Tirth Yatra GuideKashi Vishwanath jyotirlinga
Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh: the story, the temple and what to know before you go.
About Kashi Vishwanath
- Place
- Varanasi, on the bank of the Ganga
- District and state
- Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh
- Deity
- Shiva, as a jyotirlinga (a column of light)
Kashi (Varanasi) is considered the oldest living city of India, and Vishwanath, "Lord of the universe", is its ruling deity. A visit to Kashi, a bath in the Ganga and darshan at this temple form one of the most cherished pilgrimages of Hindus. The city is one of the Sapta Puri.
The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times; the present one was built in the late eighteenth century by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, and the gold plating on its spires was added later. In recent years a corridor has been built to link the temple to the river. The ghats, the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and the lanes of the old city belong to the experience.
Getting there and when to go
Varanasi has its own railway junction, an airport and good road links. Winter and the months around it are comfortable; summer is very hot and the monsoon swells the river. Visitors should rely on the official temple trust for entry rules and avoid the many touts around the temple.
Read our guide to planning a yatra and the notes on temple etiquette. This is jyotirlinga number 7 in the usual list of twelve; see all twelve.
Previous: Bhimashankar · Next: Trimbakeshwar
Questions people ask
Where is Kashi Vishwanath?
Varanasi, on the bank of the Ganga, in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh.
What is a jyotirlinga?
A jyotirlinga, "lingam of light", is a place where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Twelve are named in the Shiva Purana tradition.
Temple rules, opening seasons, booking arrangements and routes change. Before you travel, check the official website of the temple or the state tourism board, and be careful of anyone who asks for money to book darshan or a stay by phone or message. We do not sell tours or packages. Information on this page was last checked in November 2026.