.

Address: Lalita Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Kaudi Mata Mandir (Gavvalamma Gudi)

Another famous temple to visit in Benares is Kaudi Mata Mandir, also known as the Gavvalamma temple.

The primary Goddess of this temple is Kaudi Mata. She is considered the sister of Lord Shiva.

A trip to Kashi is not complete without visiting Kaudi Mata Mandir. You can offer cowries (Gavvalu) to the goddess that is sold outside the temple.

Address: Sankat Mochan Rd, Durgakund,Opposite Karpatri, Durgakund, Jawahar Nagar Colony, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221010.

Tridev Temple

The Tridev temple is present near Tulsi Manas Temple. The temple is dedicated to Salasar Hanuman, Khatushyam and Rani Sati Dadi. The temple is famous for its beautiful architecture and spiritual atmosphere.

Address: Durgakund Rd, Tulsi Manas Mandir Colony, Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005

Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple

Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple is located just few minutes away from the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Lord Ganesh is the presiding deity of this esteemed temple.

Address: Vishwanath Gali Chowck, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir

The Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple is an ancient temple devoted to Lord Shiva, present on the way from Daranagar to the Kalbhairav Temple.

The present temple was built in the 18th century and has a well-known for its healing properties and cures various illnesses. Many devotees visit this temple to get rid of sudden or unnatural deaths.

Address: K52/39, Daranagar, Visheshwarganj, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001.

Kedareswara Temple

Kedareswara Temple is another ancient must-visit temple in Varanasi, situated at the top of the famous Kedar Ghat on the banks of the holy river Ganges.

Worshipping Lord Shiva here at Kedareswara temple is believed to give similar results of worshipping him at the famous Kedareswara Temple in the sacred Himalayas.

It is believed that pilgrims worshiping Lord Shiva here in the Kedareswara temple would receive the same results as worshiping him in the Kedareswara temple of the holy Himalayas.

Devotees are allowed to touch the Shiva Lingam in this temple.

Anna Abhishekam is performed here once a year in this temple where Shiva Lingam is completely covered with the cooked rice.

Address: Kedar ghat, Bangali Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221001

Temple Timings: Morning 3:00 AM to Night 11:00 PM every day

Kedareswara Temple Route Map:

Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir is one of the ancient temples in Varanasi dedicated to Lord Shiva, located next to the Madanpur weaving colony.

The main attraction of this temple is the idol of Shiva Lingam, which grows in size every year.

Address: Malti Bagh, Tilbhandeshwer, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir

Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir, also known as Kashi Karvat is the most photographed temples in Varanasi devoted to Lord Shiva.

The temple was built on a very low-level area, and the temple will be under water for most of the year, except for a few months in the summer season.

Address: Visheshwar Ganj Road, Daranagar, Near Shree Maha Mrityunjay Temple, Daranagar, Kotwali, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001.

Map of Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir

Brihaspati Temple

Guru Brihaspati Mandir is dedicated to Lord Brihaspati. Brihaspati or Brhaspati is a famous Vedic era sage and he is called as Deva Guru.

Best time to visit this temple is on Thursday.

Temple Timings: Morning 6:00 AM to Night 9:00 PM

Address: Dashaswmedh Ghat Rd, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Singh Dwar, Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Brihaspati Temple Varanasi Route Map

Interesting Facts about Varanasi

1. It is said that Varanasi or Kashi is one of the oldest ancient cities in the world inhabited by humans since 800 B.C.
2. Since ancient times, Varanasi is considered a famous place of pilgrimage known for its rich cultural heritage and ritual baths on the banks of the sacred river Ganges.
3. Varanasi or Banaras is considered one of the 7 most sacred cities of Hinduism.
4. Varanasi has about 86 ghats where crowds of people come down to worship the sacred Ganges.
5. It is believed that a single dip in the holy Ganges River of Varanasi will erase a lifetime of sins.
6. Hiuen Tsang of China, who traveled to India in the 7th century, is very impressed by the presence of a large number of Hindu temples in Varanasi, full of grandeur and majesty.

Author Note

Varanasi or Kashi is the source of spirituality, culture and tradition. An ideal destination for those seeking a salvation.

A trip to Varanasi will be incomplete without

1. Taking a holy dip in the pristine waters of the holy Ganges
2. A visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple
3. Watching the magical Ganga Aarti taking place in different Ghats in Varanasi

Have you covered all these temples in your Varanasi trip?

Share your experiences in the comments section.

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