Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi: Darshan Timings, Aarti & Story
श्री काशी विश्वनाथThe city Shiva never leaves.
Shri Kashi Vishwanath, the Jyotirlinga of Varanasi, stands in the old city on the western bank of the Ganga. The legend of Avimukta Kashi, darshan and aarti timings from the Temple Trust, Sugam Darshan, the gadget rule, festival crowds and the easiest ways to reach.
- 3 am–11 pm temple open
- 3 am Mangala Aarti
- ~5 km from Varanasi Junction
- 13 Dec 2021 Kashi Vishwanath Dham opened
Where is Kashi Vishwanath temple and why is it sacred?
Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple stands in Vishwanath Gali in the old city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on the western bank of the Ganga. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, where Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, Lord of the Universe. The temple is open 3 am to 11 pm; the Mangala Aarti is at 3 am.
To millions of Hindus, Kashi — Varanasi, Banaras — is the holiest of cities, and Vishwanath is its heart. Pilgrims usually bathe in the Ganga, walk up through the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor from the ghats and offer water to the jyotirlinga, then visit Annapurna Devi next door. Entry and general darshan are free, and the temple is open all year.
The temple is managed by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust under the Uttar Pradesh government. Paid services — aarti tickets, Sugam Darshan and Rudrabhishek — are booked only on the Trust’s own website, shrikashivishwanath.org, its official app or the help desk. Not to be confused with the Kashi Vishwanath temples of Uttarkashi and Guptkashi in Uttarakhand.
The legend of Kashi Vishwanath
The Shiva Purana and the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana honour Kashi as Avimukta — the place Shiva never leaves. This is how tradition tells it.
- A column of lightWhen Brahma and Vishnu argued over who was greater, an endless pillar of light appeared between them. Neither could find its top or its base. Tradition links Vishweshwara with that light.
- Shiva and Shakti's homeIt is believed that at the dawn of creation Shiva and Shakti shaped Kashi as their own city, and Shiva promised never to leave it — hence the name Avimukta.
- Held on the tridentDevotees hold that Kashi rests on the tip of Shiva’s trident, so it survives even when the universe dissolves at the end of an age.
- The mantra of liberationIt is believed that anyone who dies in Kashi hears the liberating Taraka mantra from Shiva himself. That is why Kashi is seen as a doorway to moksha, and why Manikarnika ghat is so sacred.
These are stories of faith, told as tradition rather than history. Kashi Vishwanath is seventh in the Shiva Purana’s list of the twelve Jyotirlingas and ninth in the popular Dwadasha Jyotirlinga stotram.
Kashi Vishwanath darshan and aarti timings
| Temple hours | 3:00 am – 11:00 pm, every day |
| General darshan | 4:00 – 11:00 am, 12:20 – 7:00 pm and 8:30 – 9:00 pm (paused during the aartis) |
| Mangala Aarti | 3:00 – 4:00 am — report by 2:30 am at Gate No. 1 |
| Mid-day Bhog Aarti | 11:15 am – 12:20 pm |
| Saptarishi Aarti | 7:00 – 8:15 pm |
| Night Shringar / Bhog Aarti | 9:00 – 10:15 pm |
| Aarti tickets | Paid, non-cancellable and non-refundable — book only on shrikashivishwanath.org, the official app or the Trust help desk |
| Sugam Darshan | Paid, escorted queue-free darshan with a Shastri, plus locker and prasad — current fee on shrikashivishwanath.org |
| Phones and gadgets | Not allowed — no phones, smartwatches or even pens inside. Free lockers at Mandir Chowk, the YSK centres and the help desk |
| Dress | No formal dress code; the Trust asks for decent clothing |
Timings and rules from the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust FAQ (checked 8 Oct 2026). Touch (sparsh) darshan may be suspended on crowded festival days, and the Trust announced an app-based darshan system in 2026 — confirm locally or on the official site before you travel.
Kashi Vishwanath festivals and crowd days
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Dev Deepawali | Kartik Purnima — 24 Nov 2026 (per panchang) | Panchang; the most crowded night of the year at the ghats — confirm locally |
| Mahashivratri 2027 | 6 Mar 2027 | Drik Panchang |
| Rangbhari Ekadashi 2027 | Not checked yet | Falls a few days before Holi |
| Shravan Mondays 2027 | Not checked yet | North India follows the Purnimanta calendar |
The temple is open all year. October to March is the most comfortable season; Dev Deepawali, Mahashivratri, Shravan Mondays and the New Year week bring the heaviest crowds.
How to reach Kashi Vishwanath temple
By air
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur is about 25 km away.
By rail
Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt) and Banaras station are each about 5 km from the temple.
By road
Cars stop outside the old city; take an e-rickshaw or walk to the gates. The main bus stand is Chaudhary Charan Singh Bus Stand.
By boat
Many pilgrims arrive by boat along the Ganga and enter through the corridor’s ghat gate (Gate No. 1, 6 am – 9 pm).
A two-day Kashi Vishwanath yatra
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Day 1Arrive · Ganga Aarti
Reach Varanasi by air or rail and check in near the old city. Afternoon darshan at Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna Devi, then the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh ghat.
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Day 2Dawn on the Ganga · Kaal Bhairav · Sarnath
Mangala Aarti (booked ahead) or an early boat ride along the ghats, then Kaal Bhairav. Afternoon at Sarnath, about 10 km away, or continue to Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Leave the phone in the lockerNothing electronic — not even a pen — goes inside. Use the free lockers, or leave valuables at your hotel.
- Book only on the official siteAarti tickets, Sugam Darshan and Rudrabhishek are sold only on shrikashivishwanath.org, the official app or the help desk. Ignore agents selling “VIP passes”.
- Elders and long walksSugam Darshan avoids the long queue, and the corridor is easy to walk, but the walk from the car drop can be long. Ask at the help desk about wheelchair help, and avoid festival days.
- Plan around the aartisGeneral darshan pauses during each aarti. Check the timings table and arrive early on weekends and festival days.
- Don't miss nearbyAnnapurna Devi is next door, Dashashwamedh ghat (evening Ganga Aarti) and Manikarnika ghat about 0.5 km, Kaal Bhairav about 2 km and Sarnath about 10 km.
- More of VaranasiFor the ghats, boat rides and the city’s culture, see our Varanasi spiritual and cultural guide.
A short history of Kashi Vishwanath temple
The original temple was destroyed in 1194 by the forces of Muhammad of Ghor. In 1669 Aurangzeb ordered it demolished, and the Gyanvapi mosque was built on the site. The present temple was built beside it in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, and in 1835 Maharaja Ranjit Singh gave about one tonne of gold to plate its dome and spire.
On 13 December 2021 the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor was inaugurated, opening a wide paved approach from the Ganga ghats to the temple in place of the old narrow lanes.
Plan your Kashi Vishwanath darshan with Suzu
We plan Varanasi trips on their own, Kashi–Prayagraj–Ayodhya yatras and the full 12 Jyotirlinga journey — trains or flights, cars, stays near the ghats and darshan timings, with elders in mind.
Questions pilgrims ask
What are Kashi Vishwanath darshan timings?
The temple is open from 3 am to 11 pm. General darshan runs roughly 4–11 am, 12:20–7 pm and 8:30–9 pm, pausing during the aartis, according to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust.
What time is the Mangala Aarti and how do I book it?
The Mangala Aarti is from 3 to 4 am; ticket holders report by 2:30 am at Gate No. 1. Book only on shrikashivishwanath.org, the official app or the Trust help desk. Tickets are non-refundable.
What is Sugam Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath?
A paid, escorted, queue-free darshan with a temple Shastri, which includes a locker and prasad. It is booked on the Trust’s official website or app, where the current fee is shown.
Are mobile phones allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath temple?
No. Phones, smartwatches and other gadgets — even pens — are not allowed. Free lockers are provided at Mandir Chowk, the YSK centres and the help desk.
Is there a dress code at Kashi Vishwanath?
There is no formal dress code. The Temple Trust asks pilgrims to wear decent clothing.
When was the Kashi Vishwanath corridor opened?
The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, linking the temple to the Ganga ghats, was inaugurated on 13 December 2021.
How far is Kashi Vishwanath from Varanasi station and airport?
About 5 km from Varanasi Junction (Cantt) and Banaras station, and about 25 km from Babatpur airport. Cars stop outside the old city, so finish by e-rickshaw or on foot.
When is Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi?
On Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026 per the panchang. It is the most crowded night of the year at the ghats, so book stays early and confirm the date locally.
Keep exploring
Yatras & circuits
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — FAQ (PDF)
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — official site
- narendramodi.in — Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham inauguration (13 Dec 2021)
- ETV Bharat — app-based darshan system (May 2026)
- Shiva Mahapurana, Koti Rudra Samhita (Sanskrit)
- Wikipedia — Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Drik Panchang — Mahashivratri 2027
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
