Everything you need for Kashi Vishwanath darshan in Varanasi: darshan and aarti timings from the temple trust, how to book aarti and Sugam Darshan, gates, lockers and what you can carry.
By Teerthayan • October 2026
Kashi Vishwanath darshan is free and open to everyone: the temple in Varanasi opens at 3 am and closes at 11 pm, with general darshan in three windows through the day and paid options for the aartis and for Sugam Darshan. The best time for a calm darshan is early morning or after the midday aarti on a weekday. This guide gathers the timings published by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, how booking works, what you can carry, and how to plan the day around the ghats.
Why Kashi Vishwanath matters
Kashi Vishwanath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the heart of Varanasi, a city that Hindu tradition holds Shiva never leaves. Pilgrims believe that dying in Kashi brings liberation, and darshan of Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe, is the central act of any Kashi yatra. The present temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780, and its spire was later covered in gold. The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, opened in December 2021, now links the temple directly to the Ganga ghats. See our 12 Jyotirlinga guide for the other eleven shrines.
Kashi Vishwanath darshan and aarti timings
The table below follows the temple trust's published FAQ. Timings change on Mahashivratri, Mondays of Sawan and other festivals, so check the official temple website close to your visit.
| Ritual or window | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temple opens | 3:00 am | Closes at 11:00 pm |
| Mangala Aarti | 3:00 am to 4:00 am | Ticketed; report by 2:30 am at Gate 1 |
| General darshan | 4:00 am to 11:00 am | Free |
| Mid-day Bhog Aarti | 11:15 am to 12:20 pm | Ticketed; any gate |
| General darshan | 12:20 pm to 7:00 pm | Free |
| Saptarishi Aarti | 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm | Ticketed; any gate |
| General darshan | 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm | Free |
| Shringar / Night Aarti | 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm | Ticketed; any gate |
Booking aarti and Sugam Darshan
Aarti tickets
All four aartis can be booked on the official website, on the temple trust's app, or at the help desk near Gate 4. The Mangala Aarti is the most sought after and often sells out on Mondays, festival days and holiday weekends, so book as soon as your dates are confirmed. The trust treats the aarti fee as an offering, so bookings cannot be cancelled, refunded or moved to another date.
Sugam Darshan
Sugam Darshan is the trust's paid, queue-free option: a Shastri escorts you close to the sanctum, and the ticket includes a box of prasad and the use of a locker. It is not offered during aartis or on certain special days. The fee is revised from time to time, so check the current amount on the official website rather than relying on a figure you have read elsewhere. Book only through the official site, app or counters.
Rudrabhishek and other pujas
Rudrabhishek with one, five or eleven Shastris, as well as Laghu Rudra and Maha Rudra, can be booked online. The Shastri's dakshina is included in the ticket, but milk and some samagri are bought separately inside the premises.
Gates, lockers and what you can carry
- Phones and gadgets: mobile phones, cameras, smart watches and even pens are not allowed inside. Free lockers are available at the help desk, Mandir Chowk and the corridor facilitation centres.
- From the river: you can walk up from the ghats into the corridor through Gate 1; this entry is open from 6 am to 9 pm.
- Dress: there is no formal dress code, but the trust asks for decent clothing. You will be barefoot, so leave shoes in the locker.
- Offerings: flowers, bel patra and milk are sold around the temple; keep offerings simple during busy hours.
Best time for Kashi Vishwanath darshan
October to March is the most comfortable season in Varanasi. Mondays, Shivratri every month, Mahashivratri, Rangbhari Ekadashi, Dev Deepawali and the whole month of Sawan bring the longest queues, sometimes several hours. For a quieter visit choose a weekday and join the queue right at 4 am or in the early afternoon. Elderly pilgrims and those with small children may find Sugam Darshan worth the fee on busy days.
Getting to the temple
Varanasi Junction is the main railway station and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, at Babatpur, is about 25 km from the old city. Vehicles cannot reach the temple itself: the lanes around it are narrow and closed to cars, so taxis stop at the nearest permitted point and you walk the last stretch, or arrive by boat and climb up from the ghats. Allow extra time for this walk and for the security check at the gates.
A one-day Kashi plan
- Before dawn: Mangala Aarti if you have a ticket, or a sunrise boat ride along the ghats.
- Morning: Kashi Vishwanath darshan, then Annapurna Devi temple next door and Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi.
- Afternoon: rest, or visit Sarnath, about 10 km away, where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
- Evening: Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, then the Saptarishi or Shringar Aarti if you have booked one.
Visiting Kashi Vishwanath on a yatra
Two of our tours include darshan at Kashi Vishwanath through the corridor. The Ram Kashi Yatra is 5 Nights / 6 Days from Ayodhya at ₹ 19,500, covering Ayodhya, Prayagraj and two nights in Varanasi with a sunrise boat ride, the Dashashwamedh Ganga Aarti and Sarnath. The Kashi Mahakaal Yatra is 6 Days / 5 Nights from Delhi at ₹ 18,500 and pairs Kashi Vishwanath with Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain. Aarti and Sugam Darshan tickets are booked separately on the temple trust's site. For the wider route, read our Ayodhya Varanasi Prayagraj guide and the Bhasma Aarti booking guide.
With the right timing and a little planning, Kashi Vishwanath darshan can be calm and unhurried, even in one of India's busiest temples.
FAQs
What are the Kashi Vishwanath darshan timings?+
According to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust's FAQ, the temple is open from 3 am to 11 pm, and general darshan runs from 4 am to 11 am, 12:20 pm to 7 pm and 8:30 pm to 9 pm. Darshan pauses during the aartis. Timings can change on festivals such as Mahashivratri and in Sawan, so check the official website before you go.
How do I book Mangala Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath?+
Book on the official website shrikashivishwanath.org, on the temple trust's app, or at the temple help desk. Mangala Aarti runs from 3 am to 4 am, the reporting time is 2:30 am, and entry for it is through Gate 1. Aarti bookings cannot be cancelled, so book only once your dates are fixed.
Is darshan at Kashi Vishwanath free?+
Yes, general darshan is free. Sugam Darshan is a paid option in which a Shastri takes you to the sanctum without the main queue and the ticket includes prasad. It is not available during aartis and on some special days. Check the current fee on the official website.
Can I carry my mobile phone into Kashi Vishwanath temple?+
No. The temple trust does not allow mobile phones or other gadgets, including pens, inside the temple premises. Free lockers are available at the help desk and other points around the corridor, so deposit your phone, bag and shoes before joining the queue.
Is there a dress code for Kashi Vishwanath darshan?+
The temple trust says there is no formal dress code for darshan but advises devotees to wear decent clothes. Simple, modest Indian clothing is a safe choice, and you will be barefoot in the temple, so wear footwear that is easy to leave in the locker.
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