Durga Temple, Ramnagar — Attraction in Ramnagar

History edit The temple was built by the Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh, who ruled the Benaras state (Varanasi) between 1738 and 1770; the person who also built the Ramnagar fort. He was succeeded by his son Raja Chait Singh (Chet Singh) in 1770. The Benaras state was then the vassal of the Nawab of Oudh Shuja-Ud-Daula. After the death of Nawab of Oudh in 1775, the first governor general of British India Warren Hastings decided to take over the governance of the Benaras state. He imposed unrealistic taxes like 2.3 million rupees and an additional war tax of 5 lakhs rupees on Raja Chait Singh which was reluctantly paid by the king. In 1778 the East India company demanded 2000 mounted troop from raja Chait Singh which was ignored by the king. Later the company reduced its demand to 1000 mounted troops. King offered the company 500 mounted and 500 foot soldiers which accepted by the company but king failed to provide such soldiers. Warren Hastings ordered the two sepoy companies to arrest the king of Benaras. The sepoy companies invaded the capital of Benaras state Ramnagar from its western side. The durga temple situated at the boundary of the western side of the capital Ramnagar and hence became the first victim of that attack. The British sepoy company tried to demolish the temple by canons. Several rounds of canon were fired on the temple and a major portion of the temple was destroyed. A brown patch marked by rounds of canon on the top of the temple is evidently telling the story of that attack. After a fierce war between the army of Benaras and the British East India company, the army of Benaras lost the battle. The king somehow escaped from the fort of Ramnagar by a tunnel and was exiled for 30 years. After this the Benaras state came under the paramountcy of the British Empire and was ruled by successor of Raja Chait Singh under the name of the Queen of the United Kingdom. The new rulers of Benaras state wanted to reconstruct the damaged portion of the temple exactly same as the original but due to the intricate design of the temple no one came forward. The king announced hefty prize for building the temple. One person came forward and promised the king to make the temple exactly the same as the original and in the case of his failure, he will jump off the top of the temple and kill himself. He built the entire temple exactly the same but failed to reconstruct the top design of the temple. When he realised that he has failed in his promise he jumped off the top of the temple. His genius work can be compared now by detailed visualisation of the sculptures which survived the attack the sculptures which was built by him.

It was also believed that the temple originally devoted to Lord Vishnu but due to some paranormal activities in the temple compound, the Brahmins of the court of the king suggested to convert the temple to...

Durga Temple in Ramnagar is truly a hidden gem for those seeking peace, spirituality, and a break from the everyday chaos. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main city, this temple offers a calm and soothing environment that instantly puts your mind at ease.

The moment you step inside the temple premises, you’re greeted by a sense of serenity that’s becoming increasingly rare in today's busy world. The temple isn’t overly crowded, which makes it a perfect spot for quiet worship, personal reflection, or simply spending some peaceful time surrounded by divine energy. The aura here is very grounding — you feel spiritually recharged even if you stay for just a short while.

Dedicated to Goddess Durga, the temple holds cultural and religious significance for the locals, yet it's not overly commercialized or chaotic like many other popular religious spots. The structure may be simple in its appearance, but it adds to the authenticity and calmness of the place. The gentle ringing of bells, the aroma of incense, and the sight of devotees offering prayers — everything together creates a deeply spiritual atmosphere.

The surroundings are fairly clean and well-maintained, although a little more effort towards beautifying the space (like adding benches or improving pathways) would enhance the overall experience for visitors. Some information boards or historical insights about the temple's origin could also be a great addition for those who are curious about the cultural background.

This place is ideal for people who are looking to spend a few peaceful moments with themselves or with the divine. Whether you’re a local or a traveler in Varanasi looking to explore places beyond the mainstream, Durga Temple in Ramnagar is definitely worth a visit.

It’s not just a place of worship — it’s a space where you can pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. I’d highly recommend it for a peaceful outing or a...

Maa Durga temple with its very importance in the Indian old architecture. It is very popular and widely known for its huge and magnificent beautifully carved structures and what we call in hindi "नक्काशी". It is also known for its story that once English force has attacked this temple and when they shot some bullets they saw blood coming from the stone and they walked away leaving the temple as it is. One can see three spot of some red colour. I'm myself is very not sure about the authenticity of the story. There is also a very famous second story about this temple. Actually it is same story of Taj Mahal the the king order his Executioner to cut the hand of the architecturer who designed this temple. Toy can see a stone structures telling this story. Again i write what i got from the people of Ramnagar and not very sure of authenticity of any of this Story. But this place is very beautiful and peaceful. One can get the peace of mind at this place. A very holy place in hindi myth. So let's check out this place. I'm sure you...