Jagannath Temple Varanasi

Jagannath Temple Varanasi overlooks the Asi Ghat and replica of Puri Jagannath Temple. The temple dates back to 1802 when two affluent citizens from Bhonsala estate, Visambhar Ram, and Beni Ram constructed it to honor Lord Jagannath. The temple has many resemblances to the original one including idols and architecture. It witnesses traditional worshipping of Lord Jagannath much like the Puri temple. The only difference is in the size of the temple, as it is much smaller in comparison to the Puri temple.

Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, is a desired destination for Hindu pilgrims. The city is home to numerous temples that are frequented by visitors for spiritual luminescence. When in the city, visiting the two-hundred-year-old Jagannath Temple is a must. The Jagannath Temple witnesses a number of rituals on the occasion of Rath yatra festivity when the 'lakha mela' (fair that attracts lakhs of people) is organised in the city.

Legends of Varanasi Jagannath Temple

Three idols reside in this temple Lord Jagannath, elder brother Balaram and sister Subhadra. Rituals and procedure of worshipping the deity are similar to that of the Jagannath temple Puri. Along with these idols, there is also an image of Prachanda Narasimha, measuring almost four meters high and his devotee Prahlada. The complex of this Jagannath Temple in Varanasi is divided into three sections that are linked through gates. The shape of this temple is rectangular, and height of the main spire is almost sixteen meters. In four corners of this temples, there are figurines of four Vaishnavite divinities namely Krishna, Rama Pancayatana, Kaliyamardan as a form of Hindu God Krishna and Lakshminarayana.

How to reach?

Jagannath Temple at Varanasi is easy to reach from different parts of the country. The city is connected to different parts of the country by bus, train and air.

By bus: The city is situated on National Highway that connects Delhi and Kolkata. Varanasi is connected to neighbouring cities of Uttar Pradesh and states by state-run and private buses.

By Air: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is located the north-western part of the city. There are regular domestic flights that connect to major cities of the country like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The city is connected with Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand with a direct flight.

By Train: Different cities are connected with the city through different trains. The Varanasi to Jagannath temple distance is almost seven kilometres, and visitors can reach the place within approximately ten minutes in a ‘tuk-tuk’.

Apart from these, there are also buses to different cities in Nepal. There are tempos and private taxis that can take you around the city.

Architecture

The main temple is situated in the last section or southern part of the complex. The external boundary of this temple is adorned with red sandstone. In the open space, outside main segment a Garuda faces the idol of Lord Jagannath. What makes this different from the original one is the size and area of this temple complex. The size of this Hindu temple in Varanasi is smaller in comparison to the temple complex at Puri. Rath Yatra celebrated during June July or Hindu month of Ashadha is a miniature form of the one at Puri.