15 Must Visit Hindu Temples in Kashi – Banaras – Varanasi

Kashi is known as Varanasi or Banaras, One of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and a major religious hub in India. The holy city of Varanasi is situated on the banks of the river Ganges and famous for temple, ghats, Akhada, Street Food like Thandai, Lassi, Paan and Benares gharana music, Banarasi Saree and Banaras Hindu University.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most famous temple of Lord Shiva in Varanasi and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The temple was mentioned in the Kashi Khanda of Skanda Purana and the Vishveshvara Jyotirlinga is Lord of the Universe.

Shri Vishwanath Mandir

Shri Vishwanath Mandir is also known as New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Temple, situated inside Benaras Hindu University around 7 km South-West from Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple has tallest temple tower in the world and is the biggest tourist attractions of Varanasi.

Durga Kund Mandir

Durga Mandir of Varanasi city is one of the must visit temples in the holy city of Kashi, dedicated to the Maa Durga and situated on the Sankat Mochan road near Banaras Hindu University.

Annapurna Devi Mandir

Maa Annapurna Devi temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and in the holy city of Varanasi. The Annapurna Mandir constructed in Nagara architecture by Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I and houses a picture of goddess Annapurna.

Sankata Devi Mandir

Sankata Devi Mandir is dedicated to the goddess Sankata Devi and is the only temple in India dedicated to Goddess of danger. The Sankata Mandir has great religious importance in the holy city of Varanasi.

Vishalakshi Gauri Temple

Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi on the bank of the Ganges in Kashi, close to cremation grounds of Manikarnika. The Vishalakshi mandir also regarded as a Shakti Pitha in India and known for its temple festival on Kajali Tij.

Lalita Gauri Mandir

Lalita Gauri Mandir is dedicated to the goddess Lalita Gauri, An historic temples in the holy city of Varanasi and situated on the Lalita Ghat.The Lalita Ghat is home to two important and historic temples, Nepali Mandir and Lalita Gauri Mandir.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple of Varanasi is situated on the banks of Assi river and dedicated to the God Hanuman. The temple located near the Banaras Hindu University and was established by Goswami Tulsidas.

Kaal Bhairav Mandir

Kaal Bhairav Mandir is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Kashi, dedicated to Kaal Bhairav – A fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. The Kaal Bhairav is Kotwal of Kashi and protects the devotees from all the problems.

Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple

Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir is the must visit temple of Varanasi and also one of the most photographed temples of the city. The Kashi Karvat temple is situated at Manikarnika Ghat near Tarkeshwar Mahadev Mandir.

Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir

Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir or Ravaneshwar Mandir is also one of the famous temple of Varanasi, situated in Daranagar. The temple where Lord Shiva is worshiped as Mrityunjay Mahadev and has great historical and cultural importance.

Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir is one of the most famous temple in Banaras city and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The Mahadev Mandir is situated in Pandey Haveli and known for festivals celebrated including Mahashivratri, Nag Panchami, Navratri and Shravan.

Pashupatinath Mahadev Mandir/Nepali Mandir

Nepali Mandir of Kashi is another most famous temples in the city of Varanasi, dedicated to the Lord Shiva and made of terracotta, stone and wood. The temple is replica of Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu and constructed in Nepali style of architecture.

Tulsi Manas Mandir

Tulsi Manas Mandir is another most famous temple of Varanasi, as the epic Ramcharitmanas was written here by Goswami Tulsidas. The temple is also situated on the Sankat Mochan road near Banaras Hindu University.

Bharat Mata Temple

Bharat Mata Mandir or Mother India Temple is located in campus of Kashi Vidyapith, house a huge map of undivided India carved on marble. The temple also has statue of Bharat Mata and map built of stone.

Shaileshwar Shivling Temple is located at Mariha Ghat in Varanasi and one among the most popular temple of Lord Shiva in Kashi along with Kriti Vaseshwar Mahadev temple,Trilochaneshvara Mahadev Temple,Jayageeshyeshwar Shivling,Grahpati Shiva temple, Jayageeshyeshwar and Vyaghreshwar Mahadev Temple.

Important Ghats in Varanasi

There are 84 Ghats in Varanasi some of them are Ahilya Ghat, Lassi Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Munshi Ghat,Panchganga Ghat,Darbhanga Ghat,Man Mandir Ghat and Bhonsale Ghat.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main and most popular ghat in Kashi on the Ganga river, located close to Vishwanath Temple. The ghat is well famous for Ganga Aarti soon after sunset, arti lasts about 45 minutes.

Manikarnika Ghat

Manikarnika Ghat is the oldest ghats in Varanasi and also one of the holiest in Kashi – considered as a gateway to another life. The ghat on the river Ganga is an important place along with Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Scindia Ghat

Scindia Ghat is another most popular ghats in Varanasi where tilted Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple found, partially submerged in the Ganges river. The ghat is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and built in 1830 by the Scindias.

Assi Ghat

Assi Ghat is another most popular ghats in Varanasi, located in the southern most part of the city and visited regularly by foreign students, researchers, locals and tourist.

Chet Singh Ghat

Chet Singh Ghat is a historical fortified ghat of Varanasi, one of the cleanest and must visit ghats in Kashi – Chait Singh was a ruler of Kingdom of Benares.

Place to Visit in Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the must visit places in India, attracts millions of domestic and international tourists. The city is home to ghats, temples, and many places with rich with cultural heritage.

Ramnagar Fort

Ramnagar Fort located near the Ganga River, opposite to the Tulsi Ghat offering scenic view of right bank of the Ganges River. The fort and the palace was built by Kashi Naresh and currently house a museum and scenic location.

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar of Varanasi is one of the five Jantar Mantar of India constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II, Jaipur, Mathura, New Delhi and Ujjain has other four. The observatory built in Varanasi measure declination of Sun, stars and planets.

Banaras Hindu University ( BHU)

Banaras Hindu University is the largest residential university in Asia and the campus spread over 1,300 acres. BHU house New Shri Vishwanath Mandir which has the tallest temple tower in the world.

Sarnath

Sarnath is located around 10 km from the city of Varanasi and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world along with Bodhgaya and Kushinagar. Dhamek Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa and Chaukhandi Stupa are some of the tallest Stupa and impressive structure in Sarnath.