There are many Holy Places in Varanasi but the Bharat Mata Temple is one with a difference. Unlike the other temples it does not enshrine any particular God or Goddess revered by religious followers. It is a temple dedicated to Bharat Mata or Mother India. She is the human manifestation of the Indian nation and is venerated by all Indians irrespective of their caste, creed or color.
Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and Shri Durga Prasad Khatri are credited with the construction of the Bharat Mata Temple, the former was a nationalist leader and the latter a reputed numismatist and antiquarian. It struck them that Benaras or Kashi (the other two names by which Varanasi is known) is home to many temples and mosques. But there is no such edifice in this cultural capital of the country which would stand as a fine symbol of the spirit of nationalism and secularism. So they hit upon this novel idea of a temple where the country would be worshipped, where there would be no customary Gods and Goddesses and which would have no religious association. The Bharat Mata Temple was therefore constructed and in the year 1936. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.
Bharat Mata Temple is located at 8 km distance from the BHU, 2 km distance from the Cantt Varanasi and 3 km west to the Godaulia. You can easily reach the Temple by taking the Auto rickshaw from Varanasi Railway Station or Bus Stand, it will take only 10 minutes to reach there and will cost just Rs 5. You can also take the Rickshaw and reach there only by paying Rs 10 and spending 15 minutes of time.
Best time to be in Varanasi is October – February end. Temperature dips down to chilly cold and people can be seen fully covered in woolens. Cold winds coming from Himalayas and the water of Ganges makes it a pleasantly cool place to spend days here.
