Kashi Vishwanath Temple Timings: Darshan and Aarti Schedule

The temple's day at a glance

The band below draws the published schedule across 24 hours. Aartis are shown in maroon, darshan windows in gold, and closed hours hatched. When the page loads, a marker shows the current time in Varanasi.

Full daily schedule

The times above come from the rituals page of the official temple portal. Two things to note:

• The midday aarti window varies between official pages. The rituals page lists 11:30 AM to 12 noon; the booking page describes the Bhog Aarti as held between 11:15 AM and 12:20 PM. Plan around the wider window.
• Darshan pauses during aartis. While an aarti is performed in the sanctum, the general queue may stop moving or be held back. If you want uninterrupted darshan, avoid arriving just before an aarti.

Temple opening and Mangala Aarti

The temple opens in the small hours, at about 2:30 AM, to prepare for the Mangala Aarti from 3 to 4 AM. The official schedule states that ticket holders are permitted during this aarti. Tickets are limited and sell out, especially around festivals; book only through the official portal.

Morning darshan

General darshan opens after Mangala Aarti, at about 4 AM, and continues through the morning. Early morning is usually the calmest time for general darshan, although queues are never predictable in Kashi.

Midday Bhog Aarti

Around 11:30 AM the deity is offered bhog (a food offering) in the Bhog Aarti. Allow for the queue slowing around this time.

Afternoon darshan

From about 12 noon to 7 PM darshan continues. Afternoons can be less crowded on weekdays, but summer heat in April–June makes the open courtyards and lanes tiring. Carry water and plan rest.

Sapta Rishi Aarti

The Sapta Rishi Aarti begins at about 7 PM and is listed until 8:30 PM. It is performed by a group of seven priests and is one of the temple's most distinctive rituals.

Evening darshan

After Sapta Rishi Aarti, darshan resumes briefly until about 9 PM.

Shringar and Bhog Aarti

From 9 PM the deity is adorned in the Shringar Aarti. The rituals page gives a start time only.

Shayan Aarti and closing

The Shayan Aarti, at about 10:30 PM, ritually puts the deity to rest. The temple closes at about 11 PM.

When the schedule changes

The daily routine above is the normal pattern. It is often different on:

• Mahashivratri — the temple typically stays open for extended hours through the night. See Mahashivratri in Kashi.
• Mondays of Sawan — very large crowds; special arrangements are announced, and some services may be suspended. See Sawan in Varanasi.
• Eclipses — Hindu temples commonly close during a solar or lunar eclipse.
• Other festivals and VIP visits — timings and queue arrangements can be adjusted at short notice.

Best time to visit for darshan

For crowd patterns across the week and year, read our queue and crowd guide and best time to visit.