Varanasi: Monuments and Historic Buildings

Durga Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is one of the important temples in Varanasi. As there are a large number of monkeys in this temple it is also called as the Monkey Temple.

It was constructed in the eighteenth century by a Bengali Maharani (queen). This temple has a Nagara style or the North Indian style of temple architecture with a multi-tiered shikhara (spire) colored red with ochre.

The temple is located on a rectangular Tank which is called the Durga Kund. As per the Puranas (holy books), Goddess Durga is retaining this place for several years and is protecting the holy city of Varanasi from the South.

As per a legend, the current statue of Goddess Durga was not sculpted by man however it came by itself in the temple. As per Hinduism, Goddess Durga is an embodiment of shakti or female power and hence is clad in red, rides a tiger and is thoroughly armed with Vishnu’s discus, Shiva’s trident and a sword.

In this temple non-Hindus are permitted to enter the courtyard but cannot enter the inner sanctum. During Navratri and other auspicious occasions this temple is visited by thousands of Hindu devotees.