Varanasi · Durga Kund · Navratri
Durga Temple Durga Kund · timings & visitor guide
Plan your visit to Varanasi’s vivid red shrine beside Durga Kund, known for its Nagara spires, sacred pond and lively courtyard.
The basics
What Is the Durga Temple?
The Durga Temple in Varanasi stands beside Durga Kund, a rectangular pond that was once connected to the Ganga. It was built in the 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore, a queen of Bengal, and is dedicated to the goddess Durga.
The temple is built in the North Indian Nagara style, with several small spires (shikharas) joined together, and is painted red with ochre, the colour associated with the goddess. Believers say the icon of Durga was not made by human hands but appeared on its own.
Because of the many monkeys that live around the shrine, it is also nicknamed the Monkey Temple.
- Deity
- Goddess Durga
- Built
- 18th century, by Rani Bhabani of Natore (about 1760 in some accounts)
- Style
- North Indian Nagara, painted red with ochre
- Location
- On Sankat Mochan Road, beside Durga Kund, southern Varanasi
- Distance
- About 700 metres north-east of the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Festivals
- Navratri and Durga Puja
- Timings
- Roughly 4:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00–9:00 PM (about 8:00 PM in winter)
- Entry
- Free
- Time to allow
- About 30 minutes
The temple and the kund
What to See at the Durga Temple
The main shrine is small but richly decorated. The red walls and the carved stonework make it one of the most striking temples in the city, and the kund beside it adds to the setting. The kund was once linked to the Ganga.
Monkeys roam the courtyard, so keep food, glasses and small items out of reach.
On the day
What to Expect During Darshan
The main shrine is compact and the courtyard can become lively. Visit early for a calmer experience, keep offerings simple and watch your belongings around the monkeys.
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1
Arrive at Durga Kund
Autos and e-rickshaws can drop you close to the temple entrance on Sankat Mochan Road.
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2
Prepare your offering
Flowers and simple puja items are available near the entrance.
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3
Join the darshan line
The shrine is compact; queues move faster outside Navratri and festival days.
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4
See the temple and kund
After darshan, pause to appreciate the red architecture and the sacred pond beside it.
Festival crowds
Navratri and Durga Puja
Navratri and Durga Puja are the temple’s main festivals, when thousands of devotees gather for elaborate rituals and offerings. Expect long queues and crowds during these days.
If you want a calmer darshan, visit early in the morning or on an ordinary weekday outside the festival period.
Temple manners
Offerings, Dress and Monkey Safety
Simple offerings
Flowers and small puja items are appropriate; keep food covered until it is needed.
Modest clothing
Wear respectful temple clothing and footwear that is easy to remove.
Secure belongings
Monkeys may grab food, glasses and small loose items in the courtyard.
Festival planning
Navratri brings very large crowds; choose an ordinary morning for a gentler visit.
Plan your visit
Durga Temple Timings
| Session | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Morning darshan | From about 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Afternoon break | About 1:00–3:00 PM |
| Evening darshan | From about 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM (about 8:00 PM in winter) |
| Entry | Free |
Timings come from published visitor guides and can change on festival days. Confirm locally.
Getting there
How to Reach the Durga Temple
The temple is beside Durga Kund on Sankat Mochan Road in southern Varanasi.
-
Step 1
Travel towards Durgakund
Take a cab, auto or e-rickshaw from Assi, Godowlia or elsewhere in the city.
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Step 2
Ask for Durga Mandir
“Durga Mandir” or “Durga Kund” will bring you to the correct roadside entrance.
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Step 3
Visit the temple and pond
Allow time for darshan and a view of the kund beside the red temple complex.
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Step 4
Continue the temple circuit
Travel about 700 metres to Sankat Mochan, then continue to Assi Ghat.
Local advice
Tips for Visiting
- Go in the morning for the calmest darshan, and avoid the Navratri rush if you can.
- Guard your belongings. Monkeys will snatch food and small items.
- Dress modestly, as at any temple in Varanasi.
- Make a morning of it. Combine the temple with Sankat Mochan and Assi Ghat.
Plan a route
Places to Visit Near Durga Temple
Combine these in one outing — each has its own visitor guide.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
About 700 metres south-west — the Hanuman temple traditionally founded by Tulsidas.
Read the guide →
Assi Ghat
The southern end of the ghats, for sunrise and Subah-e-Banaras.
Read the guide →
Tulsi Ghat
The ghat linked with the poet-saint Tulsidas.
Read the guide →In pictures
Durga Temple: Photo Gallery
Quick answers
Durga Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Roughly 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM for morning darshan, and 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM (about 8:00 PM in winter) for evening darshan. Confirm locally, especially on festival days.
Timings, rules and fees at temples and ghats can change with the season and on festival days. Details on this page were last checked in September 2026 — please confirm on the day, especially for aarti and darshan times.
Plan your visit
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