Tulsi Manas Temple is one of the famous temples of the Varanasi and also known as the "Tulsi Birla Manas Mandir". The temple is located about 7 km from the Varanasi railway station and 2 km from the BHU Varanasi. It is sited at Durgakund very close to the Durga Temple in the Varanasi city. It is made up of the white marble in the year 1964 and looks very attractive having magnificent landscaping around it. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Rama and constructed by the family of Benaras. The temple has beautiful images of the Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman.
It has become the point of the tourist attraction in the Kashi. It is considered that the temple is built at the same place where the famous and great Indian Epic "Ramcharitamanasa" written by the saint Goswami Tulsidas. The walls of the Tulsi Manas temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitamanasa, the Hindi version of the Ramayana. The complex philosophies of the Ramayana are described in sheer simplicity of words.
Significance of the Tulsi Manas Temple
Tulsi Manas Temple has both, the historical as well as the cultural importance in the Varanasi. Goswami Tulsidas had written an ancient Hindu Epic Ramcharitamanasa at this place in the Kashi. He had described the life history of the Lord Rama in this Epic and got incredible popularity soon. Many years later, a temple was built at that spot named Tulsi Manas Mandir. In the Ramcharitamanasa, the King Rama is described as the Lord Rama as a Hindu deity.
Lord Rama is the deity worshipped at this temple. Tulsi Das actually created a god out of Rama. Beforehand, Rama was considered as a king who was unparallel.
Description of the Tulsi Manas Temple
The main gate of the temple has written Shri Tulsi Manas Mandir Haridwar. At the right side of the entrance gate, there is an attractive Tulsi Garden which has very calm and clean environment. The Tulsi Garden has the statue of Tulsidas which illustrates the stanza "Tulsi Das chandan ragane, tilak det Raghuvir." On the left side of the main temple, there is a beautiful pond having four Ghats.
Each bank of the temple has different statues denoting special subjects of the Hindu Epics. The northern Ghat of the pond has statue of the Shri Kakbhushundi ji, southern bank has statue of Shri Yagywalkaji Maharaj, eastern ghat has statue of Shri Ashuthosh Shankar (means Lord Shiva) and the western bank has statue of the Goswami Tulsidas Ji. Center of the temple has Ram Darbar with the Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. The statue of all the Gods and Goddess, described in the Hindu epic, is present in the temple. The wall of the temple is described with different types of Chaupayees, Dohas, Chhandas and Sorathas.
The second floor of the temple has statues and scenes of the great Hindu legends from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The temple is named after the great saint of 16th century Tulsidas.
Opening Time of the Temple is: 5:30 am to 12:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Aarti time is: 6:00 am in the morning and 4:00 pm in the evening.
Time to visit
The Tulsi Manas Mandir remains open from 5.30 in the morning to 12.00 and re- opens again at 3.30 to remain open till 9 at night. The best time to visit the temple would be during October to April.
Other places to Visit
•Durga temple
•Vishwanath temple
•Sankat Mochan temple
•Bharat Mata temple
•Sarnath temple
•Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
•Archaeological Museum
•Bharat Kala Bhavan
•Buddhist Stupas
How to Reach to the Temple
One can reach the temple as Varanasi is well connected and accessible to major Indian cities and tourist spots. Cabs, taxis and autos are available throughout the year to visit the temple. There are daily domestic flights to and from Varanasi to several cities in India. There are two railway stations in Varanasi, the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction. Devotees have facility of trains from Mughalsarai, just 10 km south of Varanasi.
