The temple of Lord Shiva is commonly referred to as Kashi Vishwanath Temple since Varanasi was once known as Kashi (shining). The temple is regarded by many as one of the most significant Hindu holy sites. It is thought that Kashi is home to the first Jyotirlinga of Shiva.
About Kashi
A Hindu temple honoring Shiva is called Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It can be found in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, near Vishwanath Gali. The temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines and a popular Hindu pilgrimage destination. The names of the ruling god are Vishwanath and Vishweshwara (IAST: Viśvanātha and Viśveśvara), which translate to "Lord of the Universe."
The Gyanvapi Mosque was built on the site of the temple after it had been destroyed on multiple occasions, most notably by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha ruler of Indore, erected the present tower in 1780 on a nearby plot of land.
The Uttar Pradesh government appointed a board of trustees to oversee the temple's management beginning in 1983. A record 3.35 lakh devotees visited the shrine on January 1, 2023. Over 45,000 people visited the temple on average each day in January 2023. Since the corridor's opening in December 2021, 10 crore visitors have reportedly visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. The temple is estimated to have more than ₹6 crores in total assets.
Best Time to Visit in Varanasi
The best months to visit Varanasi are October through March. The Ganga Mahotsav, a five-day spectacular celebration that takes place every November in Varanasi, is one of the city's highlights. You will be able to see the best of Varanasi thanks to its tourist attractions at this time!
The Ghats of Kashi
Varanasi has 84 ghats, and since they are all connected, it is simple to visit each one individually. Assi Ghat is the first ghat, and Adi Keshava Ghat is the final.
Assi Ghat
In addition to the original ghat, the Assi ghat has mythical significance. After stating that Goddess Durga slew the two demons, Shumbh and Nisumbh, in this location, Durga flung her sword into the Assi River. The Assi Ghat is formed by the location of her meeting with the Ganga.
Tulsi Ghat
Tulsidas, who resided at the Ghat during the time he wrote the Ramcharitmanas, is the reason for the name.
Harischandra Ghat
One of the oldest ghats in Varanasi is Harish Chandra Ghat. It bears the name of the legendary King Harish Chandra, who supposedly labored at this burial site to perpetuate kindness and truth. It is supposed that the gods gave him back his deceased son and his lost throne as a reward for his honesty, generosity, and resolve. Here, you may see the home of the well-known Kalu Dom. Another name for Harischandra Ghat is the second-biggest cremation ghat in Varanasi.
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The most impressive and prominent ghat on the Ganga River in Varanasi is Dashashwamedh Ghat, which is situated near the Vishwanath Temple. It has ties to two myths about Hindus: Legend has it that Lord Brahma constructed it as a greeting for Lord Shiva. Another custom states that the Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna is done here
Manikarnika Ghat
Among the Varanasi Ghats, Manikarnika is one of the biggest and holiest cremation ghats. It is thought that when a soul is burnt here, it attains moksha. As a result, many old people from all around the nation strive to hike up to its borders and spend their final days saying the dying prayer here.
The Temples of Varanasi
It's been reported that Varanasi has more temples than homes. In Varanasi, there are more than 10,000 temples built across the Galis (streets), homes, and other locations. I advise you to get a rickshaw and begin touring the well-known temples on the following list.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Any list of must-see Varanasi attractions would be incomplete without mentioning the renowned Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The sacred texts refer to this temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Annapurna Temple
It is stated that your worship would not be successful if you did not attend and eat prasad from the Annapurna Temple after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Thus, you ought to go to the Annapurna temple and enjoy the prasad there after visiting the Shiva temple.
Vishalakshi Temple
Visit Vishalakshi Temple after visiting Annapurna Temple. The site where Devi Sati's earrings dropped is one of the well-known Shakti Pithas in India.
Til Bhandeswar Mandir
There is a special kind of Shiva linga at this temple. The enormous Shiva linga is rumored to expand to the size of a til (sesame sid) year.
Durga Temple
This temple is painted red with ochre and is also known as the Monkey Temple. One of the hallowed locations in Varanasi to visit is this temple. It is thought that the goddess Durga idol in the temple spontaneously materialized rather than being created by humans.
Places to See other than Ghats and Temples
Varanasi is renowned for its humanism, rich history, and temples, in addition to its ghats. People from all over the world come here to build or destroy the place because it suits them, is their fault, or is their love. Let's virtually tour such locations and snap a tour.
Gyan Vapi Well
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is home to this well-known wisdom. During his reign, Aurangzeb destroyed the temple and built this well and a mosque in its place. He flung the primary Shiva linga into the well to get his revenge. I think the main Shiva idol is still in the well, but later on, a copy of the main jyotirlinga was placed inside the temple.
Ramnagar Fort
This location, one of the most iconic places to see sunsets, is well-known for its antique automobile collection and traditional Varanasi artifacts.
Benaras Hindu University
BHU, one of the most well-known institutions in India, is well-known for its courses, disciplines, and top-notch instruction.
Take a boat ride on the Ganges
A boat ride on the Ganges is an incredible experience, particularly early in the morning when the sun is rising. Boats come in two varieties: powered boats and boats that are rowed by hand. A hand-rowed boat can be rented for an individual, while a motorized boat can accommodate a set number of passengers. You can negotiate a fixed rate with the boatman for a predetermined time on the watercraft. From the river, the ghats appear to be pretty lovely. For an hour's boat ride, a hand-rowed boat will cost you between INR 500 and INR 700.
Attend the Ganga Arti
One of the most amazing sights to see in Varanasi is Ganga Arti. The Arti was previously spotted by us at Haridwar. Ganga Arti in the evening is held in Dasaswamedh.Rajendra Prasad Ghat as well as Ghat. Assi Ghat is the location of Morning Arti. The 45-minute evening arti begins at approximately 6:30 PM. Arti begins her morning routine at roughly 5:45 AM.
You can take a boat ride or get special seats to watch the Arti. You will still be able to see the Arti from the ghat even if you choose not to. We assure you that the Ganga Arti is truly remarkable.
How To Reach Varanasi
Varanasi has excellent road and aviation connections to India. The city has a recently constructed airport, and regular flights are offered from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other locations.
Varanasi is connected to other cities by a large number of trains. In addition, Varanasi is easily accessible by road, making it accessible to all travelers.
Where To Stay
Varanasi is affordable for anyone, both in terms of lodging and food. Depending on your budget, there are several hotels, guest houses, Air BNBs, and hostels to choose from.
What to Purchase in Varanasi
Varanasi is affordable for anyone, both in terms of lodging and food. Depending on your budget, there are several hotels, guest houses, Air BNBs, and hostels to choose from.
Is Varanasi Worth A Visit?
I suggest coming to this city at least once, even only for yoga, pranayam, or music, and not just to worship the god or visit the temples (if you believe). The cuisine, streets, housing designs, people, and cultures all exhibit the city's character.
Is Varanasi Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Many women travel alone to Varanasi daily. Like we do when we travel to other cities or countries, I would want to encourage you to exercise caution when traveling in Varanasi due to its dense population and tiny alleys.
Best Places to eat in Varanasi
We would recommend Kashi Chaat Bhandar and Deena Chat Bhandar, which are close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, for Chaats. The shops on the street are equally wonderful.
Shops near Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Gyanchand Kachori near Assi Ghat are good places to get Kachoris.
Rabri, Lassi, and Malayio are sold in a lot of roadside stores (just during winter). They're all quite good.
The best cafes to visit include the Brown Bread Bakery at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Vaatika Pizzeria at Assi Ghat, Kerala Café near Bhelupur, and Dosa Café. A fantastic vegetarian restaurant, Bati Chokha serves delicious meals. However, the distance to Dasaswamedh Ghat is 3 km. El Parador, which is close to Maldahiya, is the place to go if you enjoy meat.
Conclusion
Taking one of our Kashi trip packages takes you on a spiritual journey as well as a physical one. It's an encounter that will make you rethink your assumptions, extend your perspective, and permanently change your heart. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and has long been a significant Hindu religious center. The temple is regarded by many as one of the most significant Hindu holy sites. It is thought that Kashi is home to the first Jyotirlinga of Shiva.
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