Kashi Vishwanath becomes the world's most visited temple as Varanasi crosses a record year

Varanasi has crossed a remarkable milestone: the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham has emerged as the world's most visited temple, welcoming an estimated 14.6 crore devotees in 2026, while the city as a whole hosted close to 14.7 crore visitors over the year. A decade ago Kashi drew only around 50 lakh visitors annually — the scale of today's footfall shows just how far the city's spiritual tourism has grown. Much of the transformation traces back to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, which opened up the temple precinct with wider approaches, riverfront access and better facilities for pilgrims. Improved rail and air connectivity, cleaner ghats and upgraded civic amenities have made it easier for families from across India and abroad to reach the ghats and the Dham in comfort. For Banaras, the numbers are more than a headline. Every additional visitor supports the city's boatmen, guides, weavers, flower sellers, eateries and small shops, spreading the benefits of the pilgrimage economy through countless local livelihoods. Homestays and hotels report steady demand through the year, and the neighbourhoods around the ghats are seeing fresh investment. If you are planning a visit, early mornings and weekdays remain the calmest time for darshan and a quiet walk along the ghats. However you come to Kashi, you now arrive as part of one of the largest gatherings of pilgrims anywhere on earth — a living testament to the city's timeless place at the heart of India's spiritual life.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Business Standard — East UP temple economy · Kashi Vishwanath world's most-visited temple milestone (reported)