Kashi Vishwanath Temple Information: History, Attractions, Places to Visit Nearby, Hotels, How to Reach (2024)
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Information
Lord Shiva is one of the most prominent deities and is also among the most worshipped gods as per the Hindu mythology. The deity of Vishwanath, situated in the town of Kashi or present-day Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh considered as an almighty form of Lord Shiva as the God of this universe. Hence the name Kashi Vishwanath, as Varanasi was once famous as the city of Kashi and now it is sacred of Hindu pilgrimage. Kashi Vishwanath temple has an important place in books of Hindu mythology as well as in the books of history. According to Shiva Purana, which means the legend of Lord Shiva, Kashi was a city where he was worshipped centuries ago. It is a prime pilgrim destination of the Shaiva community who are a part of Hindus who follow the legend of Lord Shiva.
The Kashi Vishwanath temple of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is a significant destination of worship according to the Hindu pilgrims. There is also a belief among the Hindu community that the holy river of Ganga flows nearby Varanasi and taking a bath in the waters of the river will wash their sins off. Now let us take a look at the history of the temple.
History of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
There is an interesting mythological story from the pages of the scripture of Skanda Purana which tells us about the deity and the temple of Kashi Vishwanath. Once a fight broke out between the two gods, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma ,and Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of a Jyothirlinga and challenged them to find the end of the Jyothirlinga. Lord Brahma exhibited dishonesty to win the challenge, and thus Lord Shiva took his fifth head in anger.
The belief is that the Jyothirlinga of Kashi Vishwanath temple is the same idol which appeared before Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. The temple was constructed in 11th century, but Kashi Vishwanath temple was a regular victim of the Sultans and other Muslim rulers who tried and destroyed the temple several times.
The current temple you can witness is a part of the construction work which completed in 1780. The temple again underwent a renovation in 1983 to transform into its present beautiful form. Now let us have a quick peek at the major attractions inside Kashi Vishwanath temple of Varanasi.
Major Attractions at Kashi Vishwanath Temple
1. The Jyothirlinga
The idol of Jyothirlinga at Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is a part of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the Shiva Purana where the major Lord Shiva temples are located. The structure of Jyothirlinga at Kashi Vishwanath temple resides in an altar made of pure silver.
2. The Golden Domes
A tower decorates the temple of Lord Kashi Vishwanath and three domes purely made of gold. These golden domes and the building are a significant attraction of the temple, which was a donation made by the King Maharaja Ranjit Singh amid the 19th century.
3. The Banks of River Ganga
The holy waters of river Ganga flow adjacent to the temple of Kashi Vishwanath. The river has an important place in the Shiva Purana, and the belief is that taking a bath in the river is equal to getting blessed by Lord Shiva. The Ghats situated through the banks of river Ganga is also a significant attraction from the temple complex. The ritual of Ganga Arti is also an enjoyable site you can experience during the sunrise and sunset every day at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Photo Courtesy juggadery Image Source
How To Reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Now let us take a detailed look into the major public and private transportation modes to reach the renowned Kashi Vishwanath temple of Varanasi.
- By Road: Varanasi is one of the biggest cities in the Uttar Pradesh province and hence reaching Varanasi via road transport is not at all a complicated task. Anywhere from Varanasi, the temple of Kashi Vishwanath is well connected through private and public modes of transportation like bus services.
- By Rail: You can even pick rail transport as Varanasi has several railway stations nearby. Moreover, the three railway stations, including the Varanasi central railway junction is close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The Varanasi junction, The station in the city and the Maduadih railway station is just 6 km, 2 km and 4 km away respectively from the Kashi Vishwanath temple of Varanasi.
- By Air: The Lal Bahadur Shastri airport of Uttar Pradesh is the nearest airport to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. It is just 23 km away from the main entrance of the temple and well connected by both public and private modes of transportation. If you are finding it difficult to fly to Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, you can even pick the Delhi airport connected to all the major Indian cities.
Major Hotels to Stay Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple
1. Guleria Kothi
Guleria Kothi is one of the grandest hotels located within a distance of 100m to the Kashi Vishwanath temple of Varanasi. The temples of Kala Bhairava and Vishalakshi temple is close to the Guleria Kothi. It is an elite mid-range hotel with enough amenities.
2. Hotel Alka
Hotel Alka is an affordable mid-range hotel located very close to the Vishalakshi temple. The temple of Kashi Vishwanath is just 500 m away from the hotel and hardly takes 10 minutes to reach. The hotel also provides the guests with excellent service and all necessary amenities, including an on-site restaurant.
3. Hotel Tridev
A top-rated hotel which is just 500 km away from Kashi Vishwanath temple. This a premium rated luxury hotel with all kinds of elite-level services and facilities. Apart from basic amenities, the guests even provided with a Spa, On-site restaurant, rooms and facilities for hosting business meetings and other events etc. this will be the best choice for you if you need a luxurious stay, nearest to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Other Popular Places To Visit Nearby Kashi Vishwanath Temple
1. Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the closest Ghats to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and here the auspicious Ganga Arti will take place every day. The Manikarnika Ghat gives a breath-taking view of the river where you can also go for boating and sightseeing. Manikarnika Ghat is just 400 m away from the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
2. Nepali Temple
The renowned Nepali temple of Varanasi’s one of the most prominent pilgrim attractions to visit nearby Kashi Vishwanath temple. It is also popularly known as the Kathwala temple situated near the Lalita Ghat. The temple is just 400 m away from Kashi Vishwanath temple and in a walking distance. Lord Shiva s worshipped here as Lord Pashupatinath.
Photo Courtesy juggadery Image Source
3. Banaras Toy Museum
A massive collection of small idols of different deities which are attractive are available at the Banaras toy museum of Varanasi. You can find the store at the Vishwanath Gali which leads to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, located just 200 m away from the main entrance. It is one of the oldest shops in the area which is famous for its traditional idols.
