Shri Kasi Vishwanath Temple is also known as the Golden Temple of Varanasi dedicated to God Shiva. It is one of the prime Temples of Varanasi and is also considered as a landmark of Varanasi. In reality there are three Temples located closeby and they are that of 1) Shri Kasi Vishwanath, 2) Shri Kasi Visalakshi and 3) Shri Annapoorani Temples. Since Varanasi is called as Kashi this Temple is referred by the name Kashi Vishwanath Temple. 

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in a busy place which is full of small time shops etc and is known as Vishwanath Gali. Devotees can opt for various types of Darshans here. There is a paid Darshan for which they have a seperate entrance. Free Darshans are allowed through the other few entrances. Devotees who opt for any kind of Darshans may have to wade through curving streets, Galis, Lanes and Bye Lanes for several hundreds of metres before  a security check is done and they are allowed to have a Darshan. This Temple is considered as one of the prime 12 Jyotirlinga Temples in India. The Presiding Deity of this Temple is Shri Vishwanath or Shri Vishweshwara which means the God of the entire Universe. It is said the Mohammed Ghori brought down the original Adhi Vishwanath Temple due to his hatred for Hinduism. Later Thodar Mal under Akbar and Man Singh I were instrumental in bringing up this Temple. The during the tyrant rule of Aurangazeb this Temple was razed down and a Mosque built there. Then Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore built this Temple in the year 1780. Since the Temple is situated close to the Western Bank of River Ganga it is construed as very sacred. The Sanctum Sanctorum with the Presiding Deity is designed and mounted on a Square Podium and the Shikara here points skywards. The Presiding Deity is in the form of a smooth Jyothirling which is so Divine and sacred to the Devotees visiting here. 

Apart from the Main Shrine of the Presiding Deity of Shri Kashi Vishwanath there are few other Sub Shrines of other Gods too. All through the day be it morning or evening this Temple was buzz with activity and would be flooded by Devotees who come from all parts of India. Mahara Sankranthi, Maha Shivrathri, Deepavali, Annakoot, Ekadesi and Akshya Thrithya days are flooded with Devotees and there would be heavy secuirty checking too. Photography is not allowed and Devotees are not allowed to carry their Mobiles inside the Temple. Traditional Dress wear are allowed for the Male and Female Devotees. 

Shri Kashi Visalakshi Temple: It is also known as Shri Visalakshi Gauri or Shri Visalakshi Devi Temple. It is one among the 51 Sakthi Peeth. It is widely believed that the Gem of the right Ear Ring of Sati fell here and hence She is also known as Shri Manikarni. It is 250 metres away from Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and just 200 metres away from Shri Annapurna Temple in Varanasi. The former Temple here had been rebuilt by the Naatukottai Nagarathar of Tamil Nadu State. The Presiding Deity here is Shri Visalakshi which means the Goddess with wide eyes. She is none other than Goddess Parvathi Herself. The Presiding Deity's Idol is seen in the Sanctum Sanctorum as Shri Visalakshi. The importance of this Temple is that its is very closely associated with the Manikarnika Ghat here. Navarathri days draws enormous number of Devotees to this Temple from all parts of India. 

Shri Annapurna Temple: This Temple is also known as Shri Annapurna Devi Mandir and is located very close to Shri Kasi Vishwanath Temple. Shri Annapurna Devi who is the Presiding Deity here is the other form of Goddess Parvati and is known as the Goddess for Food and Nourishment. This Temple was constructed around 1729 by the Maratha Peshwa Shri Bhaji Rao. The recent construction reflects the Nagara Architecture with huge porched pillars. The Sanctum Sanctorum has twin Idols of Shri Annapurna Devi, one is a Brass Idol which can be seen and Prayed by the Devotees on a daily basis. The other Idol is made of Gold and in this the Presiding Deity of Shri Annapurna Devi seems to be sitting on a Lotus while standing beside Her is Shri Shiva Himself requesting for Food from Her. This Temple is the one and only of its kind in the form of Shri Yanthra. There are similar Temples in Kannauj and Indore too. Goddess Annapurna is seen holding the Vessel of Sustenance and a Ladle in Her hand. 

This Temple is maintained by Shri Annapurna Mandir Charitable Trust. This Temple too is located in a narrow lane or Gali but people come here relentlessly all through the day and night when it is opened. Aartis to Shri Annapurna Devi at specific timings draws enormous number of Devotees on any given day. A typical Darshan to these Temples would take around 2 to 3 hours on normal Days and may go up by a few hours on festive occasions. This Temple has a huge Lunger which serves as a Sacred Temple Kitchen and there is an Annadhan Koot where several thousands of Devotees make it a habit to come and eat here since it is considered Divine eating here and is on par with a Prasad. Food here is totally free for the Devotees and they come here forgetting their social stature for the sake of eating in this Divine place. 

Contact Details: 0542 2392629, 0542 2392619 70802 92930, 63931 31608, 87957 77588 and for Wheel Chair Facilities 75181 02803

Temple Timing: 4 AM to 12 Noon and 3:30 PM to 10 PM. Morning and Evening Aarti is at 6 AM and 4 PM respectively.

Distance from Ayodhya to Varanasi is 218 Kms

Distance from Haridwar to Varanasi is 831 Kms

Distance from Prayagraj to Varanasi is 122 Kms

Distance from Mirzapur to Varanasi is 83 Kms

Distance from Bareilly to Varanasi is 563 Kms

Distance from Meerut to Varanasi is 741 Kms

Distance from Dehradun to Varanasi is 928 Kms

Distance from Rishikesh to Varanasi is 853 Kms

Distance from Almora to Varanasi is 767 Kms

Distance from Lucknow to Varanasi is 314 Kms

Distance from Jhansi to Varanasi is 530 Kms

Distance from Kanpur to Varanasi is 351 Kms

Distance from Ujjain to Varanasi is 977 Kms

Distance from Indore to Varanasi is 1010 Kms

Distance from Jabalpur to Varanasi is 456 Kms

Distance from Ranikhet to Varanasi is 758 Kms

Distance from Gaya to Varanasi is 265 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Varanasi is 1883 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Varanasi R.S.

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