In the lanes above Sankatha Ghat, the goddess who removes sankat, trouble and danger.
Timings and fees are not confirmed from an official source; check before you go.
The temple was built in the 18th century by the ruler of Baroda, at the same time as the ghat below. A large courtyard holds an old pipal tree with small shrines caught in its roots; in the sanctum the silver-faced goddess stands about 1.5 metres tall, flanked by Hanuman and Bhairav.
Local tradition holds that the Pandavas worshipped her during their exile in the forest. Devotees come to her in uncertain times, for protection on journeys, in illness or before exams, and unusually for a goddess temple they may touch her feet.
Sources: Sankatha Devi Temple – kashi.gov.in (Varanasi Smart City; history, coordinates) · Wikipedia — Sankata Devi Mandir (coordinates, Baroda, 18th century) · Wikimedia Commons — Category: Sankata Devi Temple, Varanasi
