Visit These 9 Temples That Are Historic, Glorious & Awe-Inspiring When In The Holy City Of Varanasi

Varanasi has various names to its disposal, each one of them holding a significant value. It has been aptly named the city of temples due to the various holy shrines present in it. Although Varanasi is hailed as one of the 7 sacred cities of the Hindus and is said to be have been founded by Lord Shiva, people of all religions reside here. Since there are tons of temples in the city, here's a list of the best ones that you must visit ASAP: 

1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Kashi Vishwanath temple is regarded as one of the most important places of worship for Hindus. The temple is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlinga which is considered to be Lord Shiva’s manifestation called ‘Vishwanath’. This temple is also home to Jnana Vapi or the wisdom well and various other smaller temples. A trip to Varanasi is definitely incomplete without a visit here.

Location | Lahori Tola

2. Durga Temple

The Monkey temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is a beautiful nagara style red stone temple. According to the Puranas and legends the temple located in a rectangular shaped tank, embodies a statue of the goddess which is said to have appeared on its own and protects the city from external threat. Aggressive monkeys are a common sight here, so don’t let them outwit you!

Location | Durgakund Rd, Jawahar Nagar Colony, Bhelupur

3. Bharat Mata Temple 

A temple dedicated to our motherland, Bharat Mata temple is one of a kind where instead of traditional God statues, an undivided marble map of India adorns this temple. It's located in the Kashi Vidyapeeth college campus and was built by a freedom fighter, Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta. Make sure you visit this unique temple when in Varanasi.

Location | Vidyapeeth Road, Guru Nanak Nagar Colony, Chetganj

4. New Vishwanath Temple

Picture Credits: Sachin Yaduvanshi

Not to be confused with Kashi Vishwanath temple, New Vishwanath temple also known Shri Vishwanath Mandir or Birla temple is located in the Banaras Hindu University. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple has the tallest tower in the whole world known as a Shikhara. Birla temple is the home to 9 other temples and is made out of marble. 

Location | Banaras Hindu University Campus, Varanasi

5. Tulsi Manas Temple

Picture Credits: Tanmay Saha

Tulsi Manas temple holds a cultural and historical importance amongst Hindus as it is believed that Goswami Tulsidas wrote the epic, Ramcharitmanas here. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ram and is beautifully constructed out of marble with lush green gardens around it. Various images of Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman add to the beauty of this temple. When you visit this temple, you connect with God, culture and history all at once!

Location | Durga Kund Sankat Mochan Rd, Tulsi Manas Mandir Colony, Naria

6. Alamgir Mosque

Built by the muslim ruler Aurangzeb in 17th century, Alamgir mosque also known as Beni Madhav ka Darera, is located on Panchganga Ghat. The mosque is built on the ruins of an old Hindu temple making it a culmination of Hindu and Islamic architecture. And if you’re wondering, the name of this beautiful mosque was kept in accordance with the rulers' honorific title once he became the conqueror.

Location | Panchganga Ghat, Ghasi Tola

7. Kathwala Temple 

Kathwala temple famously known as Nepali Mandir, is made of terracotta, stone and wood and is a replica of the famous Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu. The temple was built by an exiled king of Nepal, Rana Bahadur Shah during his stay in Varanasi. Kathwala itself means wood and the wood used in its construction is termite-proof! To witness Nepali style of architecture, go here!

Location | Near Lalita Ghat, Lahori Tola

8. Sankat Mochan Temple

Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the Sankat Mochan temple is located on the banks of Pouranic Assi river. It is believed that Lord Hanuman is the reliever of troubles earning him the title ‘Sankat Mochan’ by Tulsidas. Whenever you visit this temple be sure to carry sweets like Besan ke ladoo or Boondi as offerings for the deity.

Location | Sankatmochan Saket Nagar Rd, Saket Nagar Colony

9.Tibetan Temple

Sarnath, located 13 Kms away from the city of Varanasi is home to this 20th century Tibetan temple which is maintained by Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese monks. Sarnath is hailed as a famous Buddhist pilgrimage and is visited by people from all over the world. The temple is decorated with Tibetan Buddhist paintings called, Thangska. Be sure to pay a visit to Sarnath to take a dip in the peaceful Buddhist culture.

Location | Sarnath

So explore these houses of worship in the holy city of Varanasi!