Darshan timings at Kashi Vishwanath
| Season | Opens | Darshan | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year (daily) | 2:30 AM | General darshan approx 4:00 AM to 11:00 AM, then again from about 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM, and after evening aartis | 11:00 PM | Open |
| Midday | - | Sanctum closes for Bhog (midday) Aarti, roughly 11:15/11:30 AM to 12:00-12:20 PM; darshan resumes after | - | Open |
| Shravan / Maha Shivratri | 2:30 AM | Extended hours and long queues; the temple often stays open through the night for continuous darshan on peak days | Extended | Open |
Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →
How to reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The temple sits in the dense old-city lanes near Dashashwamedh Ghat, so no vehicle reaches the door. You arrive at the corridor gates (Gate 4 / Godowlia side is common) and walk the last stretch on foot through Vishwanath Gali. Varanasi itself is the reference city; the nearest other large city, Prayagraj, is roughly 120 km by road (approx).
| Mode | Point | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Varanasi Junction (Cantt) / Varanasi City / Kashi | Cantt approx 4.5 km; Varanasi City approx 2 km | Varanasi Junction (Cantt) is the main long-distance hub; Varanasi City and Kashi stations sit closer to the old city. Take an auto or e-rickshaw to Godowlia, then walk in. |
| Air | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur | approx 25 km | Nearest airport, on the Varanasi-Jaunpur road; taxi to Godowlia takes roughly 45-60 minutes depending on old-city traffic. |
| Road | Godowlia crossing / Maidagin | Last approx 300-600 m on foot | Autos, e-rickshaws and cabs stop at Godowlia or Maidagin; the innermost lanes are pedestrian-only. Follow signs to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor gates. |
| River | Dashashwamedh / Manikarnika Ghat | Corridor links temple to the Ganga | Since Dec 2021 the corridor connects the ghats directly to the temple, so pilgrims can bathe in the Ganga and walk up to the sanctum. |
Puja & aarti schedule
- Mangala Aarti (pre-dawn awakening of the deity; entry by ticket/advance booking only)3:00 AM - 4:00 AM
- Bhog Aarti (midday offering; sanctum closed to public during the ritual)approx 11:15/11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
- Sapt Rishi Aarti (Sandhya, the seven-sage evening aarti, one of the most sought-after)7:00 PM - 8:15/8:30 PM
- Shringar / Bhog Aarti (the lingam is adorned)9:00 PM - 10:15 PM
- Shayan Aarti (the deity is put to rest; temple closes after)10:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →
Dress code & temple rules
For sparsh (touch) darshan of the lingam, traditional dress is expected: men in dhoti-kurta, women in saree. Without it you may be allowed darshan only from outside the sanctum.
For general darshan there is no strict traditional-only rule and western clothes are permitted, but modest cover of shoulders and legs is expected as a mark of respect.
Leather items are not allowed inside; remove belts with metal buckles, wallets and leather bags before entering.
Mobile phones, cameras, and electronics are prohibited in the sanctum area; free locker/cloakroom facilities operate near the corridor gates.
Shoes are removed and deposited outside; cigarettes, lighters and any tobacco are not permitted.
Carry as little as possible; security checks are thorough, and small bags speed up the queue. Offerings like Ganga jal, flowers and bilva leaves are allowed.
Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →
Best time to visit & festivals
Kashi Vishwanath is a year-round pilgrimage, but its energy peaks on Shiva's calendar. Winter (October to March) is the most comfortable weather; the monsoon month of Shravan is the most spiritually charged and the most crowded.
| Festival | When | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivratri | Phalguna, February or March | The great night of Shiva and the temple's grandest festival; night-long vigil, special abhishekam and enormous queues. Peak |
| Shravan / Sawan month | July to August | The month dedicated to Shiva; every Monday (Sawan Somwar) lakhs of kanwariyas pour Ganga water on the lingam. The single busiest stretch of the year. Peak |
| Dev Deepawali | Kartik Purnima, November (15 days after Diwali) | Varanasi's ghats are lit with lakhs of lamps; a spectacular night to pair temple darshan with the riverfront. |
| Rangbhari Ekadashi | Phalguna, March | Marks Shiva bringing Parvati home to Kashi; the deity's palanquin procession and gulaal celebration, a distinctly Kashi festival. |
Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →
Nearby temples & tirths
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Tulsidas-founded Hanuman temple in south Varanasi, hugely popular on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Kaal Bhairav Temple
The fierce guardian (kotwal) of Kashi; tradition says his darshan completes a Kashi pilgrimage.
Vindhyavasini Devi, Mirzapur
Major Shakti Peeth on the Ganga, a common onward pilgrimage from Varanasi.
Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →
Where to stay
Most pilgrims stay in the old-city cluster of Godowlia, Dashashwamedh and Vishwanath Gali, all within a 5-10 minute walk of the corridor gates and the ghats. This is where the dharamshalas, ashrams and budget-to-midrange hotels concentrate, with simple rooms and vegetarian food; basic dharamshala rooms start around Rs 799 and modest hotels from roughly Rs 1500 (approx, and higher on festival days). Staying here lets you reach Mangala Aarti before dawn and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh on foot. For quieter, more scenic stays, Assi Ghat at the southern end of the ghats offers guesthouses and boutique hotels a short auto ride away; the Cantt/railway-station area suits those with early trains but is a 4-5 km ride from the temple.
Frequently asked questions
Kashi Vishwanath temple timings today
nearest railway station to Kashi Vishwanath temple
Kashi Vishwanath darshan booking and VIP ticket price
is Kashi Vishwanath open during Sawan / Shravan
dress code for Kashi Vishwanath sparsh darshan
Compiled from public sources including Shri Kashi Vishwanath official portal - Rituals · Shri Kashi Vishwanath official portal - Important Parvas · Wikipedia - Kashi Vishwanath Temple · PilgrimageTour - Kashi Vishwanath timings & entry fee. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.