धुंडिराज गणेश मंदिर

Hidden just inside the main gate of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Dhundiraj Vinayak Temple is small yet spiritually vast — a vital beginning for anyone entering Shiva’s city.  

The story says that Lord Vishwanatha himself invited Ganesha to Varanasi to confuse pilgrims with his wisdom, guiding them gently back to divine presence. As legend tells, Ganesha appeared as an astrologer named Dhundi, leading the devout toward true devotion — and thus earned the name Dhundiraj or ‘king of confusion.’  

Here, worshippers believe the pilgrimage remains incomplete unless one first bows to Dhundiraj. His swayambhu Ganesha idol — distinct with three eyes, flanked by his consorts and sons — is believed to bless visitors with clarity and remove obstacles long before they reach Shiva’s presence.  

In broader Kashi lore, Dhundiraj is counted among the six sacred sites of spiritual alignment—including Vishwanath and Vishalakshi Temples—forming a ritual geometry that balances inner and outer pilgrimage. In the quiet courtyard, amidst the swirl of pilgrims, Dhundiraj whispers — not confusion, but the subtle realisation that faith often begins with an invitation to see beyond oneself. Here, your journey through Kashi truly begins.