Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor that connects the ancient shrine of Shiv, Kashi Vishwanath Temple to the ghats of the Ganga in Varanasi. PM’s dream project in his own parliamentary constituency was under works for years and rivers 5,000 hectares.
This project aspires to decongest the area for the devotees who want to take a holy bath in Gangs before visiting the shrine and beautify the temple complex.
The vision behind the corridor and temple complex development The foundation stone for the project was laid on 8th March, 2019 with the aim of restoring the “lost glory” of the spiritual place with an investment of Rs 800-crore.
As per officials, this was his long-standing dream to decongest the roads that lead to the temple from the ghat.
Since the temple was not directly connect to the river banks, a 20-foot-wide corridor was plan that will connect the Mandir Chowk to Lalita Ghat.
The Ministry of Culture official said with the new corridor, the mandir will have direct visibility from the ghat.
The Project The Prime Minister will inaugurate phase 1 of the project, construct at a cost of around Rs 399 crore on 1st December 2021.
With the corridor other 23 buildings from Tourist Facilitation center to Bhogshala, City Museum, food court and viewing gallery will be inaugurate.
Stone-made sculptures of Bharat Mata, statues of Saint Adi Shankaracharya and Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar have been erect in the sprawling revamp Kashi Vishwanath Dham complex.
Big posters of Maharani Ahilyabai who construct the current structure of the temple in around 1780 A.D were put up to pay tribute to the Holkar queen.
The Bharat Mata statue, standing against the backdrop of ‘India’ is holding a tricolor and the map of India has been paint on a metallic surface with the country’s art and cultural heritage depicted on it.
Ornamental arches and grand gateways have been built in heritage architecture style in four directions, facing the ancient temple at its core.
Building walls facing the streets leading to the shrine have been paint in uniform light pink colour and many buildings have been illuminate and bedecked with flowers for its inauguration.
Some of the phase 1 projects will be open to the public in a few more weeks.
This is taking place before the impending Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls and ahead of the announcement of poll schedule.
The tourism push with new revamped temple complex Improving the infrastructure of Varanasi is expect to boost tourism to the holy city on the banks of Ganges, including the Buddhist pilgrim site of Sarnath.
The Rudraksh Convention Centre will accommodate 100 people.
The Shiva lingam look alike building also has meeting rooms, art gallery and multi-purpose pre-function areas.
Roads have been improve, Railway station at Manduadih has been upgrade with AC waiting lounge and ganga cruises have been plan for tourists.
LED screens have set up all around the city to display tourist information, history and architecture of Kashi.
The Ganga aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat will be telecast on the screens.
Heritage restoration of corridor According to officials, even while removing certain structures that were blocking the corridor the heritage properties were restore.
More than 40 ‘lost’ temples like the Mankameshwar Mahadev temple, Shri Kumbha Mahadev temple, the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple, the Jay Vinayak temple were discover.
Some of the excavate remains will be kept in a separate gallery at the National Museum in New Delhi, screens alongside will be install to run narrative histories of the same.
Cultural history of Varanasi’s heritage site and 84 ghats will be enshrine on newly erect “smart signages”.
PM and his vision of temple development around the country Kashi Vishwanath corridor is in line with PM Modi’s ambitious temple development around the country vision.
Modi ji had also laid the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and has starts on beatification projects at the Kedarnath Dham which saw widespread destruction in the 2013 floods.
The PM describe them as nation building projects and India’s efforts to find and celebrate its ancient glory.
Facts About Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi holds immense significance to the Hindus and is one of the most famous temples in India dedicate to Lord Shiva.
Shri Kashi Vishwanath stands tall on the Western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
- According to records, the Kashi Vishwanath temple was found in 1490.
- Kashi has seen the rule of many kings both famous and not so famous.
- Do you know that it was also rule by Buddhists for some time?
- Undoubtedly, the city has seen its share of slaughter and destruction.
- The temples were plunder time and again by the Mughals.
- The original temples were re-built, then destroyed and re-built.
- FYI, Mughal Emperor Akbar gave permission to build the original temple, which was later destroy by Aurangzeb – the sixth Mughal emperor, who rule over almost the entire Indian subcontinent for a period of 49 years.
- The Kashi Vishwanath temple was last rebuilt and restore to its glory by the Queen of Indore, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar.
- She took the initiative to restore the temple and also provided the funds for it.
- But later Akbar’s great grandson Aurangzeb had destroy the temple and built a mosque in its place.
- The temple holds immense significance to Hindus as it is as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
- There is popular belief that Lord Shiva actually stay here for some time.
- The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has three domes cover of gold!
- As per the popular belief, any wish come true if it is made after seeing the golden chatra.
- It is said the when news reach of Aurangzeb’s plans to destroy the temple, the idol of Shiva was hidden in a well to protect it from the destruction.
- The well, called the “well of wisdom”, still stands there between the mosque and the temple.
- Kashi Vishwanath is visit by more than 7 million devotees year on year and has been restore and beautified with the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
- On 13th December 2021, PM Modi inaugurated Phase-1 of the project.
Built at an estimate cost of approximately Rs 900 crore over a sprawling area of 5 lakh square feet, the corridor in Varanasi will connect Kashi Vishwanath Temple with the Ganga river, making it convenient for the pilgrims to reach the temple premises.
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