The Temple of Durga is dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva, goddess Parvati. Durga is an incarnation of her. Durga Temple of Varanasi located in the south of the city, a 5-minute walk from the Assi Ghat, has long been forbidden to strangers. Recently, the entry is allowed, as long as the tourist behaves decently and wears sober clothing. The pujari (priest) invites a visitor to the santum sanctorum where the goddess Durga resides, depicted by a stylized face painted in vermilion. The visitors and faithful place the offerings purchased outside. At the entrance of the main shrine is a beautiful bronze lion, the vehicle of the goddess. The site and the statue (murti of Durga) are quoted in a text of the 12th century. The building of the temple is elegant, featuring a shikhara, curvilinear tower of a temple. It was rebuilt by Queen Bhavani of Bengal in the 18th century. Just to the north, a large sacred basin (kunda) is located that allows the pilgrims to do their ablutions. This water basin is called Durga Kund.