What style is Kashi Vishwanath Temple built in?
The present temple, built around 1780, follows the North Indian nagara tradition: a sanctum beneath a curvilinear spire (shikhara), with a gold-plated dome and spire that give it the name 'Golden Temple'. It is compact, surrounded by subsidiary shrines, and now set within the open courtyards of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
On this page
The nagara style
North Indian Hindu temples are commonly described as nagara in style. Their defining feature is the shikhara, a tall, curving spire rising above the sanctum (garbhagriha). Kashi Vishwanath's spire follows this form, its surface built up in horizontal courses that rise to a crowning ribbed stone (amalaka), a finial (kalash) and a flag.
Main elements
| Element | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Garbhagriha (sanctum) | The small inner chamber housing the Jyotirlinga, set in a silver-lined base according to widely published descriptions |
| Shikhara | The main spire above the sanctum, gold-plated |
| Dome | A second, gold-plated dome |
| Mandapa and courtyard | Space for devotees around the sanctum |
| Subsidiary shrines | Smaller shrines to other deities around the temple |
Scale
The temple is modest in size. It was built in the late 18th century in a densely built city, beside the site of the earlier temple, and never had the space of the great temple complexes of south India. Since 2021 the Dham corridor has surrounded it with open space for the first time in modern history.
The Gyanvapi well
North of the temple is the Gyanvapi well (Jnana Vapi, "well of wisdom"), sheltered by a pillared pavilion.
Gold
The spire and dome were plated with gold in the 1830s, from a donation by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the inner sanctum walls were gold-plated in 2022, according to news reports. See the Golden Temple.
Seeing the architecture
Phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple, so study the spire from the courtyards of the Dham or — for a sense of the whole — from a boat on the river.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
We have not found a reliable official figure for the spire's height, so we don't publish one. The temple is modest in size compared with its importance.
What is the architectural style of Kashi Vishwanath?
The North Indian nagara style, with a curvilinear shikhara above the sanctum.
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
- 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
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 GuideEverything about Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi: Jyotirlinga significance, history, the golden spire, the Dham corridor, darshan, timings, rules and nearby temples.
- HistoryExplore the history and significance of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, its Jyotirlinga tradition, reconstruction history and connection with Kashi.
- 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.