Quick answer: Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi opens at about 3 am and closes at 11 pm. General darshan is free and runs in three windows: roughly 4 to 11 am, 12:20 to 7 pm and 8:30 to 9 pm. Sugam Darshan, booked on the temple trust’s website or app, costs Rs 300 per person and skips the queue. Mangla Aarti (3 to 4 am) needs a ticket booked in advance. Phones, cameras and even pens are not allowed inside.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Kashi Vishwanath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the heart of Varanasi. For most families the darshan itself lasts only a few seconds in front of the linga. What decides whether the morning is calm or exhausting is the planning around it: which window you choose, whether you book Sugam Darshan or an aarti, which gate you use, and what you leave behind in the hotel. This guide covers each of these as we explain it to the yatris we take to Kashi.
All timings and fees below come from the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust’s own published FAQ and booking site. The trust changes rules on festival days, so check shrikashivishwanath.org in the week before you travel.
What are the Kashi Vishwanath darshan timings?
The temple trust lists these hours. Darshan stops while each aarti is going on, which is why the day has gaps.
| Time | What happens | Ticket needed? |
|---|---|---|
| 2:30 am | Reporting time for Mangla Aarti (Gate No. 1 only) | Yes, Mangla Aarti ticket |
| 3:00 to 4:00 am | Mangla Aarti | Yes |
| 4:00 to 11:00 am | General darshan, first window | No (free); Sugam Darshan optional |
| 11:15 am to 12:20 pm | Mid-day Bhog Aarti | Yes, to attend inside |
| 12:20 to 7:00 pm | General darshan, second window | No (free); Sugam Darshan optional |
| 7:00 to 8:15 pm | Saptarishi Aarti | Yes, to attend inside |
| 8:30 to 9:00 pm | General darshan, short third window | No |
| 9:00 to 10:15 pm | Shringar (night) Aarti | Yes, to attend inside |
| About 11:00 pm | Shayan Aarti and temple closes | Check on the day |
The quietest times on an ordinary weekday are usually the first hour after 4 am and the early afternoon. Mondays, the whole month of Shravan, Mahashivratri, New Year and long weekends are the most crowded days of the year.
What is Sugam Darshan and how much does it cost?
Sugam Darshan is the temple trust’s own paid, timed darshan. The trust’s FAQ lists it at Rs 300 per person. A Shastri from the temple takes you close to the sanctum without standing in the general queue, and the ticket includes a prasad box, use of the free locker and the Shastri’s dakshina. Some travel websites quote different figures, so go by the amount shown on the official booking page.
It is worth booking for:
- Senior citizens and anyone who cannot stand for long in a queue
- Families with small children
- Yatris with a train or flight the same day
- Days you know will be crowded, such as Mondays
Reports from the trust’s booking pages say children under 12 do not need a ticket and one login can book up to 10 tickets. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your slot with the same original photo ID you used while booking.
How to book Sugam Darshan or an aarti online
- Open the official site shrikashivishwanath.org or the trust’s official app. Do not book through search ads or WhatsApp links that look similar.
- Register with your mobile number and log in.
- Choose Sugam Darshan, the aarti you want, or Rudrabhishek, then pick the date and slot.
- Enter each person’s name, age and photo ID details exactly as on the ID.
- Pay online and download the receipt. Keep it on paper as well, since your phone stays in the locker.
- On the day, report at the gate named on the ticket. For Mangla Aarti this is Gate No. 1 at 2:30 am.
Read the rules before you pay. The trust’s FAQ says booked aartis cannot be cancelled, puja dates cannot be changed, and the amount is treated as a donation, so there is no refund. Only failed payments are refunded, within about seven working days. On very heavy days the trust also suspends bookings altogether. For Mahashivratri 2026 it announced that no online darshan or puja bookings would be made for 15 and 16 February, and tickets already issued for those dates were treated as cancelled.
Which aarti should you attend?
Kashi Vishwanath has five aartis a day. For most families the choice is between two.
| Aarti | Time | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangla Aarti | 3 to 4 am | Devotees who want the first worship of the day | Report 2:30 am at Gate 1; tickets go fast in Shravan and on Mondays. The fee has been reported at around Rs 500; confirm on the booking page. |
| Bhog Aarti | 11:15 am to 12:20 pm | Those who cannot manage a pre-dawn start | Darshan for the general queue pauses during this hour |
| Saptarishi Aarti | 7 to 8:15 pm | A traditional evening aarti performed by seven priests | Clashes with the Ganga aarti on the ghats, so choose one |
| Shringar Aarti | 9 to 10:15 pm | Seeing the decorated form of Baba Vishwanath | Late finish; plan your walk back to the hotel |
| Shayan Aarti | Around 10:30 to 11 pm | The last aarti before the temple closes | Timings are shown on the trust site |
If you have only one evening in Varanasi, many families prefer the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening and Kashi Vishwanath darshan early next morning, rather than trying to fit both into one evening.
What is not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath temple?
The trust’s FAQ is strict: no electronic or non-electronic gadgets, including pens, are allowed inside the premises. In practice that means:
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, cameras, earphones and power banks
- Pens, lighters and any sharp object
- Large bags; carry only a small cloth bag for flowers and prasad
- Leather belts and wallets are better left behind
Free lockers are available near the entry points, but locker queues can be long. The simplest plan is to leave everything except your ID, ticket printout and a little cash at the hotel. Footwear is left at the shoe stands outside.
There is no formal dress code for general darshan, but modest Indian clothes are expected. Reports say that touching the linga (sparsh darshan) and rituals in the sanctum require traditional unstitched clothing such as a dhoti for men and a saree for women, and that sparsh darshan is not allowed during Shravan.
How to reach Kashi Vishwanath temple
The temple stands in the old city between Dashashwamedh and Manikarnika ghats, inside the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor that now links the temple to the Ganga.
- From Varanasi Junction railway station: about 6 km.
- From Lal Bahadur Shastri airport, Babatpur: about 26 km, usually 45 to 60 minutes by taxi.
- Last stretch: cars and autos stop around Godowlia or Maidagin crossing. From there it is a 10 to 15 minute walk through the lanes. E-rickshaws cover part of the way.
- From the river: you can come by boat to the corridor’s ghat-side entrance (Gate No. 1), which is a good option for elderly yatris staying near the ghats.
Stay close to Godowlia, Dashashwamedh or the ghats if anyone in your group walks slowly. The help desk is near Gate No. 4.
A simple plan for one day of Kashi darshan
- Night before: book Sugam Darshan or Mangla Aarti on the official site, print the ticket, and leave phones in the hotel locker in the morning.
- Before sunrise: Mangla Aarti, or general darshan from 4 am when the queues are shortest.
- Sunrise: boat ride along the ghats from Dashashwamedh towards Manikarnika and back.
- Morning: Annapurna temple next to Vishwanath, then Kaal Bhairav, the kotwal of Kashi. Many families also visit Vishalakshi, one of the Shakti Peeths.
- Afternoon: rest, or Sankat Mochan and Durga Kund; Sarnath is about 10 km away.
- Evening: Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh or Assi ghat.
When is the best time of year for Kashi Vishwanath darshan?
Kashi has no closed season, only crowded and quieter days. October to March is the most comfortable weather. April to June is very hot, and Shravan (July to August) is the peak of the year, when Monday queues stretch for kilometres. Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima is the most beautiful evening on the ghats; in 2027 it falls on 13 November according to the panchang. Mahashivratri in 2027 falls on 6 March, and the trust usually changes booking and darshan arrangements around it. Read our Yatra Calendar 2027 for other dates.
What we arrange
For families who want Kashi without the stress, our Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga yatra (2 nights, 3 days from Varanasi) includes early-morning darshan with help booking Sugam Darshan on the official portal, a sunrise boat ride, the Ganga aarti and Sarnath. If you want to add the Sangam and Ram Lalla, see the Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya Yatra (4 nights, 5 days). For those who cannot travel, our priests perform a Kashi Vishwanath Rudrabhishek online in your name, and our online puja guide explains how sankalp and prasad work. Browse all our Kashi and Ayodhya yatras, or see where Kashi fits among the 12 Jyotirlingas. To plan dates, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
Is Kashi Vishwanath darshan free?
Yes. General darshan in the regular queue is free for everyone. You pay only if you choose Sugam Darshan (Rs 300 per person as listed by the temple trust), a ticket to attend an aarti inside, or a Rudrabhishek. Book these only on the trust’s official website or app; anyone selling “VIP darshan” outside these channels is not authorised by the temple.
How long does Kashi Vishwanath darshan take?
On a quiet weekday morning the general queue can take under an hour. On Mondays, in Shravan or on festival days it can take several hours. With Sugam Darshan most families finish in 30 to 60 minutes including the security check. Add time for the locker and the walk from Godowlia, which is 10 to 15 minutes each way.
Can I carry my mobile phone into Kashi Vishwanath temple?
No. The temple trust does not allow phones, cameras, smartwatches or any gadget, and its FAQ even lists pens. Free lockers are available near the gates, but queues for them can be long, so it is easier to leave your phone at the hotel. Carry a printed copy of your ticket and the original ID used for booking.
What is the Mangla Aarti reporting time and gate?
The temple trust’s FAQ gives Mangla Aarti as 3 to 4 am with reporting at 2:30 am, and entry only through Gate No. 1. Tickets must be booked in advance on the official site or app and cannot be cancelled or re-dated. In Shravan and around Mahashivratri, book two to three weeks ahead if possible.
Can senior citizens get easier darshan at Kashi Vishwanath?
The most practical option for senior citizens is Sugam Darshan, which avoids standing in the long general queue. Choose an early-morning or early-afternoon slot on a weekday, avoid Mondays and Shravan, and use the river-side entrance if your hotel is near the ghats. Wheelchair-using yatris should check current help-desk arrangements with the trust before the day.
Can I cancel a Kashi Vishwanath aarti or Sugam Darshan booking?
According to the temple trust’s FAQ, booked aartis cannot be cancelled and puja dates cannot be changed, and the amount is treated as a donation, so no refund is given. Only failed payments are refunded after verification. If your dates are uncertain, book closer to the day or join the free general queue instead.
Is there a dress code for Kashi Vishwanath darshan?
For general darshan there is no formal dress code, but decent, modest clothing is expected. Traditional unstitched clothing, such as a dhoti for men and a saree for women, is reported to be required for touching the linga or for rituals in the sanctum. Remove footwear at the stands outside before you enter.
What else should we see near Kashi Vishwanath?
Annapurna Devi temple is right beside Vishwanath, and tradition asks yatris to visit Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi. Vishalakshi temple, Sankat Mochan, Durga Kund, the ghats by boat and the evening Ganga aarti complete a Kashi yatra. Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, is about 10 km away.