2. Explore Revered Temples, Mosques & Ghats
There are around 23,000 temples and 15 mosques of historical importance in Varanasi. However, the most famous and popular temples amongst the tourists and pilgrims are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, the Durga Temple (known for a huge number of monkeys surrounding the area) and the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple.
Located by the Ganges, Kashi Vishwanath temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times after its construction in 1780. Interestingly, the site of Gyanvapi Mosque, just next to the temple was the original site of it.
Don’t miss the two gold-plated pinnacles of the temple donated by the Ruler of Punjab in 1839.
The Alamgiri Mosque, built by Aurangzeb in the 17th century over the ruins of a Hindu temple, is also a must-see in Varanasi. There are as many as 84 Ghats in Varanasi which are used for bathing, religious rituals, and cremation of the dead bodies. However, the most popular Ghats are Dashashwamedh Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, and Assi Ghat.
