New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple, Varanasi - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

At a distance of 12 Km from Varanasi Junction, New Vishwanath Mandir, also known as Birla Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the premises of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the popular temples in Banaras and also one of the biggest tourist attractions that one must visit as part of the Varanasi tour packages. The temple is colloquially called VT, an acronym of Vishwanath Temple. The temple is under direct administration of the Banaras Hindu University.

History of New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

The original Kashi Vishwanath Temple was destroyed by multiple invaders; however, the locals supported by their Hindu patrons reconstructed this ancient temple as many times. Hence, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya decided to replicate Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in the campus of Banaras Hindu University. The Birla family graciously undertook the mammoth task of replicating the enormous temple and laid down the foundation in 1931. It took 35 long years to finally declare its completion in 1966.

Architecture of New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

The New Vishwanath Temple shares a similar architectural style with the Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Built entirely with marble, this temple was designed by Sri Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of BHU. Standing at a height of 253 feet, it boasts the tallest tower in the world. Although the Birla Temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva, it features nine shrines within a single temple and welcomes individuals from all castes, religions, and belief systems.

The Shiva temple is located on the ground floor, while the Durga temple and Lakshmi Narayan temple are situated on the first floor. Additional shrines within the Shri Vishwanath Mandir include Nataraj, Parvati, Ganesha, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Hanuman, Saraswati, and Nandi. The complete text of the Bhagavad Gita, along with excerpts from sacred Hindu scriptures, is beautifully inscribed with illustrations on the inner marble walls of the temple.

Festivals of New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

The New Vishwanath Temple, also known as the Birla Temple, in Varanasi celebrates various festivals like Mahashivratri, Nag Panchami, Navratri, and Makar Sankranti. The temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also hosts celebrations like Dev Deepawali, Deepawali, Krishna Janmashtami, and Shravan Mahotsav.

Dress Code & Other Restrictions of New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

Visitors to the New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Temple are expected to adhere to a conservative dress code, ensuring that their legs and shoulders are adequately covered. Men may opt for dhotis or long trousers paired with shirts, while women are encouraged to wear Sarees, Salwar Kameez, or other traditional attire that adequately covers their shoulders and legs. Western attire such as shorts, skirts, and sleeveless tops should be avoided.

Unlike the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the New Vishwanath Temple is open to people of all religions, making it a welcoming site for tourists of various backgrounds to explore Hindu culture and spirituality.

New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple Timings

Monday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Tuesday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Wednesday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Thursday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Friday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Saturday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM
Sunday: 4 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 9 PM

New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple Entry Fee

Entry is Free

Best Time to Visit New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

The best time to visit the New Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is from October to March, with the highest number of visitors typically occurring between November and February. This timeframe offers cool and pleasant temperatures, making for a more enjoyable experience, as the summer months can be excessively hot and the monsoon season may bring significant rainfall, which could disrupt outdoor activities and visits to the temple. Attending during significant Hindu festivals such as Maha Shivaratri, which generally takes place in late February or March can be especially fulfilling, as the temple is adorned beautifully and features special pujas and events.

How to Reach New Vishwanath Temple / Birla Temple

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur is the nearest airport which is about 23 Km from Varanasi Junction. Also known as Varanasi Airport, it is well connected with flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Gaya. Varanasi Junction railway station is well connected by trains with Chhapra, Kanpur, Amritsar, Muzzafarpur, Jammu, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Indore, Tatanagar, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Patna, Kochi, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, Bangalore, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pune and Chennai. Varanasi is well connected with buses from Agra, Delhi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Lucknow. One can reach New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Temple by hiring a cab, or an auto-rickshaw from all parts of the city.