Why is Kashi Vishwanath called the Golden Temple?
Because its spire and dome are plated with gold. Historical accounts record that Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Sikh Empire, donated a large quantity of gold — commonly cited as about one tonne — for the plating in the 1830s (often dated 1835). In 2022 the inner sanctum walls were also gold-plated through a donation.
On this page
Ranjit Singh's gift
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), founder of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab, was a notable patron of religious sites of several faiths. Historical accounts record that in the 1830s he donated a large quantity of gold to plate the spire and dome of Kashi Vishwanath. The amount is commonly cited as about one tonne, and the donation is often dated to 1835; some accounts credit it as made through Maharani Datar Kaur.
The gold today
The golden spire and dome are the temple's most recognisable features and gave it the popular name "Golden Temple of Varanasi". In 2022, according to contemporary news reports, the inner walls of the sanctum were also gold-plated, funded by a donation from a devotee who remained anonymous; reports put the gold at around 60 kg.
Not to be confused with…
The Golden Temple in Amritsar (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest shrine of Sikhism and unrelated to Kashi Vishwanath, apart from the shared link to Ranjit Singh, who also gilded the Harmandir Sahib.
Seeing the golden spire
- From the courtyards of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham
- From a boat on the Ganga, where the corridor now opens a view to the temple
- In early morning or late afternoon light, when the gold is at its warmest
Frequently asked questions
How much gold is on Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Ranjit Singh's donation in the 1830s is commonly cited as about one tonne. News reports in 2022 put the gold used to plate the sanctum walls at around 60 kg. These are reported figures, not official measurements.
Is Kashi Vishwanath related to the Golden Temple in Amritsar?
No. They are different shrines of different faiths, though Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a patron of both.
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.
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