- Details
- Written by Anchal B Chaudhary
Places to Visit in Varanasi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most important temples in India.
Revered as one of the twelve ‘Jyotilingas’, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the oldest temples in India and has a long history. Destroyed many times by invaders, the temple was rebuilt every time by Hindu rulers who succeeded them. The present structure is a white marble temple topped by golden spires made of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Right adjacent to the temple is the Gyanvapi Mosque built by Aurangzeb when the temple was destructed by him in 17th century.
Close to the temple and the mosque is a well, popularly known as Gyanvapi well, meaning ‘well of knowledge’, where the ancient Shivalingam is said to have been hidden when the city was attacked by Aurangzeb.
Note: Tight security is observed in and around the temple. Bags, cell-phones, pens etc. are not allowed within the premises and can be deposited at the entrance of the temple.
Kaal Bhairav Temple
For the pilgrims visiting Varanasi, a visit to the temple of Kaal Bhairav, is a must. Kaal Bhairav is a dreadful form of Lord Shiva, symbolizing death. Here, it is a tradition to buy a black thread, keep it in the shrine to get it blessed and then wear it on arm, wrist or around the neck as protection against evil forces.
Gowdi Matha
The deity worshipped here is supposed to be the sister of Lord Kashi Vishwanath. Its customary to visit the temple and pay an obeisance to the deity just before you leave Varanasi. It’s believed that a visit to Varanasi is considered complete and yields desired results only after the completion of this custom.
Durga Temple
An old temple dedicated to Goddess Durga, an embodiment of ‘Shakti’ or female power. , Durga temple is built in Nagara style and has a Music gallery and a tank within the premises. As the legend goes, the statue present in the inner sanctum is not man-made and had appeared there on its own. Because of a large number of monkeys around the temple, it is also popular as Monkey Temple.
Note: Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard but are not allowed to enter the inner sanctum sanctorum.
Tulsi Manas Temple
Close to Durga Temple, is a white marble temple, dedicated to Lord Rama. Popularly called Tulsi Manas Temple, the temple is believed to be the site where Tulsidas wrote the epic ‘Ramacharitramanas’; a version of Ramayana as penned by Tulsidas.
The temple has beautiful surroundings with magnificent landscaping and on its walls are engraved verses & scenes from ‘Ramacharitramanas’.
Temple Timings: 05:30 AM to 12:00 PM
03:30 PM to 09:00 PM
Sankat Mochan Temple
Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the temple was founded by Tulsidas and is located in southern part of Varanasi, near B.H.U. As mentioned in Vedas, Lord Hanuman alleviates sufferings of his devotees and protects them from the wrath of Planet Saturn (Shani).
A Music Festival is held here every year on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti.
