Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. The presiding deity is known by the names Vishwanath and Vishweshwara (IAST: Viśvanātha and Viśveśvara), literally meaning Lord of the Universe.
| Kashi Vishwanath Temple | |
|---|---|
Entrance to present temple built by Ahilyabai Holkar in the 1780. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Varanasi |
| Deity | Vishveshwara or Vishwanath (Shiva) |
| Festivals | Maha Shivaratri |
| Governing body | Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust |
| Location | |
| Location | Varanasi |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Country | India |
Location in Varanasi#Location within Uttar Pradesh Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Uttar Pradesh) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 25°18′38.79″N 83°0′38.21″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mandir |
| Creator |
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| Completed | 1780 |
| Demolished |
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| Website | |
| shrikashivishwanath.org | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
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According to several historical accounts, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669. Subsequently, the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on its site in 1678, but Hindu pilgrims continued to visit the remnants of the temple. The current structure was constructed on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780.
In 2021, a major redevelopment of the temple complex was completed, and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor connecting the Ganga river with the temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, leading to a many-fold increase in visitors. It has become one of the most visited Hindu temples in India, with an average footfall of 45,000 per day in 2023. The total assets of the temple, were estimated to be more than ₹6 crores in 2024.