| 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 / 25.3107750°N 83.0106139°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mandir |
| Creator |
|
| Completed | 1780 |
| Demolished |
|
| Website | |
| shrikashivishwanath.org | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
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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), meaning Lord of the Universe.
The original temple, called the Adi Vishveshwar Temple, was demolished by Mohammad of Ghor during his invasion of India. Subsequently, the template was rebuilt by Man Singh I and Todar Mal under Emperor Akbar. According to several historical accounts, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of the Hindu temple in 1669.[1] Subsequently, in 1678, the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on its site,[2] but Hindu pilgrims continued to visit the remnants of the temple.[1] The current structure was constructed on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780.[3]
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.[4][5] It has become one of the most visited Hindu temples in India, with an average 45,000 pilgrims per day in 2023.[6] The total assets of the temple, were estimated to be more than ₹6 crores in 2024.[7]
- ^ a b Desai, Madhuri (2017). Banaras Reconstructed: Architecture and Sacred Space in a Hindu Holy City. University of Washington Press. ISBN 9780295741604.
- ^ Akhil Bakshi (2004). Between heaven and hell: travels through Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and India: an account of the expedition hands across the borders. Odyssey Books.
- ^ "Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple - A Brief history".
- ^ "With 10-fold jump in tourist footfall, Varanasi balances tradition and change". deccan herald. PTI. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishwanath Corridor". The Indian Express. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "3-fold rise in average footfall at KVT". The Times of India. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "India's richest temples and their net worth!". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 January 2024.