Are you planning to travel to the Spiritual Capital of India with your friends/family for a peaceful retreat? Explore a number of beautiful tourist places in Varanasi with your loved ones with a luxurious taxi service in Varanasi. Along with thousands of beautifully illuminated temples, ghats, bustling bazaars in the narrowest and busiest alleys (Banaras ki Galliyan), and everything else, Banaras is more than just popular for its sarees and fast food corners.
Seek the blessings of Lord Shiva in the Holy City of Kashi to gain protection with Chiku Cab, the best cab service in Varanasi. Hence, we have listed the following top 10 most popular temples in Varanasi, which are visited by millions of devotees from around the world every year.
This is one of the blogs from our series on the best places in Varanasi for local sightseeing, including the top temples, ghats and the popular cuisines like Malaiyo, among other popular attractions within the City of Lights. We love to help you explore new places and make memories with your loved ones.
Visit the Most Popular Temples in Varanasi with Chiku Cab
Hire one of the most reliable cab services in Varanasi with Chiku Cab to explore some of the best places to visit in Varanasi with your friends and family. Here are a few of the most visited temples in Varanasi for
1 – Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham – Dedicated to Lord Shiva
- 📍 Location/Address: Near Vishwanath Temple, Visheshwarganj, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 02:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Mangala Aarti: 03:00 AM to 04:00 AM (Sparsh Darshan – Hindu Devotees can touch the Shivalingam)
- Bhog Aarti: 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Saptarshi Aarti: 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM
- Shayan Aarti: 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM
- Varanasi Airport to Kashi Vishwanath Temple Distance: 26.1 km
(Travelling Time: 1 hour 15 minutes)
Varanasi/Kashi/Banaras is known as the City of Lord Shiva, as it is believed to have been established by Mahadev himself. This temple is considered to be one of the most popular and holiest of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, which witnesses heavy footfall of devotees from all parts of India and the world throughout the year. Expect the Vishwanath Mandir to be extremely busy, especially for the Aartis, Mondays, Maha Shivaratri, and the Saavan month, as well as other festivals like Dev Deepawali. Temple Darshan during festivities must be planned with ample time, as it can take several hours to pay a visit to the Jyotirlinga.
Book a taxi service in Varanasi for Kashi Vishwanath Temple darshan with Chiku Cab and get assured discounts, cashback and offers, only on our official mobile app.
2 – Annapurna Devi Temple – Goddess of food and nourishment
- 📍 Location/Address: Vishwanath Temple, Visheshwarganj, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04:00 AM to 11:30 AM (Morning)
07:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Evening) - 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 04:00 AM
- Free Food Distribution: 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM
- Evening Aarti: 05:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Get an affordable taxi booking for Annapurna Devi Temple, Varanasi, with Chiku Cab, as it is one of the ancient Hindu temples dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, the provider of food and nourishment for everyone. Located just next to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Temple, the temple welcomes hundreds of devotees, who are served free meals daily in this temple, along with the needy ones. Being one of the most famous places in Varanasi, you cannot afford to miss this temple on your trip to the city!
3- Kaal Bhairav Temple – Guardian deity of Varanasi
- 📍 Location/Address: Golghar, Bhaironath, Ghasi Tola, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 05:00 AM to 01:30 PM (Morning)
04:30 PM to 09.30 PM (Evening) - 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 04:00 AM or 05:00 AM
- Evening Aarti: 07:00 PM to 08:00 PM
One of the oldest temples dedicated to the Kala Bhairava Avatar of Lord Shiva, the guardian deity of Varanasi. Hence, he is termed Kashi ke Kotwal, or the Chief of Police of Varanasi. Lakhs of devotees visit this temple on a daily basis to seek his blessings to protect themselves from the negative forces and adversities. Being one of the most popular places to visit in Varanasi with family, it is considered a must to visit his temple to get blessings before exploring Kashi. Hire a local taxi in Varanasi for a Kaal Bhairav Mandir visit with Chiku Cab and make your trip a comfortable one.
4- Maa Vishalakshi Temple – Shakti Peeth of Goddess Parvati
- 📍 Location/Address: Shri Kashi Vishalakshi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple, Kashi Lahori Tola near Meer Ghat, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04:30 AM to 11:00 AM
05:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 05:00 AM
- Evening Aarti: 07:00 PM
Considered one of the famous 51 Shaktipeethas in India, this site is dedicated to Goddess Vishalakshi, which is the place where one of Sati’s eyes fell after her self-immolation. The term ‘Vishalakshi’ refers to big eyes, and people worship her with a divine Yantram made by Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself. Visit here to seek her blessings for your health, wealth and happiness.
5- Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple – Known for prayers of long life
- 📍 Location/Address: Maha Mritunjay Rd, Daranagar, Kotwali, Bagh, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04.00 AM to 12.00 AM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 05:30 AM
- Evening Aarti: 06:30 PM
- Shayan Aarti: 11:30 PM
One of the holiest places in Varanasi, the Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple is known for its divine protection to protect its devotees from illness and death. The famous Dhanvantri Koop (a sacred well) is known to possess water, which helps relieve the health issues of its devotees. The story behind this well/koop is quite astonishing. Vaidya Dhanvantri, the God of Ayurveda, is known to have blessed this divine well with his knowledge and powers of medicine, along with his medicinal herbs, which made it have a healing capability for various illnesses and sufferings. Chant the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra when you reach the Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir with your loved ones, with a local taxi in Varanasi for added comfort.
6- Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Temple – Ancient Shiva temple; the lingam grows every year
- 📍 Location/Address: Pandey Haveli, Bhelupur, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04:30 AM to 09:00 PM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Mangala Aarti: 04:30 AM
- Shayan Aarti: 08:30 PM
A historic temple in Kashikhand, the Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev is one of the most popular temples in Varanasi, which is known to grow by the size of a til (sesame seed) every year. The Shiva lingam is thought to have emerged by itself (Swayambhu) at least 2500 years ago, which is now as high as around 3.5 feet, while its diameter is approximately 3 feet. Hence, this 18th-century temple is among the Varanasi cultural heritage sites, which you can visit with Chiku Cab’s local sightseeing taxi in Varanasi.
7- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple – Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, founded by Tulsidas
- 📍 Location/Address: Saket Nagar Colony, Sankat Mochan, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04:30 AM to 12:00 PM
03:00 PM to 12:00 AM (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
03:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Other Days)
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 04:30 AM onwards
- Evening Aarti: 08:00 PM onwards
Are you a bhakt of Bajrang Bali? Visit the temple of Lord Hanuman in the Sankatmochan Temple, founded by Goswami Tulsidas, to seek Lord Hanuman’s and Rama’s divine blessings. Popular for its events and festivals, you can witness the peaceful environment with a lot of greenery. Take your family to this blissful place, located south of the sacred Assi River, which is also home to hundreds, if not thousands, of monkeys in the region. This temple is located close to Durgakund, along with various other beautiful temples nearby. Book a cab in Varanasi for a visit to Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir with Chiku Cab for a comfortable and luxurious ride.
8- Durga Kund Temple – Famous red-colored temple dedicated to Goddess Durga
- 📍 Location/Address: Durgakund, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 05:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Morning)
04:00 PM to 09:00 PM (Evening)
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Mangala Aarti: 05:00 AM
- Bhog Aarti: 12:00 PM noon
- Sandhya Aarti: 07:00 PM
- Shayan Aarti: 11:00 PM
The famous Durga Mandir at Durgakund is one of the most popular places for showcasing a range of cultural events, including the performance of Classical music by some of the best names in this field. Book a taxi to Durga Kund Mandir, Varanasi, for Maa Durga provides her devotees with strength and courage.
9- Tulsi Manas Temple – Where Goswami Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas
- 📍 Location/Address: near Jalan’s, Durgakund – Sankatmochan Road, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 05:30 AM to 12:00 PM
03:30 PM to 09:00 PM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Morning Aarti: 06:00 AM
- Evening Aarti: 04:00 PM
A temple dedicated to Lord Rama, which was built in 1964, is the place where Goswami Tulsidas wrote the epic Ramcharitmanas. This beautiful temple is made up of white marble and has beautiful gardens, as well as the Ramacharitmanas inscribed on its walls. So hire a local taxi in Varanasi for Tulsi Manas Mandir sightseeing and get an opportunity to avail of discounts and cashback with the official Chiku Cab mobile application.
10- ISKCON Temple Varanasi – For devotees of Lord Krishna
- 📍 Location/Address: Anupam Building, Durgakund Rd, Near Gurudham Chauraha, Varanasi
- ⏱️ Opening and Closing Time: 04:00 AM to 01:00 PM
04:00 PM to 08:00 PM
- 🔔 Aarti Schedule:
- Mangala Aarti: 04:30 AM
- Rajbhog Aarti: 12:00 PM (noon)
- Sandhya Aarti: 07:00 PM
Dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, you can visit the ISKCON temple for spiritual enlightenment, learn more about our cultural heritage, and support local businesses. The ISKCON Temple believes in spreading the teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness Temple aims to enlighten the devotees with the principles and philosophies of Lord Krishna. So if you are in Varanasi, this is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit near you within 20 km, located in the heart of the city.
In case you are looking for more temples to visit in Varanasi, read the next blog in the series of Kashi Tourism Blogs. We have also highlighted some of the best places to see in Varanasi (including temples), things to do, and places to shop, among other attractions, in our blogs.
Explore Some Other Popular Temples in Varanasi, India
Do you also hate the crowd and want to find some real peace to elevate your inner spirituality and find your true self? Visit some of the following less-crowded but quite important temples in Varanasi for a comfortable exploration.
- New Vishwanath Temple (BHU VT) – Replica of Kashi Vishwanath inside the BHU campus
- Swarved Mahamandir – Enlightenment Enshrined with the Largest Meditation Centre in the World
- Sarnath Buddhist Temple – A Peaceful Bliss in Sarnath, Varanasi
These were some of the best places to visit in Varanasi for a great local sightseeing experience and getting into the cultural and historical aspects of one of the oldest living cities in the oldest surviving civilisation.
Best Tips for a Successful Kashi Darshan
Although Varanasi is considered a heavenly abode on earth, some travellers find it difficult to travel around due to cultural differences and a lack of awareness. Hence, some of the top tips for a comfortable and successful Darshan of the Holy City of Kashi include the following.
- Best Time to Visit Varanasi: Dev Deepawali, Mahashivaratri and festivities
- Best Season to Visit Varanasi: Winter (October to February)
- Be Respectful to the local customs, traditions and culture
- Dress modestly, covering all the skin to avoid any backlashes in the Holy City
- Avoid Touts and Scammers in Varanasi
- Hire a Tour Guide and get a Varanasi river Ganga boat ride for the best experience
- Book your taxis, hotels and accommodation in advance to avoid issues with last-minute bookings
- Start early, as the crowded and narrow lanes and roads could delay transportation
- Avoid strolling alone late at night with valuables in empty streets
Why Choose Chiku Cab for Temple Darshan in Varanasi?
Choose the best taxi services in Varanasi, Chiku Cab, for safe, comfortable and luxurious travel around the top tourist attractions in Kashi. These include the best temples, ghats, nearby cities and the railway station/airport. We ensure to hire well-maintained and hygienic cabs driven by expert and verified chauffeurs, with an effortless booking system via a user-friendly mobile app from Chiku Cab. You can also call us at +91 844-844-5504 to enquire about a customisable Varanasi temple tour taxi package for pilgrims. Our main services include:
- 24/7 Customer Support and Bookings
- Comfortable and Luxurious Cabs: Sedans, SUVs and Tempo Travellers
- Safe for women, especially solo female travellers in Kashi
- Pet-friendly and flexible services
- Local, Outstation and Railway Station/Airport Transfers in 1000+ Indian Cities
- Affordable cabs in Varanasi for Temple Darshan
So what are you waiting for? Book your Kashi Darshan taxi with Chiku Cab for an effortless pilgrimage experience to the spiritual/cultural capital of India. Download the official Chiku Cab mobile application from your Play Store and avail of our services anytime, anywhere! Reach out to our customer support by dialling 844-844-5504 for more information, concerns or queries.
FAQs
1- Which is the most famous temple in Varanasi?
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most popular temple in Varanasi, which is also one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas in India. This temple is mentioned in various religious scriptures, making it a major pilgrimage centre in India.
2- What is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best time to visit Kashi is during the major festival seasons like Dev Deepawali and Mahashivaratri, and the best months to visit Varanasi are between October and February, during the winter season.
3- Which temple to visit first in Varanasi?
The Kaal Bhairava Temple in Ghasi Tola is considered the first temple to visit in Varanasi, even before visiting Kashi Vishwanath, as it is considered a formality to visit the Kashi ke Kotwal and seek his permission and divine blessings to explore the City of Lord Shiva.
4- Are 2 days enough in Varanasi?
A lifetime is considered less to explore Kashi. However, you can still be able to visit a few tourist attractions in Varanasi, including the top temples and ghats in Varanasi for an overview of the city. Nevertheless, in order to live in the vibe of the city, you need to spare a few weeks.
5- Does Ganga Aarti happen every day in Varanasi?
Yes. The Ghats of Varanasi hold special religious values, which make a large-scale Ganga aarti happen twice every day, once during sunrise and the next at sunset, to pay tribute to the Ganges for flowing and nourishing the country as their mother.
With 7+ years of experience as a professional content writer, I specialise in blog and academic content writing. For me, writing is simply more than my profession—it’s a journey of self-discovery through spiritual exploration and soulful expression, often inspired by music and mindfulness.
