Durga Temple

Durga Temple is one of the most important temples in Varanasi and is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga. It was having a lot of monkey in this temple so is also known as the Monkey temple. Durga temple is situated in the Durga Kund, Varanasi. It is believed that the existing image of the goddess appeared automatically in the temple. Next to the temple, it has a kund (pond) which was earlier connected to the river Ganges.

In the Hinduism, Durga is considered as the incarnation of the Shakti (Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva). Mata Durga is dressed in red colour having a ride on a tiger and entirely equipped with the Shiva’s trident, Vishnu’s discus, sword etc.

Construction

Durga Temple was constructed in the 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore (Bengal. The temple was inbuilt North Indian Nagara sort of architecture. The temple is painted red with ochre to match the colours of the central icon of Durga, the goddess of strength and power. Inside the temple, many elaborately carved and engraved stones can be found. The temple is formed from many small sikharas conjoined together.

Location

Durga Temple is situated on the Sankat Mochan Road, adjacent to Durga Kund, 100 meters north of Tulsi Manas Mandir, 700 meters north-east of Sankat Mochan Mandir and 1.3 km north of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.