PM Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishwanath Corridor | Temple History

 Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project

On December 13, Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor that connects the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to the Ghats of the Ganga. Phase 1 of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor project at Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crores. Total 23 buildings have been inaugurated in phase 1 of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. Project provides variety of facilities to the pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, including Yatri Suvidha Kendras, Tourist Facilitation Centre, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, Museum, Gallery, and Food Court. Kashi Vishwanath corridor project is said to be the PM Modi's dream project which has been built over an area of 5,000 hectares. It was also the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that all heritage structures be preserved during the course of the development of the corridor.

Kashi Vishwanath Dham

While removing properties that were clogging the proposed corridor, more than 40 lost temples like the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple, the Manokameshwar Mahadev temple, the Jauvinayak temple, and the Shri Kumbha Mahadev temple were discovered. Each of these temples has a history going back a few centuries.

PM Modi offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and planted a Rudraksha tree at the premises of the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lunch with the workers of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor redevelopment project during the inauguration of the corridor in Varanasi (Kashi). The Prime Minister Modi have also attended the Ganga arti around 6 pm.

History of Temple

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Varanasi/Kashi/Banaras city of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Temple is situated at the western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva Temples. The main deity is known by the names Shri Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe). Ancient name of Varanasi is Kashi. The Temple has been referred to in Hindu scriptures for a very long time.

Kashi Vishwanath temple had been demolished by many Mughal rulers many times, most recently, it was demolished by Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor. Aurangzeb constructed the Gyanvapi Mosque on temple's site. The current structure of temple was built on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in the year 1780. In 1835, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire, donated 1 ton of gold for plating the temple's dome. In 1841, Raghuji Bhonsle-III of Nagpur donated silver to the temple.

In 2019, the foundation stone of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The aim of the project is to increase the total area of the temple to around 50,000 square meters. Around 1,400 residents and businesses were relocated elsewhere and compensated. During the renovation, more than 40 ruined, centuries-old temples were found and rebuilt, including the Gangeshwar Mahadev temple, the Manokameshwar Mahadev temple, the Jauvinayak temple, and the Shri Kumbha Mahadev temple. In 2021, on December 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor project.

SHARE

Er. Kamal Chauhan

Founder of World Current Affairs. Inspired to make things looks better.