On this page
Our principles
- Useful first. Every page should answer the reader's question clearly and early.
- Accurate. We check facts against the best available sources and say when we can't confirm something.
- Transparent. We link to our sources and show when practical details were last verified.
- Respectful. We treat religious traditions with respect and describe them faithfully.
- Independent. We are not affiliated with the temple trust, and we never imply otherwise.
Fact-checking
- Practical details — timings, booking processes, fees, rules and services — are checked against the official temple portal. Where the portal is silent or ambiguous, we say so and advise readers to verify.
- Travel details — distances, stations, transport — are checked against government sources and maps and are labelled approximate.
- Historical claims are checked against reference works and published scholarship. Where accounts differ, we present the difference.
- Festival dates are published only after cross-checking a published panchang for Varanasi; otherwise we mark them "to be confirmed".
- When information could not be independently verified, we write that plainly and point to the official source.
What we never publish
- Invented timings, prices, ticket availability or rules
- Fake reviews, testimonials, ratings or credentials
- Claims of official status, partnership or endorsement
- Promises of guaranteed darshan, queue-free entry or ticket availability
Update dates
Time-sensitive pages carry a notice showing either:
- Last verified — the practical details were checked against a named official source on that date; or
- Last reviewed — the page was reviewed, but some details could not be confirmed against an official source (the page says which).
Every page also shows the date it was last updated.
Tradition, scripture and history
We distinguish between:
| Kind of statement | How we signal it |
|---|---|
| Religious belief and living tradition | "According to Hindu tradition…", "Temple tradition holds…" |
| Scripture | Naming the text, e.g. "the Shiva Purana describes…" |
| Historical evidence | "Historical sources describe…", with dates and caveats |
| Modern interpretation | Attributed to the interpreter |
Beliefs are never presented as scientific facts, and legends are never presented as proven history.
Sensitive subjects
Some historical subjects connected with the temple, including the Gyanvapi site, are the subject of legal proceedings. We summarise what historical sources describe and do not comment on matters before the courts.
Tools and review
We use digital research and writing tools, which can include AI writing assistants, to help research and draft content. Editors are responsible for every page: checking facts against sources, applying this policy, and correcting errors.
Corrections
Report errors via our contact page. We review every report, correct errors promptly and update the page's date. Significant corrections are noted on the page.
Advertising and affiliates
Editorial decisions are never influenced by advertisers or affiliate partners. See our affiliate disclosure.