Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city.

More than the Ghat’s and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of Varanasi.

Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most famous temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganges and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples. The main deity is known by the name Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara meaning Ruler of the universe. The temple town, which claims to be the oldest living city in the world, with 3500 years of documented history, is also called Kashi and hence the temple is popularly called Kashi Vishwanath temple. It has been destroyed and re-constructed a number of times in the history. The last structure was demolished by Aurangazeb, who constructed the Gyanvapi Mosque on its site. The current structure was built on an adjacent site by the Maratha monarch, Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780. Since 1983, the temple has been managed by the government of Uttar Pradesh. During the religious occasion of Shivratri, Kashi Naresh (King of Kashi) is the chief officiating priest and no other person or priest is allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum. It is only after he performs his religious functions that others are allowed to enter.

A simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and bhakti. Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga has a very special and unique significance in the spiritual history of India. Tradition has it that the merits earned by the darshan of other Jyotirlinga scattered in various parts of India accrue to devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The temple has been visited by many great personalities- Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, Adi Shankaracharya, Goswami Tulsidas, Gurunanak, Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur and several other spiritual personalities. The Kashi Vishwanath temple attracts visitors not only from India but abroad as well and thereby symbolizes man’s desire to live in peace and harmony with one another.

In 1839, Two domes of the temple were covered by gold donated by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Ministry of cultures & Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. took keen interest for gold plating of third dome of temple.

The temple opens daily at 2.30 a.m. Mangala Aarati takes place between 3 to 4 a.m. The ticket holders are permitted to join.

From 4 to 11 a.m: General darshan is allowed.

11.30 to 12 a.m: Mid-day Bhog Aarati is done.

Again 12 noon to 7 p.m: Devotees are free to have darshan.

From 7 to 8.30 p.m: Evening Sapta Rishi Aarati is done after which darshan is again possible until 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts.

After 9 p.m: Darshan from outside only is possible.

Shayana Aarti starts at 10.30 p.m. The temple closes at 11p.m.

The name Varanasi was derived from tract of land lying in between confluence of river Varuna and Asi. Hence Varun-asi or Varanasi. Varuna and Asi join the Ganges on the north and south borders of the city.

The Varuna river is a minor tributary of the Ganga, which is named after the god Varuna, the god of water. The Varuna river rises from Melhum at Phulpur in Allahabad district at 25°27′N, 82°18′E. It flows east-to-southeast for 106 kilometers via Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Jaunpur, and enters Varanasi in order to finally merge in Ganga at Sarai Mohana.

The rivulet that borders the city of Varanasi at its south and joins Ganga at Asi Ghat is known as Assi or Asi river.

There are numerous references to the Asi Ghat in the ancient literatures. It was at the Asi Ghat where the famous Indian poet saint, Tulsi Das had written the much-celebrated Ramacharitmanas.

Varanasi is said to be located between two confluences: one of Ganga and Varuna, and other of Ganga and Asi that always remained a rivulet rather than a river. The distance between these two confluences is around 2.5 miles. The pilgrims regard a round trip between these two places as a religious ritual, which ends with a visit to a Sakshi Vinayak Temple, and is called Pancha-kroshi Yatra (a five mile journey).

According to the Padma Puran, the Varuna and the Asi are two holy rivers, and between them is a holy land and there is no other place more excellent on earth, according to ancient texts.

Varanasi is situated between the Varuna, which flows into the Ganga on the north and the Asi, which joins the Ganga on the south. In the Rig Veda, the city was referred to as Kasi or Kashi, which means ‘the luminous one’.

There are references of Asi Ghat in Matsya Purana, Agni Purana, Kurma Purana and Padma Purana. According to puranas, Goddess Durga had thrown her sword after slaying the demon Shumbha–Nishumbha. The place where the sword had fallen resulted in a big stream known as the Asi river. Asi Ghat is located at the confluence of the river Ganga and Asi.

Long ago, Varuna was recognised as the lifeline of Varanasi. The pure and medicinal properties of the water nourished various types of herbs on its banks and the river maintained the water level of the city. The farmers of this area were dependent on its water for drinking, irrigation and cattle purposes. In the present scenario, the situation has changed drastically—the Varuna is one of the most polluted rivers of India, which is regularly ailing and becoming a garbage tank day-by-day.

The word ‘ Kashi ’ originated from the word ‘ Kas ’ which means to shine. Steeped in tradition and mythological legacy, Kashi is the ‘original ground ‘ created by Shiva and Parvati, upon which they stood at the beginning of time. Varanasi is the microcosm of India, a city of traditional classical culture, glorified and sanctified by religion, it has always attracted a large number of pilgrims and worshippers from time immemorial. To be in Varanasi is an experience in itself; an experience in self discover and an eternal harmony of the body and soul.

In the Rig-Veda, an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns, the city is referred to as Kāśī (Kashi) from the Sanskrit verbal root kaś- “to shine”, making Varanasi known as “City of Light”, the “luminous city as an eminent seat of learning”. The name was also used by pilgrims dating from Buddha’s days.

It is said that the first Siva Jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light, came through the earth here and flared into the sky. Therefore Varanasi is also called Kasi, “City of Light.” Kashi is mentioned in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Puranas, which date back 5,000 years, as the foremost city of Siva. The Muslims later gave it the name Benares. At Independence, the old name, Varanasi, was given to the city again.

Religious texts use many epithets to refer to Varanasi, such as Kāśikā (Sanskrit: “the shining one”), Avimukta (Sanskrit: “never forsaken” by Shiva), Ānandavana (Sanskrit: the forest of bliss), and Rudravāsa (Sanskrit: the place where Rudra/Śiva resides)

Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Banaras.

One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the Shakti Peethas and one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. It is recorded in scriptures  that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.

The Ganges, which normally flows southeast, reverses its course and flows north for a while at Varanasi, which is considered very auspicious. There is a five-mile parikrama path that goes around this sacred city. There are 81 bathing ghats and other holy kunds, or sacred tanks.

Many saints and sages have come to Varanasi including Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Buddha, Sankaracarya, and Sri Ramanuja. Sri Caitanya met Sanatana Gosvami here and converted Prakasananda Sarasvati and his followers here.

In upper part of town, Maharaja of Varanasi’s palace used to reside. But he has later built his residence, Ramnagar fort, on the opposite side of the river.