A One-Day Temple Trail in Varanasi: From Sankat Mochan to Durga Mandir and the Ghats
Varanasi has more temples than most visitors can count, so a well-planned trail helps you experience the city's sacred heart in a single day. A popular route begins in the south of the city and moves gradually towards the riverfront, combining ancient shrines, peaceful gardens and, finally, the evening glow of the Ganga ghats. Start at Sankat Mochan Temple, dedicated to Lord Hanuman and founded by the saint-poet Tulsidas. Tuesdays and Saturdays are busiest, and the laddoo prasad here is famous across the city. A short ride away is Tulsi Manas Mandir, built in white marble on the spot where Tulsidas is believed to have written the Ramcharitmanas; its walls carry verses of the epic. Right next door stands Durga Mandir, the red-ochre 18th-century shrine locals call the Monkey Temple, with its striking kund and Nagara-style spire. From there, head to Tridev Mandir and the serene ISKCON temple, both quieter spaces ideal for a midday pause. Many pilgrims also stop at the Shree Satyanarayan temple on this stretch. By late afternoon, make your way through Godowlia's lanes to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti, then walk north along the river to witness Manikarnika Ghat, where the sacred fires have burned for centuries. A few practical tips: dress modestly, keep footwear easy to remove, carry small change for offerings, and avoid photography inside sanctums. Auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws connect the temples easily, and Godowlia is the best base for an evening meal of Banarasi thali or kachori-sabzi. Done unhurriedly, this trail offers a beautiful cross-section of Kashi's devotion, architecture and everyday life.
Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: