Nageshwar Temple

There's a temple in Bangali Tola that shares its name with one of the most contested Jyotirlingas in India — Nageshwar, the "Lord of the Serpents." The original Nageshwar is claimed by three different sites — Dwarka (Gujarat), Aundha (Maharashtra), and Jageshwar (Uttarakhand) — each insisting it's the true twelfth Jyotirlinga. But in Varanasi, there's no contest. The Nageshwar Temple on Dasaswamedh Ghat Road simply exists, quietly offering the same spiritual merit as all three originals combined. The temple sits in Nageshwar Mandir Gali — a narrow lane off the main Dasaswamedh Ghat Road, in the heart of Bangali Tola. This is one of Varanasi's oldest residential neighborhoods, where Bengali Brahmins have lived for centuries, and the temple serves as their spiritual anchor. The serpent (naga) imagery is prominent — Shiva as the lord of snakes, with Nagaraja (the king of serpents) coiled around his neck. According to the Shiva Purana, Nageshwar is the Jyotirlinga where Shiva protected his devotees from demons and serpents. In Varanasi's version, this protection is localized — the temple is believed to shield the Bangali Tola community from harm, to cure snake bites, and to grant fertility to childless couples. The Nag Panchami festival here is especially vibrant, with live snakes (non-venomous) brought to the temple for blessing.