Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi

MANIKARNIKA GHAT

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Goddess

Goddess Manikarni is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi.

God

Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kalbhairav.

Interesting Facts

Sati devi's Ear ring (Kundal) had fallen here and the temple is also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (39°C during day and 28°C during night)Average - May (36°C during the day and 26°C during night)Lowest - December to February (20°C during day and 15°C during night)Monsoon season - June to October

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chaudhary Charan Singh Bus Stand	4 KM	+91-522-2622363
Varanasi City Railway Station	3.4 KM	139
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport	24.2 KM	0542-2623060

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Varanasi City Railway Station	3.4 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport	24.2 KM	0542-2623060

Architecture

Lord Shiva along with Parvati came to Kashi before Vishnu to grant him his wish. Vishnu dug a kund (well) on the bank of Ganga for the bath of the couple. When Lord Shiva was bathing a Mani (Jewel) from his earring fell into the kund, hence the name Manikarnika (Mani-Beads Karnam-Ear Angad-Ornament). It is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi. The Manikarnika Ghat is mentioned in a Gupta inscription of 5th century.

Religious Significance

According to Hindu mythology, this ghat has close links to Sati and it is said that when Sati sacrificed her life and set her body ablaze and died, Lord Shiva took her body to the Himalaya. At that time Sati Mata’s ear ornament had fallen at this spot. Wherever Mata Sati’s body pieces fell was established as a Shakti Peeth and is considered Holy places to visit for the Hindus. As Hindu mythology says, the dead who are cremated there receive moksha or release from the cycle of rebirth driven by the law of karma.

History

It is an Ancient and Historical Temple, the exact date and Construction of the temple was remains Unknown.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	12:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757