Kaal Bhairav Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) is the nearest airport, about a 25 to 30 minute drive by taxi.

• By train

  Varanasi Junction (BSB) is the closest major railway station. Auto-rickshaws and taxis take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

• By road

  The temple is in the Visheshar Ganj area and can be reached by taxi, auto-rickshaw or private vehicle from anywhere in the city.

Rules to know

• From the doorway you see only the face of the idol, decorated with garlands.
• Visitors may tie the Bhairav Raksha Sutra, a sacred protective thread, around the wrist as a ritual.

Why devotees come here

Kaal Bhairav Temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Varanasi, in the old lanes of Bharonath. Kaal Bhairav, a fierce form of Shiva, is seen as the protector of the city. Unlike most temples, its deity is a silver-faced image rather than a full-sized idol.

Kaal Bhairav is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Varanasi. Locals regard him as the protector of the city. He is revered as the Kotwal, or guardian, of Varanasi, and is believed to grant devotees permission to live in or enter the city. The temple's origins are linked to references in the Skanda Purana.

The name Kaal means both death and time. Legend says Shiva made Kaal Bhairav the guardian of Varanasi so that he would remove the sins of his disciples. It is also said that Bhairava was freed of a sin, Brahmanahatya, when he entered the city.

The exact date of construction is not known. The present structure is estimated to date from the mid 17th century. In the inner sanctum, a silver-faced idol of Kaal Bhairav sits on his vahana, a dog, and holds a trident. Unlike temples with full-sized idols, the deity is shown as this silver face.

Festivals

• Dates not in our sourcesBhairav Ashtami, Mahashivratri and Annakoot

  The temple holds elaborate rituals and heightened devotion on these major festival days.

Tips for your visit

• Tuesdays and Sundays draw especially large crowds, considered highly auspicious for Bhairav worship.
• Early mornings and evenings have relatively manageable crowds.
• It is customary to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple first and come here after.

Questions people ask