VARANASI

Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple is one of Kashi’s most revered ancient shrines, dedicated to Kaal Bhairav, the fierce form of Shiva regarded in tradition as the Kotwal, or guardian, of the city. Local belief holds that no one can enter or remain in Kashi without seeking his permission, giving this compact old-city temple a significance that goes far beyond its size. Inside, the presiding deity appears as a striking silver-faced image, surrounded by the sounds of bells, chants and constant devotion. Devotees also receive the sacred Bhairav Raksha Sutra, a protective thread, and offer mustard oil, black sesame and flowers as part of their worship.

Shri Mahamrityunjay Mahadev Temple in Daranagar is one of Varanasi’s revered Shiva shrines, where Shiva is worshipped as Mrityunjay—the Conqueror of Death. The temple’s most distinctive feature is the Dhanvantari Koop, an ancient sacred well whose water is traditionally believed to carry healing properties and to draw from underground streams. Devotees come here to offer prayers and recite the Mahamrityunjay Mantra, seeking protection from illness, suffering and untimely death. For a traveller, this is a quieter side of Kashi: a place where an ancient belief is still part of everyday worship rather than simply something preserved in history.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of Hinduism’s twelve Jyotirlingas, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the “Ruler of the Universe.” The shrine sits at the heart of old Kashi, where centuries of pilgrimage continue through the lanes leading toward the Ganga. The experience changed dramatically with the opening of Kashi Vishwanath Dham in December 2021: the expanded complex grew from an earlier temple area of about 3,000 square feet to roughly 5 lakh square feet and created a direct connection between the temple and the river. Today, a visit brings together two sides of Kashi at once—the immense scale of a modern pilgrimage complex and the deeply personal experience of standing before one of Shiva’s most revered shrines.

Dashashwamedh Ghat is Varanasi’s most prominent riverfront, sitting close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple and serving as the main setting for the city’s grand evening Ganga Aarti. As dusk settles, priests gather on raised platforms with brass lamps, incense, flowers and conch shells, while the sounds of bells and chants carry across the river. The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes, but the ghat is more than an evening spectacle: during the day, pilgrims bathe and pray at the Ganga, boats move along the riverfront and the steps remain busy with the everyday life of Kashi. For a first visit, this is one of the places where the sacred and the ordinary become visible side by side.

Manikarnika Ghat, known traditionally as the Mahashamshan or Great Cremation Ground, is one of Varanasi’s holiest sites associated with Hindu funeral rites. Cremations take place here around the clock, and Hindu tradition holds that those who are cremated in Kashi can attain moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. The ghat is not a performance or tourist spectacle; it is a working sacred place where families carry out final rites for their loved ones. For travellers, the right way to experience Manikarnika is with distance and quiet respect, understanding that what you are seeing is part of an ongoing religious tradition rather than a staged attraction.

Assi Ghat sits at the southern edge of Varanasi, where the Assi River meets the Ganga. It is best known for Subah-e-Banaras, a sunrise gathering where Vedic chants, classical music, yoga and prayers unfold as the riverfront wakes up. By day, the mood becomes more relaxed: pilgrims and locals use the steps, students and travellers gather around nearby cafés and guesthouses, and boats move quietly along the Ganga. Assi offers a different side of Kashi from the crowded central ghats—a place where you can begin the day with ritual, stay for the river and simply watch the city come to life.

Shri Tulsi Manas Mandir is a Lord Rama temple in Varanasi’s Durgakund area, built in 1964 at a site historically associated with Goswami Tulsidas and his devotional work. Its most distinctive feature is inside: verses from the Ramcharitmanas are carved into the white marble walls, turning the epic into something you can read as you walk through the temple. The walls and upper galleries also depict scenes from the Ramayana, while the surrounding gardens give the complex a quieter feel than Varanasi’s busiest pilgrimage sites. For travellers, this is a rare place where literature, devotion and architecture come together—you are not simply looking at a temple, you are walking through a visual rendering of one of India’s best-known devotional epics.

Shri Durga Temple, also known as Durga Kund Mandir, is an 18th-century shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga and one of the most distinctive temples in southern Varanasi. Its deep red exterior and tiered Nagara-style shikhara stand directly beside the sacred rectangular pond that gives the temple its name. Local tradition holds that the image of Goddess Durga here is swayambhu—self-manifested rather than made by human hands—adding another layer of significance to the shrine. Around the temple, the colour, stonework and presence of the kund make the visit feel very different from the larger pilgrimage complexes elsewhere in Kashi.

Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of Varanasi’s revered Hanuman shrines, traditionally associated with Goswami Tulsidas, who is said to have established the temple in the early 16th century. The name Sankat Mochan means “reliever of troubles,” and devotees come here to pray, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and offer sweets, flowers and oil lamps. Inside the sanctum, Hanuman’s idol is traditionally adorned with sindoor and marigold garlands, while Tuesdays and Saturdays bring especially large crowds. The temple also has a remarkable cultural side: it hosts the annual Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, bringing classical music and dance into the same space as daily devotion.

Sarnath's Dhamek Stupa stands about 10 km northeast of Varanasi at one of Buddhism's most important pilgrimage sites. This is the Deer Park where Gautama Buddha, after attaining enlightenment, delivered his first sermon to five disciples and set the Wheel of Dharma in motion. The present Dhamek Stupa rises 43.6 metres above the archaeological ruins, with carved stone panels on its lower section and layers of Buddhist history surrounding it. Sarnath holds another remarkable connection to modern India: the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka, now the basis of India's National Emblem, was discovered here and is preserved in the nearby Archaeological Museum. For a traveller, the experience is less about seeing one monument and more about standing in a place where a teaching that shaped millions of lives first began to spread.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, is one of Varanasi’s most remarkable large-scale landmarks. Its main campus covers about 1,300 acres, with tree-lined roads, monumental buildings and a mix of academic, cultural and religious spaces. At its heart stands the New Vishwanath Temple, a white-marble Shiva temple rising about 77 metres, while Bharat Kala Bhavan houses roughly 1 lakh works and antiquities across its galleries. For travellers, BHU feels less like a single attraction and more like a city within the city—a place where students, scholarship, art and devotion continue side by side.