Before Kashi’s great darshan, tradition says, comes its gatekeeper. Kaal Bhairav — the “Kotwal of Kashi” — holds a compact, intense temple in Vishweshwarganj, and the reported custom is to seek his darshan before visiting Kashi Vishwanath.
Travel-site listings, consistent across sources, give timings of roughly 5:00/5:30 AM–1:30 PM and 4:30–9:30 PM with free darshan; no official timing source exists, so these are reported figures. Sundays and Tuesdays are reported the busy days. Checked 01 October 2026.
Visiting notes
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Timings | ~5:00/5:30 AM–1:30 PM; 4:30–9:30 PM | Reported (consistent guides) |
| Entry | Free | Reported |
| Location | Vishweshwarganj (K-32/22), old city lanes | Reported |
| Busy days | Sundays, Tuesdays | Unconfirmed |
| Custom | Visit before Vishwanath darshan | Reported tradition |
The temple sits deep in the old-city lanes — a 10–15 minute walk from the Vishwanath side depending on start point (practical estimate, unverified). Vehicles stop at the lane mouths; walk the last stretch.
How it fits the day
The reported sequence: Kaal Bhairav in the early-morning window, then the Vishwanath morning darshan block, then breakfast in the lanes. The pairing costs under an hour and follows the city’s own custom — see how the 2-day itinerary slots it.
Frequently asked questions
What are Kaal Bhairav timings?
Reported ~5:00/5:30 AM–1:30 PM and 4:30–9:30 PM, free darshan (checked 1 October 2026 — no official source).
Why visit before Kashi Vishwanath?
Tradition makes Kaal Bhairav the city’s guardian — permission first, darshan after. It’s a custom, not a rule.
