Destruction and Reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath Temple

1194: the first recorded destruction

In 1194 the army of Muhammad of Ghor, led by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, defeated the Gahadavala king Jayachandra. Historical sources describe the destruction of many temples of Varanasi in the campaign that followed, including the temple of Vishweshwara.

The 13th to 15th centuries

• The temple was rebuilt during the 13th century; some accounts attribute this to a Gujarati merchant during the reign of Iltutmish.
• A mosque associated with Razia Sultan (1236–1240) is recorded on the site of the earlier temple.
• The rebuilt temple was damaged under the Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur and destroyed again under Sikandar Lodi (late 15th century), according to historical accounts.

1585: Todar Mal and Narayan Bhatt

During the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, the temple was rebuilt with the support of Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's finance minister. The scholar Narayan Bhatt of Varanasi is associated with the project. This temple is described as a large structure.

1669: demolition

In 1669 the temple was demolished on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on part of the site. Contemporary and later sources record the event; some date the completion of the mosque later.

c. 1780: the present temple

After more than a century without a major temple, the present Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built around 1780 under Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, beside the earlier site.

Later additions

• 1828 — a colonnade in the Gyanvapi precinct, attributed to Baiza Bai of Gwalior.
• 1830s — gold for the spire and dome donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. See the Golden Temple.
• 1983 — management passes to a board of trustees under an Uttar Pradesh state law.
• 2021 — the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor opens.