About This Temple
The presiding deity is known as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara, meaning "Ruler of the Universe". A mere glimpse of the sacred Lingam is believed to be a soul-purifying experience. The current structure was built by the Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar in 1780, and its domes were later plated with approximately one tonne of gold by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835, earning it the nickname the "Golden Temple". A major corridor project completed in 2021 now provides pilgrims with wide, easy access between the temple and the Ganges River ghats.