Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · temple
Rising in warm red sandstone above the lanes of Daraganj, close to where the Ganga bends toward the Sangam, the Dashashwamedheshwar Mahadev Temple is one of Prayagraj's most venerable Shiva shrines. Its name recalls the Dashashwamedha yagna — the great "ten-horse sacrifice" — and by tradition the site is tied to a legendary yagna performed here by Brahma, with a parallel legend linking a second linga to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. Devotees hold that the temple enshrines two Shiva lingas born of these ancient rites, which is why it draws a steady current of worshippers, especially during the Magh Mela and Kumbh, when Daraganj becomes a gateway to the riverbank.
Rising in warm red sandstone above the lanes of Daraganj, close to where the Ganga bends toward the Sangam, the Dashashwamedheshwar Mahadev Temple is one of Prayagraj's most venerable Shiva shrines.
dawn brings bell-song, the smell of incense and river damp, and priests preparing the lingas with water, milk, bilva leaves and flowers. Mondays and the month of Shravan are especially busy with Shiva devotees. Photography of the exterior is generally fine; be quiet and unobtrusive inside the sanctum, remove footwear, and follow the priests' cues.
Verified: August 2026
Address
Daraganj, near the Ganga ghats and Sangam approach, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211006
How to Reach: Daraganj is about 6-7 km from Prayagraj Junction railway station and roughly 2-3 km from the Sangam. Daraganj has its own small railway halt on the riverside line; autos and e-rickshaws run from the city and Civil Lines. During Magh Mela/Kumbh, expect traffic diversions and walk the final stretch from designated parking.
It is an old red-sandstone Nagara-style Shiva temple in the Daraganj neighbourhood of Prayagraj, close to the Sangam. By tradition it is linked to the Dashashwamedha yagna, the legendary ten-horse sacrifice, and devotees believe it enshrines two Shiva lingas connected to rites associated with Brahma and, in a parallel legend, the Pandavas. It is a living place of worship rather than a museum, busiest during Shravan and the Magh Mela.
The temple is generally open daily in the early morning and again in the evening, roughly 5:00 AM to noon and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with hours extending during the Magh Mela and Kumbh. There is no entry fee. It is best to confirm the exact aarti times locally, as they shift with the season and festival calendar.
Daraganj lies on the riverbank about 6-7 km from Prayagraj Junction and 2-3 km from the Sangam. You can take an auto or e-rickshaw from the city centre or Civil Lines, and Daraganj also has a small railway halt. During major mela seasons, roads are diverted, so you may need to walk the final stretch from designated parking areas.
Daraganj and the Sangam side are full of pure-vegetarian pilgrim food. Near the ghats you will find simple thali kitchens serving unlimited dal, sabzi, rice and rotis, plus stalls frying kachori with aloo-sabzi, samosas and jalebi. A short ride into the old city brings you to the well-known pure-veg kachori-sabzi and jalebi lanes around Loknath, along with kulhad thandai and lassi.
Yes. Because it sits near the riverbank, it pairs naturally with a visit to the Sangam and the Daraganj ghats. Many pilgrims also include the Bade Hanuman (Lete Hue Hanuman) temple and Akshayavat within the fort precinct, and the walk between them gives a good feel for the old riverside quarters of Prayagraj.