Which temples should I visit near Kashi Vishwanath?
Annapurna Devi is steps away and traditionally visited with Vishwanath. Kal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi, is about 2 km north. Sankat Mochan Hanuman and the Durga Temple are in the south of the city, about 4–5 km away. Kashi Karvat, the Nepali Temple and Bharat Mata Mandir are also worth seeing.
On this page
Temples at a glance
| Temple | Deity | Approx. distance from Kashi Vishwanath | Why visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Devi | Annapurna, goddess of nourishment | Steps away | Traditionally visited with Vishwanath |
| Kashi Karvat | Shiva | A few minutes' walk | A linga far below street level |
| Nepali Temple | Shiva (Pashupatinath) | Under 1 km | Carved wooden Nepali-style temple |
| Kal Bhairav | Bhairava, guardian of Kashi | About 2 km | The kotwal of Kashi |
| Tilbhandeshwar | Shiva | About 2–3 km | The linga said to grow each year |
| Bharat Mata Mandir | Mother India | About 3 km | Marble relief map of India |
| Durga Temple | Durga | About 4 km | 18th-century temple and tank |
| Sankat Mochan | Hanuman | About 5 km | Tulsidas tradition; music festival |
Distances are approximate road or walking distances.
The classic route
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Start early. Deposit phone and bags in the official lockers before joining the queue.
Short walk in the temple lanes
Annapurna Devi TempleA few minutes' walk in the lanes beside Vishwanath; traditionally visited together.
Roughly 2 km — e-rickshaw or 25–30 min walk
Kal Bhairav TempleThe guardian of Kashi. Take an e-rickshaw or walk through Maidagin.
Roughly 2–3 km — e-rickshaw to Godowlia, then walk
Dashashwamedh GhatArrive well before sunset to find a place for the evening aarti.
On the ghat itself
Ganga AartiWatch from the steps or from a boat on the river.
Distances and times are rough estimates for planning. Lanes close to the temple are pedestrian-only and crowd levels vary widely.
See the one-day temple route and our list of 10 temples to visit in Varanasi.
All temple guides
- Kal BhairavKal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi: why Bhairava is called the kotwal of Kashi, the tradition behind the temple, how to visit with Kashi Vishwanath, and practical tips.
- Annapurna DeviAnnapurna Devi Temple beside Kashi Vishwanath: the goddess who feeds Kashi, the temple's history, the Annakut festival, and the statue returned from Canada in 2021.
- Sankat MochanSankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Varanasi: its association with Goswami Tulsidas, the annual music festival, what to expect and how to combine it with nearby temples.
- Durga TempleThe Durga Temple at Durgakund, Varanasi: the 18th-century temple beside its sacred tank, its red nagara-style architecture, Navratri crowds and nearby sights.
- Kashi KarvatKashi Karvat, the small temple near Kashi Vishwanath where the Shiva linga lies far below street level: its unusual traditions, how darshan works and what to know.
- TilbhandeshwarTilbhandeshwar Mahadev in Bhelupur, Varanasi: the Shiva linga that tradition says grows by a sesame seed each year, the temple's history and visiting tips.
- Nepali TempleThe Nepali Temple (Kathwala Mandir) at Lalita Ghat: a carved wooden temple in the Nepali style dedicated to Shiva as Pashupatinath, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
- Bharat Mata MandirBharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi: the temple to Mother India with a marble relief map instead of an idol, inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936, and how to visit.
- One-Day Temple RouteA practical one-day route linking Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna Devi and Kal Bhairav, ending at Dashashwamedh for the Ganga Aarti — with distances, timing and tips.
Frequently asked questions
Which temple is next to Kashi Vishwanath?
Annapurna Devi Temple is steps away, in the lanes beside Vishwanath.
How far is Kal Bhairav from Kashi Vishwanath?
About 2 km — around 10–20 minutes by e-rickshaw or 25–30 minutes on foot.
Is Sankat Mochan near Kashi Vishwanath?
It's about 5 km away, in the south of the city near BHU.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism — Varanasi (opens in a new tab)
Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh — Government source, checked September 2026
- List of Hindu temples in 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
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- One-Day Temple RouteA practical one-day route linking Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna Devi and Kal Bhairav, ending at Dashashwamedh for the Ganga Aarti — with distances, timing and tips.
- Kashi Pilgrimage GuideA practical Kashi pilgrimage guide: the traditional sequence of Ganga snan, Vishwanath, Annapurna and Kal Bhairav, key rituals, how long to stay and how to plan.
- 10 Temples to VisitTen temples to visit in Varanasi, from Kashi Vishwanath, Annapurna and Kal Bhairav to Vishalakshi, Sankat Mochan, the BHU Vishwanath temple and the Nepali Temple.
- GhatsA guide to the ghats of Varanasi: what a ghat is, the most important ghats from Assi to Panchganga, bathing and cremation ghats, boat rides, etiquette and a walking plan.
- Annapurna DeviAnnapurna Devi Temple beside Kashi Vishwanath: the goddess who feeds Kashi, the temple's history, the Annakut festival, and the statue returned from Canada in 2021.
- Kal BhairavKal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi: why Bhairava is called the kotwal of Kashi, the tradition behind the temple, how to visit with Kashi Vishwanath, and practical tips.