ASI Protected
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
18th Century CE (current structure)
One of the most famous Hindu temples, dedicated to Shiva as Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe). The current structure was built in 1780 by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The gold plating on the tower was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1839. The temple sits on the western bank of the Ganga in the ancient city of Varanasi.
Source: Aitihasik heritage database. Use this as a field guide and verify sensitive historical claims before citation.
Details
- Dynasty
- Misc Historic
- Style
- Nagara
- Primary Deity
- Shiva (Vishwanath - Lord of the Universe)
- Languages
- Hindi, Sanskrit
- Scripts
- Devanagari, Sanskrit
Historical Significance
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Located in Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities. Central to the concept of moksha (liberation) in Hinduism. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was completed in 2021
Architectural Features
Gold-plated spire (800 kg of gold by Ranjit Singh)Three domes in Nagara styleSmall Jyotirlinga in the sanctumGyan Vapi (Well of Knowledge)New Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (2021)