Durga Mandir, Varanasi

In the 18th century, philanthropic Indian queen named Rani Bhabani of Natore commissioned the construction of a special Durga Mandir in Varanasi. The temple stands close to Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir, and stands out by its ochre-red painted exteriors and the North Indian Nagara-style architecture.
Long ago, an idol of Durga Devi manifested itself mysteriously, and was later installed to be offered worshiped by the people. The idol itself is breathtakingly beautiful. The temple is surrounded by a huge water tank called kund on one side which was linked to Ganga River earlier.
It is written in the holy Purana, Srimad Devi Bhagwatam, that a certain prince named Sudarshan was a staunch devotee of Devi. By the grace of the goddess, Sudarshan got married to a beautiful and devout princess of Kashi called Sashikala. However, when the jealous kings learnt about this union, they waged a battle with Sudarshan to steal away Sashikala. At this point, the all-powerful Devi intervened and destroyed Sudarshan’s rivals. It was by the blessings of the Devi that a temple was erected for her worship in Varanasi so that the locals could stay protected under the umbrella of her grace. For long, it has been a haunt of astrologers, priests, sadhus and saints.
The temple remains closed after noon, but reopens after 4 PM.