Varanasi is a host to numerous temples and embodies Hindu culture and tradition. These temples were built over many centuries by monks, kings and saints. The temples of Varanasi are connected deeply to Hindu spirituality and mythology. Unfortunately, during the rule of Moghuls, some of these temples were destroyed and replaced by mosques. The most famous among these is the Kashi Vishwanath temple that has been under dispute for many years and is a place of frequent communal riots. This article covers the best Varanasi temple list to visit.
To know more about the famous temples in Varanasi, read along:
Must-Visit Temples in Varanasi India:
- Bharat Mata Mandir
- Durga Mandir
- Sankata Devi Mandir
- Sankat Mochan Mandir
- Annapurna Devi Mandir
- Lalita Gauri Temple
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- KaalBhairav Mandir
- New Vishwanath Temple
- Sarnath Buddhist Temple
- Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple
1. Bharat Mata Mandir:
Bharat Mata Mandir of Varanasi is one of the most significant temples in the city. Located on the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus, this temple is visited by people from all corners of Varanasi regularly. The temple is believed to be one of a kind as it is one of the few temples that are dedicated Mother India thus the name Bharat Mata.
- Address: Cannt Road, Guru Nanak Nagar Colony, Chetganj, Varanasi, UP – 221001
- Timings: 9:30 am to 8 pm
- Dress Code: No Dress Code
- Approx. Visit Duration: ½ hour to 1 hour
- How to Reach: Easily accessible by any local mode of transport.
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Republic Day and Independence Day of India
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2. Durga Mandir:
Another important temple in Varanasi is the Durga Mandir. The temple displays a beautiful and unique architecture style. In the temple campus, there is a rectangular tank filled with water, which is called the Durga Kund. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is painted red to represent the color of the goddess. This temple is filled with tons of devoted worshipers during Nag Panchami every year.
- Address: 27, Durgakund Rd, Anand bagh, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005
- Timings: 5 am to 11 pm
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: 1 – 2 hours
- How to Reach: local modes of transport
- Temple Website: http://shridurgamandir.com/
- Best Time to Visit: Navratri
- Other Attractions: Banaras Hindu University
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3. Sankata Devi Mandir:
One of the most recognized temples in the country is the Sankata Devi Mandir. The temple is situated near the Sindhia Ghat and is considered to be one of the most important temples in the city. Here the Sankata Devi or the Goddess of Remedy is worshiped. Inside the temple, you will find a massive statue of a lion as lion is also her wahana (vehicle).
- Address: CK 21/20, Shitala Gali, Garwasitola, Ghasi Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001
- Timings: 5 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 10 pm
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: ½ hour to 1 hour
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year, Navratri
- Other Attractions: Assi Ghat, Trilochan Ghat
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4. Sankat Mochan Mandir:
People all over the country come to this temple in order to get an effective solution to all sorts of problems. This temple is dedicated to the powerful Lord Hanuman. The word Sankat translates to problems/pain whereas Mochan means eradicates. People are seen chanting verses related to the lord in the most problematic situations because of their firm belief in Lord Hanuman. This temple hosts many religious as well as ethnic festivals.
- Address: Sankat mochan Saket Nagar Rd, Saket Nagar Colony, Sankata Mochan Leprosy, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005
- Timings: 5 am to 10 pm
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: http://jaihanumanji.in/sankat-mochan-hanuman-mandir-varanasi/
- Best Time to Visit: Hanuman Jayanti
- Other Attractions: Tridev Temple, Tulsimanas temple
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5. Annapurna Devi Mandir:
Among all the temples discussed above, this temple is the most important one. This temple is located near the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Devi Annapurna is considered as the Goddess of Food, who is actually a form of Devi Parvati (Lord Shiva’s wife). Parvati fed Shiva with her own hands after she came back to Kailasha and the Lord agreed to the fact that material world cannot be dismissed as an illusion, something he wasn’t willing to accept before thus upsetting Goddess Parvati.
- Address: D 9, Annapurna Math Mandir, 1, Vishwanath Gali, Godowlia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001
- Timings: 4 am to 10 pm
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: http://kashiannapurnaannakshetratrust.in/
- Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
- Other Attractions: Kashi Vishwanath temple
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6. Lalita Gauri Temple:
This is one of the most beautiful temples in Varanasi. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Lalita Gauriand is situated on one of the ghats of the Ganges named after the goddess herself. Built in the 19th century under the orders of King of Nepal, Rana Bahadur Shah, the temple compound also houses the famous Nepali Mandir. According to the Hinduancestory, one who worships this goddess with all heart will be the owner of massive wealth and prosper a lot in future.
- Address: Near Meer Ghat, Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001
- Timings: Open 24 hours
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: ½ hour to 1 hour
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
- Other Attractions: Ganga Mahal Ghat, Nehru Park
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7. Kashi Vishwanath Temple:
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Varanasi is considered to be one of the most important temples in the country. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and forms a significant part of the Indian history as the name of the temple has been mentioned in the Puranas. The temple was built a number of times over the years. It was first destroyed in the 11th century and is definitely one of the oldest temples in the country. This temple tops the list of temples to visit in Varanasi.
- Address: Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001
- Timings: 3 am to 11 pm
- Dress Code: Traditional Wear
- Approx. Visit Duration: 2 to 4 hours
- How to Reach: The temple is just 2 km away from the main city of Varanasi, easily accessible by local modes of transport.
- Temple Website: www.shrikashivishwanath.org
- Best Time to Visit: Maha Shivratri or between the months of October and March.
- Other Attractions: Ganga Ghat
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8. KaalBhairav Mandir:
This historic temple is one of the most beautiful and oldest Varanasi temples. It is dedicated to the most aggressive and destructive form of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva was enraged when the Vedas pronounced him as the supreme god but Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma laughed at it. A fight led to Lord Brahma’s head burning out which was later carried by the ferocious light emerging out of Lord Shiv ‘Kaal’, later Kaal wandered with the severed head, the head fell in Varanasi, his sins were washed and he stayed back. Unlike other temples, alcohol is served to the lord of the temple.This Kalabhairava temple Varanasi is said to have been built in the 17th century AD and is believed to solve all the problems of its devotees.
- Address: k37/124, Golghar, Bazardiha, Maheshpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221002
- Timings: 5 am to 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: 1-2 hours
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Sundays, Tuesdays, Annakut
- Other Attractions: Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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9. New Vishwanath Temple (Birla Mandir):
This temple is run by the Birla Organization and is a replica of the Old Vishwanath Temple which was destroyed. The temple holds a great position in the Banaras Hindu University. The unique feature of the temple is that it is open to people of all religions and cultures. This temple is the worship place of Lord Shiva and is one of most popular temples of Varanasi.
- Address: Banaras Hindu University Campus, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Timings: 4 am onwards (closed for few hours in between)
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: ½ to 1 hour
- How to Reach: Local mode of transport
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Shivratri
- Other Attractions: BHU
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10. Sarnath Buddhist Temple:
Located at a distance of 8km from Varanasi, Sarnath Buddhist temples is another major tourist destination. It is a world famous temple where Budha delivered his first sermon in the deer park of Sarnath. Later, during the reign of King Ashoka, this Varanasi Buddhist temple was developed with some of the best monuments that make India proud.
- Address: Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221007
- Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
- Dress Code: Decent Attire
- Approx. Visit Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- How to Reach: The temple can be accessed through the national highway as well as other local modes of transport in the city.
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Throughout the Year
- Other Attractions: Dhamek Stupa, Choukhandi Stupa
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11. Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple:
This is one of the oldest Ganesh temples in Varanasi. It is also one of the lesser known temples in the city and is situated in the lane of Kashi Vishwanath temple. There is a belief that people who visit this temple will be free from all sorts of worries and obstacles.Legends believe that when Lord Shiva came to Kashi (now Kasi Vishwanath temple Varanasi) his son Lord Ganesh followed him and settled here for a brief period of time.
- Address: Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001
- Timings: 5:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Dress Code: No dress code
- Approx. Visit Duration: ½ hour to 1 hour
- How to Reach: Walking distance from the Kashi Vishwanath temple
- Temple Website: N/A
- Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
- Other Attractions: Kashi Vishwanath Temple
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The greatness of these temples is that, despite many invasions, destructions and riots, Hinduism is still very intact and alive. These temples are muted symbols of the bygone eras and stand as true tests of time. They are not just embodiments of Hindu culture, but also some of the greatest monuments of the world. Varanasi is one city where no amount of violence could separate it from breathing and living Hinduism.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Is The Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple near Kashi Vishwanath?
Yes, the Dundi Raj Ganesh Temple is nearby the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The distance can be easily covered on foot in a matter of few minutes.
2. Can I Visit The Durga Mandir in The Afternoon?
It is always advisable to visit temples in the morning or the evening as afternoon and night are considered as the resting time of lords and goddesses.
3. Do Devotees Need to Follow a Dress Code for Visiting The Bharat Mata Mandir?
There is no dress code protocol that needs to be followed while visiting the Bharat Mata Mandir, although it is advisable to be dressed in a decent attire.
