Shri Kashi Vishwanath, Shiva as Lord of the Universe, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of Kashi, the city Hindus regard as the place where death brings moksha. The present temple dates from 1780 (Ahilyabai Holkar) and its spire was later covered in gold. Since 2021 the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor has opened a wide stone approach from the Ganga at Lalita Ghat straight up to the temple. The temple is run by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, a body of the Uttar Pradesh government.
Step 2 of 8Next: Visiting rules↓Visiting rules
Visiting with respect
- Remove footwear before the temple and keep the queue moving; darshan in the sanctum is brief.
- Offerings such as milk and flowers are bought inside the premises; follow the sevadars' directions at the Jyotirlinga.
- The ghats near the temple include Manikarnika, a cremation ground: do not photograph funerals or the mourners.
Hours and rules can change for festivals and services. Check the official site on the day.
Step 3 of 8Next: Getting there↓The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Gate 4 (Godowlia side) or Gate 1 (Ganga Ghat side) → Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (free darshan queue) → Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Lalita Ghat → Dashashwamedh Ghat (evening Ganga aarti) · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1Auto or e-rickshaw from Varanasi Junction or the airport to Godowlia, then walk the last stretch; vehicles cannot enter the lanes. Fares are not published, so agree a price first Map ↗
- 2Leave phone, pen and bag in a free locker (Mandir Chowk, the YSK yatri suvidha kendras or the Help Desk near Gate 4), then join the queue Map ↗
- 3Walk down through the corridor to the riverside gate; entry from the ghat side is open 6:00-21:00 Map ↗
- 4About 10 minutes on foot along the ghats from Lalita Ghat; the aarti is free to watch from the steps Map ↗
What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
A do-it-yourself budget for the visit: local transport and any entry fee. Donations and guided tours are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
The Trust runs two guesthouses, Gangadarshanam near Dashashwamedh Ghat and Southern Grand Kashi inside the corridor, booked on their own websites. Budget travellers usually stay in the old-city lanes or near Assi Ghat: hostel dorm beds start around ₹400-500 a night, and budget private rooms from about ₹1,000-2,500. Prices jump for Dev Deepawali and Shravan Mondays.
Food
The lanes around Godowlia and Vishwanath Gali are full of vegetarian food: kachori-sabzi and jalebi for breakfast, thalis, lassi in clay cups and Banarasi paan. Most places near the temple are vegetarian, and many cooks skip onion and garlic. The Trust runs an annakshetra (free food hall) funded by devotees' donations.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
1 day, starting from Varanasi (Varanasi Junction or Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, VNS).
What is the best time for Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
October to March for cooler weather. The temple's own big days are Mahashivratri, Rangbhari Ekadashi, Diwali, monthly Shivratri and the whole of Kartik month; Mondays of Shravan (July-August) bring the longest queues of the year. Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima, November) fills every ghat. For the shortest wait, join the queue right at the 4:00 opening on a weekday.
How much does Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple cost?
From about ₹300 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹0.
What needs to be booked in advance?
General darshan is free: Entry to the temple is free. No booking is needed for the regular darshan queue. Aarti tickets (must book): Four aartis need a ticket, booked on shrikashivishwanath.org, the official Shri Kashi Vishwanath app or at the Help Desk: Mangala 3:00-4:00 (report by 2:30 at Gate 1), Mid-day Bhog 11:15-12:20, Saptarishi 19:00-20:15 and Night/Shringar 21:00-22:15. A December 2025 report put Mangala at ₹500 and the others at ₹300. Bookings cannot be cancelled or refunded. Sugam Darshan (paid, no queue): The Trust's FAQ gives ₹300 per person: a Shastri walks you to the sanctum without queuing, with a box of prasad and a free locker. Not offered during aartis or on special days. Some 2026 guides quote ₹250, so check the price when you book. Children under 12 need no ticket. Nothing in your pockets (must book): No electronic or non-electronic gadgets, not even a pen, are allowed inside. Use the free lockers before you queue.
Where do pilgrims stay?
The Trust runs two guesthouses, Gangadarshanam near Dashashwamedh Ghat and Southern Grand Kashi inside the corridor, booked on their own websites. Budget travellers usually stay in the old-city lanes or near Assi Ghat: hostel dorm beds start around ₹400-500 a night, and budget private rooms from about ₹1,000-2,500. Prices jump for Dev Deepawali and Shravan Mondays.
What about food?
The lanes around Godowlia and Vishwanath Gali are full of vegetarian food: kachori-sabzi and jalebi for breakfast, thalis, lassi in clay cups and Banarasi paan. Most places near the temple are vegetarian, and many cooks skip onion and garlic. The Trust runs an annakshetra (free food hall) funded by devotees' donations.
Sources and last check
Checked 16 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- shrikashivishwanath.org OfficialTemple hours, darshan hours, aarti names and times, Mangala reporting time and gate, booking channels, no-cancellation rule, dress code, gadget ban, free lockers and locations, ghat-side entry hours, Sugam Darshan ₹300 and inclusions, trust guesthouses, festivals
- shrikashivishwanath.org OfficialOfficial booking site, helpline numbers, Sugam Darshan described as queue-less with Shastri escort and free locker
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advice against travel to Uttar Pradesh (updated 7 Oct 2026); general care at crowded religious sites and festivals
- goodreturns.inAarti ticket prices (Mangala ₹500, others ₹300), Sugam ₹300, VIP and sparsh darshan suspended (Dec 2025)
- namasteindiatrip.com2026 guide quoting Sugam Darshan at ₹250 (conflicting figure); children under 12 need no ticket
- hostelz.comVaranasi dorm beds from about US$4
- tripoto.comgoStops Varanasi near Assi Ghat: dorm ₹399-499, private double up to ₹2,500 (undated)
More sacred places and routes
Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Srijitdutta.10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Gannu03 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Immanuelle · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Goutam1962 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Dhirajpop · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
