What is the history of Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Historical sources describe a Vishweshwara temple in Kashi for many centuries. It was destroyed in 1194, rebuilt, damaged again, rebuilt in 1585 under Raja Todar Mal, and demolished in 1669 on Aurangzeb's orders. The present temple was built around 1780 under Ahilyabai Holkar. Ranjit Singh gave gold for its spire in the 1830s, and the Dham corridor opened in 2021.
On this page
A timeline
| Date | Event (as described by historical sources) |
|---|---|
| 1st millennium BCE | Kashi emerges as a major city and kingdom; one of the sixteen mahajanapadas in early Buddhist texts |
| 7th century CE | The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang describes many Hindu temples in Varanasi and a large image of Maheshvara (Shiva) |
| 1194 | Temples of Varanasi, including Vishweshwara's, destroyed by the army of Muhammad of Ghor |
| 13th century | Temple rebuilt, according to some accounts by a Gujarati merchant; a mosque is also recorded on the earlier site |
| c. 1490s | Temple destroyed again under Sikandar Lodi, according to historical accounts |
| 1585 | Rebuilt during Akbar's reign with the support of Raja Todar Mal, associated with the scholar Narayan Bhatt |
| 1669 | Demolished on the orders of Aurangzeb; the Gyanvapi Mosque built on part of the site |
| c. 1780 | Present temple built nearby under Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore |
| 1828 | A colonnade built in the Gyanvapi precinct by Baiza Bai of Gwalior, according to historical accounts |
| 1830s | Maharaja Ranjit Singh donates gold to plate the spire and dome (commonly dated 1835) |
| 1983 | Management passes to a board of trustees under an Uttar Pradesh state law |
| 2019 | Foundation stone of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham laid (8 March) |
| 2021 | Kashi Vishwanath Dham inaugurated (13 December) |
| 2022 | Inner walls of the sanctum gold-plated through a donation, according to news reports |
Dates before the modern period come from chronicles and later histories and are not always consistent. The detailed pages below explain the evidence.
Explore the history
- Ancient HistoryWhat scripture, archaeology and early travellers tell us about ancient Kashi and the worship of Vishweshwara, and where tradition and historical evidence differ.
- Jyotirlinga HistoryHow the Jyotirlinga tradition developed, what the Shiva Purana and the Jyotirlinga Stotram say about Kashi, and the tradition of the linga's survival through history.
- Ahilyabai HolkarWho was Ahilyabai Holkar, why she rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath Temple around 1780, and her wider legacy of temples, ghats and pilgrim facilities across India.
- Temple ReconstructionA careful account of the destruction and rebuilding of Kashi Vishwanath Temple from 1194 to 1780, what historical sources say, and where accounts differ.
- Kashi Vishwanath CorridorThe Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor explained: why it was built, when it opened, what it contains, the temples rediscovered during construction and tips for visitors.
- ArchitectureA visitor's guide to Kashi Vishwanath Temple architecture: the nagara-style spire, the gold-plated domes, the sanctum and the shrines and features around it.
- Golden TempleWhy Kashi Vishwanath is called the Golden Temple of Varanasi: Maharaja Ranjit Singh's gift of gold in the 1830s, the 2022 sanctum gilding and the golden spire.
Frequently asked questions
Who built Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
The present temple was built around 1780 under Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. Earlier temples on or near the site were built and rebuilt over many centuries.
How old is Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
The present building dates to around 1780. Worship of Vishweshwara in Kashi is far older; historical sources describe temples here many centuries earlier, and tradition holds the shrine to be eternal.
How many times was Kashi Vishwanath destroyed?
Historical accounts describe destruction in 1194, again in the late 15th century and in 1669, with other damage in between. Accounts differ on some episodes.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple (encyclopaedia entry with cited references) (opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia — Reference work, checked September 2026
- History of Varanasi (encyclopaedia entry with cited references) (opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia — Reference work, checked September 2026
- Banaras: City of Light — Diana L. Eck (Knopf, 1982; Columbia University Press reprint) (opens in a new tab)
Columbia University Press — Scholarly source, checked September 2026
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — official web portal (opens in a new tab)
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — Official temple source, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- Temple GuideEverything about Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi: Jyotirlinga significance, history, the golden spire, the Dham corridor, darshan, timings, rules and nearby temples.
- Kashi VishwanathKashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga in Varanasi: what makes it unique among the twelve, the traditions of Kashi and liberation, and how to plan darshan today.
- About KashiAn introduction to Kashi (Varanasi): its names and boundaries, its long history, its neighbourhoods, and the rhythms of daily life along the Ganga.
- Why Kashi Is SacredWhy Hindus regard Kashi as sacred: Shiva's city, the promise of liberation (moksha), the Ganga, the Kashi Khanda's sacred geography and how belief shapes the city.
- Ahilyabai HolkarWho was Ahilyabai Holkar, why she rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath Temple around 1780, and her wider legacy of temples, ghats and pilgrim facilities across India.
- Temple ReconstructionA careful account of the destruction and rebuilding of Kashi Vishwanath Temple from 1194 to 1780, what historical sources say, and where accounts differ.