Temples in Varanasi

Religious sites and temples to visit in Varanasi

  • Must Visit

    Kashi Vishwanath Temple

    One of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in Varanasi, the holiest of all Shiva temples and a destination every Hindu pilgrim aspires to visit once in a lifetime.

  • Annapurna Devi Temple

    Important temple dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, traditionally visited along with Kashi Vishwanath.

  • Bharat Mata Temple

    A unique temple in Varanasi dedicated to Mother India, housing a detailed marble relief map of undivided India, inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936.

  • Durga Temple

    An 18th-century Nagara-style Durga temple beside the Durga Kund tank in Varanasi, known as the Monkey Temple and especially vibrant during Navratri.

  • Kaal Bhairav Temple

    The presiding guardian deity temple of Varanasi, dedicated to Kaal Bhairav, a fierce form of Shiva, unique for its tradition of offering alcohol as prasad.

  • Nepali Mandir

    A 19th-century pagoda-style temple built by the King of Nepal on Varanasi's ghats, modelled on Kathmandu's Pashupatinath.

  • New Kashi Vishwanath Temple (BHU)

    A towering 77-metre white marble Shiva temple within BHU campus, built by the Birla family and open to all castes since 1966.

  • Parshwanath Temple

    A revered Jain temple known for its intricate carvings and spiritual tranquility in the heart of Varanasi.

  • Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple (Leaning Temple)

    Varanasi's iconic leaning Shiva temple near Manikarnika Ghat, tilting 9 degrees and partially submerged during the Ganga floods.

  • Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

    A deeply beloved Hanuman temple in Varanasi founded by the saint Tulsidas, believed to remove all obstacles, and the site of a devastating 2006 bomb attack that did not deter devotees.

  • Tulsi Manas Mandir

    A marble temple in Varanasi built at the site where Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas, its walls inscribed with verses from the epic poem.

  • Vishalakshi Temple

    One of the 51 Shakti Peethas in Varanasi near Meer Ghat, dedicated to Goddess Vishalakshi where Sati's eyes are said to have fallen, completing the city's Shaiva-Shakta pilgrimage circuit.

Explore more about Varanasi