Overview
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Vishwanath Gali in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is among the most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites and is counted as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. The presiding deity is known as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara (IAST: Viśvanātha and Viśveśvara), meaning "Lord of the Universe".
The temple has a long and turbulent history. The original shrine, referred to as the Adi Vishveshwar Temple, was demolished during the invasion of Mohammad of Ghori. It was subsequently rebuilt by Man Singh I and Todar Mal during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. According to several historical accounts, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of the temple in 1669, and the Gyanvapi Mosque was constructed on the site in 1678. Despite this, Hindu pilgrims continued to visit the remnants of the temple. Some scholars suggest that the demolition was linked to the rebellion of local zamindars associated with the temple, and that the act was intended as a warning by Aurangzeb to anti-Mughal factions and Hindu religious leaders in the city.
The present structure of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built on an adjacent site in 1780 by the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. Over the centuries, it has remained a focal point of Shaiva worship and a key destination for pilgrims visiting Varanasi.
In 2021, a major redevelopment of the temple complex was completed with the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, which connects the Ganga river with the temple. The corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and led to a substantial increase in the number of visitors. The temple has since become one of the most visited Hindu temples in India, with an average of around 45,000 pilgrims per day reported in 2023. The total assets of the temple were estimated at more than ₹6 crore in 2024.