Varanasi is not an ordinary city; it is a maze of ancient temples, sacred lanes, invisible divine energies and timeless devotion. Most pilgrims think Varanasi is just about the Kashi Vishwanath temple. But the truth is, God Vishveshwara is never alone in Kashi. He is surrounded by hundreds of temples that together form a spiritual vortex, guiding seekers to inner purification and awakening.
The temples in Varanasi are not random; they stand together with deeper spiritual logic, making a powerful maze of divine energy in Varanasi. Their locations and importance are mentioned in Kashi Khand of the Skanda Purana.
If you are planning a trip to Varanasi or are already walking the sacred lanes of Kashi, below are the most important temples in Kashi that you must visit for a complete and meaningful trip.
Kaal Bhairav Temple
Kaal Bhairav, the fierce form of God Shiva, is the Kotwal (guardian) of Varanasi. According to the legend, after cutting Brahma’s fifth head, Kaal Bhairav carried the curse of Brahma-hatya (killing a Brahmin). He roamed all over the universe with Brahma’s skull stuck to his fingernail. The curse ended only when he reached Kashi. The skull fell from his finger, and he was freed.
God Shiva then ordered him to stay in Varanasi and protect the city forever.
So, every person visiting Varanasi must first seek blessings at the Kaal Bhairav temple and take his permission before starting their Kashi darshan yatra. This way, your spiritual energies become aligned with the energies of Kashi Kshetra (region), and your trip to Varanasi becomes successful. Skipping this temple feels like entering Kashi without introducing yourself to its guardian.
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Dhundi Vinayak Temple
Dhundi Vinayak is a small yet extremely powerful Ganesha temple hidden inside the narrow lanes near the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. This ancient temple has a large stone idol of God Ganesha. It is believed that one must first take blessings here before visiting the main Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
God Ganesha removes obstacles from your Kashi Yatra – not just external ones, but also inner resistance, emotional confusion, and fear. Although it’s located on a busy street, this temple is surprisingly easy to miss. Many pilgrims unknowingly walk past it. But those who seek his blessings are protected from all the obstacles.
Annapurna Mata Temple
The Annapurna Mata temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Kashi. It is dedicated to Annapurna Mata – the Goddess of food and nourishment. It is built in the classic Panchayatan style of temple architecture.
At the centre of this temple is the main shrine of Annapurna Mata. It is surrounded by smaller shrines of God Ganesha, Yantreshwar Mahadev, Dhan Kubera (God of wealth) and Surya Dev (Sun God) in four corners.
The Yantreshwar Mahadev shrine has an extremely rare Shivalinga, as the sacred geometric yantra is carved onto this Shivalinga. This temple complex also houses Goddess Kali, Ram Darbar, Hanuman ji, Radha Krishna, and more. At the Annapurna Bhojanalay, behind this temple, free food is served for all the pilgrims (timings 11 am to 3 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm)
Baba Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the spiritual heart of Varanasi and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of God Shiva in India. The present-day temple was built by Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century. It is crowned with beautiful golden shikharas (spires), and also called as the golden temple of Varanasi.
The Jyotirlinga inside this temple is small in size, yet its energy is powerful. This temple is the main site of pilgrimage for Hindus, who believe that visiting this temple grants Moksha – liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.
Are you planning a trip to Varanasi? Read my detailed Varanasi travel Guide that explains temples, ghats and divine experiences that you can have in your Varanasi trip.
Vishalakshi Shaktipeeth
Vishalakshi Devi is the most powerful Goddess in Varanasi. This temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeth temples in India. According to the Skanda Purana, this is the place where Sati’s earrings fell after her self-immolation. When you visit this temple, don’t miss the small Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of the goddess hidden inside the wall behind the main idol in this temple.
This temple also has some rare idols of Dandapani, Bhairava and Ganesha. In the right corner inside this temple is the Vishalaksheshwar Shivalinga, a rare manifestation of God Shiva that accompanies the goddess Vishalakshi Devi.
Varahi Mata Temple
Varahi Devi is the Gramdevi (guardian goddess) of Varanasi. She guards the Kashi Kshetra (Varanasi city) at night and rests during the daytime.
So, this temple opens only from 7 am to 9.30 am every day.
The Varahi Devi temple’s garbhagriha (inner sanctum) is underground, and we devotees can take darshan (her blessings) only through a small peephole above. From this angle, you can only see her crown and her feet, but you cannot look at her face or into her eyes. Varahi Devi is the fierce feminine energy of God Vishnu’s Varaha avatar. She has the face of a wild boar.
This same temple is also known as Panchsagar Shaktipeeth, and is one of the 51 Shaktipeeth temples in India. It is believed that Sati’s lower teeth have fallen here after her self-immolation.
- Temple timings: 7.00 am to 9.30 am
- Best time to visit: 8.30 am, the queue moves faster.
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Bindu Madhav Temple
The Bindu Madhav temple in Varanasi is blessed with God Vishnu’s eternal presence in Varanasi. When God Vishnu decided to settle in Kashi, he chose this sacred spot near the Panchganga Ghat as his final resting place. The God Vishnu’s idol inside this temple has a gentle smile and radiant eyes, which calm you instantly.
Aurangzeb destroyed the original Bindu Madhav temple and built the Alamgir mosque in its place. The Hindu priests and sages at that time took the idol of God Vishnu and hid it underwater near the Panchganga Ghat for many years, thus saving the sacred original idol of God Vishnu. Later, Chp. Shivaji Maharaj rebuilt a small temple next to the Alamgir mosque and reinstalled the sacred God Vishnu idol in this temple, which we visit today.
Gauri Kedareshwar Temple
This is one of the most serene temples in Varanasi. It is a replica of the Kedarnath Temple in the Himalayas. If you want to experience Kedarnath in Kashi, you must visit this temple. Inside the temple, God Shiva and Goddess Gauri are worshipped together in one single stone. It is a rare and powerful manifestation of Shiva and Shakti combined together in one stone.
As per Kashi Khand, Chapter 77, visiting Gauri Kedareshwar temple gives you punya equal to visiting the Himalayan Kedarnath temple seven times.
The evening aarti in this temple is an unforgettable experience. The drums, conches, aarti chants, and pure devotion transport you into another world.
A sage had advised Aurangzeb not to attack this temple. He still tried to attack the Nandi statue in this temple, but he was not successful. Aurangzeb’s scar is still visible on the back of the Nandi inside this temple.
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Durga Temple
The Durga Temple is a powerful Siddha Kshetra of Shakti in Varanasi.
Dedicated to Mata Kushmanda Devi, this temple is one of the nine Durga temples in Varanasi. In the 18th century, Rani Bhabani, the Queen of Natore (present-day Bangladesh) built this temple.
More deities inside the temple premises:
- Chand Bhairav (one of the Ashta Bhairavs)
- Mata Lakshmi
- Mata Saraswati
- Mata Kali
The main goddess in this temple gives you protection, strength and courage.
A sacred water pond called Durga Kunda lies right next to this temple. At the opposite end of this water pond is the Durga Vinayak Temple, an important God Ganesha shrine in Varanasi.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman
Built by Saint Tulsidas ji in the 16th century, Sankat Mochan Hanuman is one of the most loved and important temples in Kashi. Surrounded by a small reserved forest, it feels like a breath of fresh air in Varanasi city.
This is the temple where all fears melt away. When I visited here on a Saturday morning, locals were singing bhajans, while hundreds of youngsters recited Hanuman Chalisa from tiny books that are freely available in the temple. I also joined them, and it was such a divine experience!
The Divine Temples in Varanasi
Kashi is not just about the Kashi Vishwanath temple; it is much more. Many people visit Varanasi, but only a few slow down and actually get to experience the divinity that resides here. Kashi is not just a tourist destination to be visited. It is a place of divine awakening that is meant to be experienced slowly. Each temple here opens something within you – fear dissolves, obstacles end, clarity emerges, and silence deepens.
The most important temples in Kashi, listed above, are just the beginning. I have spent months studying sections of the Skanda Purana, tracing the exact locations and visiting hundreds of ancient temples in Varanasi. I combined my personal experience into a practical Kashi Darshan travel guide, which has information and exact locations of the 108 important temples in Varanasi, waiting for you to explore. Get it and begin your spiritual journey.
