The pilgrim journeys are based on what is referred to as Puranic mythology and treatises – and there are up to 108 types of pilgrimage circuits depending on their association with different deities. Many of these pilgrimages have lost their specific identities and others have been transformed over time. Despite changes and the transformation of layers upon layers of history, at least 52 of these 108 different pilgrimages exist to varying degrees. Some of the pilgrimage routes represent the archetypal symbolism of Hinduism – as exemplified in the term “Kashi as Cosmo Gram”. One notable pilgrims’ route is still performed and described below.

The daily pilgrimage starts with a morning dip in the sacred River Ganga followed by a visit to worship at the famous Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The pilgrimage route takes in the following added temples: Jnanavapi Mandapa, Sri Annapurna, Dhundhiraja Ganesha, Sri Kashi Vishalakhi Temple and finally, the Sri Kal Bhairava. Visits to these sites demonstrate the rich and cultural heritage of Varanasi in this holiest of cities.