The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, shrines believed to house a self-manifested form of the Hindu god Shiva, making it among the holiest sites in Hinduism. A temple has stood on or near this spot since at least the 4th century CE, though the current structure was commissioned by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780 and its domes were gold-plated in 1835 with gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Pilgrims believe that worshipping here and bathing in the nearby Ganges River can lead to moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The temple draws an average of roughly 45,000 visitors a day, and its evening Saptharishi aarti ceremony, held between 7 and 8:30 pm, is one of the most atmospheric rituals in the city.
The temple is open daily from 2:30 am to 11 pm, remaining open around the clock on the Amavasya new-moon day. Security lines can be long, especially around aarti times, so visitors typically budget extra time and leave phones and bags at nearby lockers, as most electronics are not permitted inside.
