A sandstone Shiva temple in Kandwa village on the city's southern edge, often described as the oldest standing temple in Varanasi.
Carved deities on the sandstone wall of Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple, Kandwa
The Kardam Kund tank beside Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple, Kandwa, Varanasi
Timings and fees are not confirmed from an official source; check before you go.
Scholars date its curved Nagara tower to the 10th–12th centuries, though it has been taken down and rebuilt, so only parts are original. It stands on the bank of the Kardam Kund, a large tank built by Rani Bhavani of Natore around 1751–57, and is a state-protected monument.
Tradition holds that the sage Kardama, a son of Brahma, installed the linga here. Kandwa is the first night halt of the Panchkroshi Yatra, the pilgrims' circuit around sacred Kashi.
Sources: Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) — Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple · Cultural Heritage of Varanasi (Rana P.B. Singh & Pravin S. Rana, Indian Institute of Heritage) — Kardameshvara Temple · Wikipedia — List of State Protected Monuments in Uttar Pradesh (S-UP-140, Kardmeshwar Mahadeva Mandir; from the ASI list) · OpenStreetMap — Kardmeshwar Temple (node 7997453201)
