Overview

The heart of the city of lights or Kashi Varanasi has been beating for 3000 years and its lifeline is its scenic spiritual legacy. It is believed that Lord Shiva founded the holy city of Varanasi. It is the most popular Hindu pilgrimage destination in India. It is truly a representation of authentic India. Varanasi is a center of Hindu renaissance, Sanskrit, Yoga, spiritual and religious heritage. Today, Varanasi is a busy hub, where all winding roads look similar, Ghats are always crowded and the fragrance of incense and the smell of burnt firewood dissolve in the air.
The aartis and the floating of earthen lamps over the water of River Ganga in the evening is also an important element of the identity of Varanasi. It is also an auspicious place for death. It is said that people who die here will be free from the cycle of birth and death. Apart from that the beautiful architectural wonders of the kings of Bengal and Maharajas of Rajasthan makes Varanasi a colorful palette of artistic wonders, faith and rich cultural heritage.

Visit Temples in Varanasi

New Vishwanath Temple

Situated in the premises of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), New Vishwanath Temple is definitely a must visit pilgrimage destination in Varanasi. The temple was constructed by the famed Birla family and hence is also known as Birla Temple. In fact, it is a temple complex which consists of 7 temples.
The Shiva temple is situated on the ground floor, whereas Durga temple and Lakshmi Narayan temple are located on the first floor. The architecture of the temple is inspired by the old Vishwanath Temple and the structure is made of white marbles. The walls of the temple are adorned with the text of Gita, which certainly catches the eyes of the visitors here.

Kathwala Temple

Kathwala Temple is one of the most popular religious places to see in Varanasi. It is also known as Nepali Temple as it was built by the king of Nepal – Rana Bahadur Shah in the 19th century. It is a brilliant example of exquisite Nepali architecture and wood work called Kath in Nepalese language. Hence, it is known as Kathwali temple. It resembles Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu. The most interesting thing to see in this temple is its unique Khajuraho style sculptures. It is situated in the Lalita Ghat and catches the attention of many visitors in Varanasi.

Kashi Vishwanath

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most popular pilgrimage place to explore in Varanasi. The history of this sacred shrine can be traced back to 3500 years. The temple is one of the 12th Jyotirlingas. It is the first place where the fiery light of Lord Shiva in the form of Jyotirlinga manifested from heaven to the earth. These are considered the holiest Shiva temples. The Linga is the presiding deity here and the temple is a quadrangle, surrounded by temples of other gods. The temple once had a golden spire and domes; hence it was also called the Golden Temple. It was constructed in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. It is situated in Kashi Vishwanath Gali, also famous for its shops.

Tulsi Manas Temple

Your spiritual holidays in Varanasi will be blissful if you visit Tulsi Manas Temple of Varanasi. This temple was built in the honour of the great Indian Bhakti poet Goswami Tulsidas. It was constructed in 1964 with white marble. The architecture of Tulsi Manas Temple will blow your heart away as in its walls the scenes and verses from Ramcharitmanas are engraved. It is believed that the temple is located at a place where Tulsi Das wrote this famous Indian epic. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and it is located near another famed shrine called Durga Temple.

Monkey Temple

Monkey is one of the most popular religious tourist attractions in Varanasi. It is dedicated to goddess Durga but is recognized as a Monkey Temple, due to the excessive population of monkeys around it. It also houses a Kund which is believed to be connected with the holy river of Ganga and thus have therapeutic properties. Devotees from all over India visit this temple to seek divine blessings and hear Bhajans and prayers to seek spiritual grace. It is believed the presiding deity was not man-made but appeared on its own. The temple is built by a Bengali Maharani in a Nagara style of architecture. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the courtyard of the shrine but not the inner sanctum.

Bharat Mata Temple

This temple is one of its kinds as instead of being dedicated to any god or goddess, the temple is dedicated to Bharat Mata or India (assumed as Mother). The temple is situated in Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth Campus. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, the temple was an inspiration for those who were fighting the war of independence. The statue in the shrine denotes mountain, plain and ocean and the major highlight of the temple is the relief map of India carved on a marble. The idol of Bharat Mata symbolizes the entire India which makes it one of the best places to visit in Varanasi. The temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt. Travelling to Varanasi would be amazing if you visit its peaceful shore.

Alamgir Mosque

Located near Panchganga Ghat, Alamgir Mosque stands still in pride to bless the devotees. The mosque is situated on the edge of River Ganga and enjoys a picturesque scene. Said to be built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb who is believed to have demolished the old Kashivishwanath Temple and constructed this mosque in its place; Alamgir mosque is a fine piece of architecture. The mosque is also known as Gyanvapi mosque due to the well of the same name situated close to it. One can notice the influence of North Indian or Hindu architecture in this mosque; however, most of the mosque is done in Islam architecture. This mosque is also known as Dharhara Mosque.

Ghats of Varanasi

Dasaswamedh Ghat

Reckoned to be the oldest ghat in Varanasi, Dasaswamendha Ghat is where all the action takes place. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Varanasi. The ghat is situated near the Vishwanath temple and is famous for its evening aarti. Often crowded with sadhus, sanayasis, beggars and devotees, this ghat is an important landmark of Varanasi city. During the evening aarti, devotees leave earthen lamps in the water to float creating a beautiful scene which is unmatched.

Assi Ghat

This sacred Ghat is situated on the confluence of the River Ganga and Assi. The devotees bathe here prior to paying homage to a huge Shiva Lingam placed under a tree in close proximity to this ghat. It is a must visit tourist attraction in Varanasi. The ghat is situated at the south of the city and therefore is less crowded. However, it doesn’t by any means indicate that the ghat holds any less importance than other ghats.

Manikarnika Ghat

Manikarnika is the main cremation Ghat and is also reckoned to be one of the oldest Ghats in Varanasi. It is also known by the name of Burning Ghat as the dead bodies are burnt here regularly. According to Hindu mythology, Manikarnika Ghat is believed to be the place where the ornament worn by Sati on her ear fell down when Lord Shiva was carrying her to the Himalaya. It is a popular belief here that those who are cremated here get Moksha. It is one of the best places for Sightseeing in Varanasi.

Man Mandir Ghat

Manmandir Ghat is situated north of Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi. The Ghat is reckoned to have been built in the 1600s by Maharaja Man Singh. To the northern corner of the ghat is a fine stone balcony. There are a few famous temples such as Sthuladanta Vinayaka, Rameshwara and Someshwara temples located near this Ghat.

Shivala Ghat

Shivala Ghat is amongst the finest Ghats in Varanasi that very well reflects the historic era. The Ghat is famed for its Shiva Temple that was built in the 19th century by a Nepalese King called Sanjay Vikram Shah. The temple is known for its architectural grandeur and fine craftsmanship. The Ghat is quite popular amidst the devotees who come here to take a dip in the holy water.

Harishchandra Ghat

This ghat is named after the mythological character Raja Harishchandra, who once worked at this ghat. Now, this king is believed to be righteous and truthful and gods were pleased with his humble behavior and thus retrieved his lost kingdom and his dead son. Harishchandra Ghat is one of the two ghats used for cremation in Varanasi and it is reckoned that whoever is cremated here attains Moksha or Salvation.

Tulsi Ghat

This Ghat is named after the great poet Tulsidas, who is believed to be the author of the Hindu epic Ramcharitramanas. It is believed Tulsidas sat on this ghat of the river and wrote a large part of Ramcharitramanas here. There is a big temple here that is dedicated to Lord Rama on this ghat. At Tulsi Ghat many cultural activities also take place and the most popular one is the Krishnalila that takes place in the month of Kartika (Oct/Nov).

Dharbhanga Ghat

Situated within close proximity of Dasaswamedh Ghat, Darbhanga Ghat is used for performing the rites and rituals that are related to the demise of a loved one. The ghat has a grand building from where one can see the rituals being performed here.

Scindia Ghat

Scindia Ghat, which is also known as Shinde ghat in Varanasi, is famed for the large number of places of worship found here. The Shiva temple at the ghat is a major tourist attraction in Varanasi due to its partial submergence in the water. According to Hindu mythology, this ghat is known as the place from where Agni (Fire) originated. Thus, it is revered as a holy place and many devotees like to visit here.

Ahilyabai Ghat

Ahilyabai Ghat was earlier known as Kevalgiri Ghat but in 1778, the famous Queen Ahilyabai Holkar ordered its renovation and converted it into a ghat that was made of concrete. The Ghat is famous for the fact that it is believed to be the first Ghat in Varanasi that has been named after a person. The best time of the day to visit here is in the morning hours, when the Hindu devotees throng the ghat to take a dip to get cleansed from their sin.

Lalita Ghat

One of the most venerated Ghats in Varanasi, Lalita Ghat is known for its wooden temple of Keshava. The temple was built by the King of Nepal in typical Nepalese architecture. The carvings on the wall depict sceneries and often attract the art lovers. The Ghat is dedicated to Lalita Devi who is reckoned to be the personification of Goddess Durga. Devotees who come to this ghat believe that bathing at this ghat will earn them the blessing of the Goddess and prosperity will seep into their lives.

Rana Mahal Ghat

This ghat was constructed by Raja Rana Jagat Singh, who came to Varanasi as a pilgrim. There is a palace near the ghat, which is believed to be the place where the Maharaja stayed during his pilgrimage. The palace boasts of its rich Rajputana architecture and attracts lots of tourists.

Chausatthi Ghat

Chausatthi Ghat is known for its beautiful palace built by King Digbatiya of Champaran, Bihar. The ghat is also known as the shelter of famous Sanskrit scholar Madhusudan Sarasvati. There is a temple complex at the ghat as well, where old images of Kali, folk goddesses, Shiva, Ganesha, and Kartikeya can be seen. On the 12th dark-half of Chaitra (March-April) many pilgrims pay a visit to the Yogini temple and take ritual baths at this ghat. Another occasion of attraction is Holi, on the eve of the festival devotees come to pay homage and perform rituals at the ghat.

Panchganga Ghat

This Ghat is reckoned to be the mythical meeting place of five sacred rivers. There are numerous images of the five river goddesses, namely, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Dhutpapa and Kirana. Many devotees throng this ghat in hopes of attaining blessings from these five goddesses. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Varanasi. There are five idols presiding here and each is of black stone. From the Ghat one can see the Alamgir Mosque, which is believed to have been constructed by Aurangzeb.

Historical Sites

Gyan Vapi Well

Adjacent to the Vishwanath Temple lies the ancient GyanVapi Well (Well of Wisdom). It is believed that the water of this well contains the linga from the original Vishwanath Temple, which was vandalized by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. The GyanVapi mosque was built by Aurangzeb in the place where this temple was situated.

Bharat Kala Bhawan Museum

To the south of the Vishwanath Temple is Banaras Hindu University, which was founded by Sanskrit scholar, Madan Mohan Malviya. Within the campus of the university is the famed Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, which is renowned for its rich collection of Indian paintings. The paintings date back to between the 11th century and 20th century and are about 12000 in number. The Mughal miniatures, the sculpture of marriage of Shiva and Parvati and the 11th century statue of Vishnu and the Gandhara sculpture are the major attractions here.

Ramnagar Fort

Ramnagar Fort is situated across the river beyond the Assi Ghat. Built in the 17th century, this fort has been the home to royals of Varanasi for over 400 years. Although almost in ruins today, the palace still retains its charm. One can still witness the ornamented swords, photographs of tiger shoots and visits by the King and Queen of Belgium can be seen decorated on the wall. The Durbar Hall of the fort is converted into a museum, where several objects like palanquins and elephant howdahs are on display. Visiting Varanasi would be incomplete if you haven’t seen the grandeur of Ramnagar Fort Yet.