View looking across the tank towards the Durga temple at Varanasi from the Kitchener of Khartoum Collection: 'Views of Benares. Presented by the Maharaja of Benares' by Madho Prasad, c.1905. The Durga temple is popularly known as the Monkey Temple due to the numerous monkeys that occupy it. The temple was built in the 18th century in a North Indian style and is devoted to Durga, the aspect of Shiva's consort, Parvati, and the embodiment of shakti or female power. The multicoloured shikara of the temple is made of five segments symbolising the elements and is supported on finely carved columns.
