What Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust does

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust is a statutory religious charitable trust established under an Uttar Pradesh Government Ordinance in 1983 to administer the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, in Varanasi. The trust operates the temple on a 24x7 basis and serves Hindu devotees and pilgrims, providing access to darshan, pooja services, prasadam, and on-site accommodation and event facilities through six physical helpdesk locations and a digital platform spanning a website, Android and iOS mobile apps, and an AI chatbot.

The trust's product surface includes Sugam Darshan (online darshan booking with tiered service options), VR Darshan (virtual reality remote access), live darshan streaming, and an AI-powered chatbot (Ask Nandi) built on the Bhashini Digital India language platform. Payment is accepted through gateways integrated with major Indian banks, and donations are eligible for 80G tax exemption and FCRA-registered foreign contributions. Operational subsidiaries include guest houses, a multipurpose hall, and Anna Kshetram (a community kitchen), collectively forming a pilgrim services ecosystem anchored to the temple.

Revenue mechanics combine individual donations (documented across hundreds of contributors with amounts ranging from INR 1 to INR 515,021), transactional pooja and darshan fees (INR 230 to INR 100,000 per service), prasadam and merchandise sales, guest house and venue rentals, and CSR-eligible giving channels. The trust does not publish audited financial statements, leaving revenue scale undisclosed. Go-to-market is hybrid: physical on-site pilgrim flow drives the core base, while digital channels and tourism partnerships (Heritage Walks, Kashi Darshan Bus Seva) extend reach to remote and inbound visitors.

Name

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust

Legal name

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust

Website

https://shrikashivishwanath.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust is a Uttar Pradesh government-endowed statutory trust managing the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It serves Hindu devotees through on-site darshan, pooja services, donations, guest houses, and digital platforms including mobile apps, VR Darshan, and an AI chatbot.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Temple Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hajj & Umrah Travel Agencies (THAKAHAA)

Keywords

• Religious temple services
• Darshan booking services
• Online pooja booking
• Religious donation platform
• Temple trust management

Headquarters

HQ city

Varanasi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Voluntary donations from devotees worldwide, accepted via online portal, bank transfers (RTGS, NEFT, core banking), cheque/demand draft, and cash. Indian citizen donations are exempted under Section 80G of Income Tax Act. Foreign currency donations accepted through FCRA-enabled account.
2. Pooja and Darshan Services: Revenue from booking various pooja services (Rudrabhishek, Aarti, Sugam Darshan, etc.) and special darshan tickets. These are one-time transaction fees for religious services performed at the temple.
3. Prasadam Sales: Sale of prasadam items including Shri Kashi Prasadam through the dedicated portal shrikashiprasadam.com
4. Guest House Operations: Revenue from booking accommodation at Southern Grand Guest House and Ganga Darshan Guest House operated by the trust, including rooftop restaurant services
5. Event Venue Rental: Rental income from Triyambakeshwar Multipurpose Hall for conferences, exhibitions, seminars, concerts, community gatherings, weddings, and other events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The trust manages religious operations of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas) including darshan services (Live Darshan streaming, VR Darshan, Sugam Darshan), pooja and aarti bookings (Rudrabhishek, Mangla Aarti, Sapt Rishi Aarti, and other ceremonies), and donation collection for temple upkeep and community programs. It also operates ancillary facilities such as trust-owned guest houses (Southern Grand Guest House, Ganga Darshan Guest House) and a multipurpose event hall (Triyambakeshwar), and manages the Anna Kshetram community kitchen construction project.

Product overview

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust operates a comprehensive digital temple management platform offering both religious services and visitor facilities. The core offerings include Live Darshan (free online streaming of the sanctum), VR Darshan (3D virtual reality experience), and Sugam Darshan (queue-less physical darshan with Shastri assistance). The trust provides extensive online pooja services including Rudrabhishek, Aarti Booking, and various other pujas. Additional services include Heritage Walks and Kashi Darshan Bus Seva (tourism packages), online donation platform with tax benefits, and accommodation through Southern Grand Guest House and Ganga Darshan Guest House. The trust also operates Triyambakeshwar Multipurpose Hall for events and the Anna Kshetram (community kitchen) construction project. An AI-powered Ask Nandi chatbot and official mobile apps (Android/iOS) support devotee engagement. The platform integrates with multiple payment gateways (HDFC, Yes Bank, ICICI, Kotak, Canara, UCO, SBI) and offers RTGS/NEFT/UPI options with FCRA-compliant international donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Darshan Online streaming service that broadcasts a live feed of the temple's sanctum sanctorum for devotees worldwide. Free of charge and accessible without any physical barriers, allowing global participation in darshan.
• VR Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath 3D virtual reality experience offering rare darshan of Baba Kashi Vishwanath from the sanctum sanctorum, allowing devotees to experience all five daily aartis (Mangala Aarti, Bhog Aarti, Saptarshi Aarti, Sandhya Aarti, and Bhog Aarti) as if physically present.
• Sugam Darshan Queue-less darshan service where a Shastri accompanies devotees for direct darshan without waiting in queue, with free locker facility and Mewaladdu Prasadam included. Priced at 300 INR.
• Rudrabhishek Pooja Service Special puja performed for Lord Shiva involving holy chant of Sri Rudram from Yajur Veda and bathing of Shivling with Panchamrit. Available in 1 Shastri variant (450 INR) and 5 Shastri variant (1,380 INR, valid for one family), plus Video Conference options and a 20-year subscription scheme at 25,000 INR.
• Aarti Booking Online booking for temple aartis including Mangla Aarti (500 INR, 3:00-4:00 AM), Mid Day Bhog Aarti (300 INR, 11:15 AM-12:20 PM), Sapt Rishi Aarti (300 INR, 7:00-8:15 PM), and Shringar/Bhog Aarti (300 INR, 9:00-10:15 PM).
• Online Donation Platform Digital donation system accepting domestic and international contributions via HDFC Bank core banking, RTGS, NEFT, SBI ATM, UPI, and FCRA-enabled foreign currency donations. Indian donations eligible for Section 80G tax exemption; donations above 5,000 INR, 100,000 INR, and 11 lakh INR unlock recurring benefits like annual Rudrabhishek or Sugam Darshan. Maximum single donation 5 lakh INR; no more than 3 donations per month permitted.
• Southern Grand Guest House Trust-owned accommodation facility near the temple and famous ghats of Varanasi, operated under trust supervision for devotees and visitors.
• Ganga Darshan Guest House Trust-owned guest house featuring a rooftop multi-cuisine restaurant and a ground floor Prasadam restaurant serving snacks, tea, coffee, and vegetarian thali (no onion/garlic).
• Triyambakeshwar Multipurpose Hall Event venue for conferences, exhibitions, group Rudra Abhishek, seminars, concerts, community gatherings, weddings, and other special events.
• Shri Kashi Vishwanath Anna Kshetram Annakshetra (community kitchen and food donation center) construction project with estimated cost of Rs. 15 crore, intended to provide South and North Indian meals. Accepts dedicated donations for construction.
• Foreign Tourist Darshan Booking Dedicated darshan ticket for foreign tourists with valid passports, available through a 3-step process at the head office helpdesk. Priced at 600 INR including darshan ticket, prasadam, and Ang-Vastram.
• Other Pooja Services Additional puja offerings including Sanyasi Bhojan Dainik (3,000 INR), Sanyasi Bhojan Monday (4,500 INR), Dainik Ratri Kalin Shringar (5,000 INR), Every Purnima Shringaar (3,700 INR), Milk Abhishek (from 230 INR per 5-21 liters), Akhand Deep (700 INR), Satyanarayan Katha (500 INR), and Mahamrityunjaya Jap Puja (51,000 INR for 5-day/7 Shastri or 100,000 INR for 1-day/32 Shastri).
• Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mobile App Official mobile application available on Android (Play Store) and iOS (App Store) platforms for ticket booking, live darshan, pooja bookings, and donation services.
• Ask Nandi AI Chatbot AI-powered chatbot for devotees to ask questions and receive guidance, powered by Bhashini Digital India with multilingual support capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous operations 24x7x365
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Government of Uttar PradeshcoreOthers · 28 January 1983Temple management entrusted to Trust under Government of Uttar Pradesh since January 28, 1983. Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh (Former Kashi Naresh) serves as president with Executive Committee under Divisional Commissioner as Chairman.
• HDFC BankminorOthersPrimary banking partner for donations through Core Banking, RTGS, and NEFT facilities. Account numbers: 50100079361871 (SKVT A/C), 50100176347450 (RTGS), 50100264738596 (FCRA). IFSC: HDFC0001465 for Anna Kshetram, HDFC0000220 for main accounts.
• State Bank of India (SBI)minorOthersSBI ATM donation facility available with minimum donation of Rs. 51. Account: 10389243027, IFSC: SBIN0009017, Account Name: Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Fund.
• Tourism Department (Government)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisclaimer noted for Heritage Walks: 'This is a tourism initiative. All responsibilities related to the tour service are managed by the tourism department.' Services include Heritage Walks with Mangala Aarti and Kashi Darshan Bus Seva.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shri-kashi-vishwanath-temple-trust

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust