Kalighat Kali Mandir, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal

Kalighat Kali Temple is located in Kalighat, and dedicated to the Goddess Kali. Kalighat used to be a Ghat (a stage leading to the banks of river), sacred and dedicated to Godderss Kali, on the old course (Adi Ganga) of the Hooghly river (Bhāgirathi) in the city of Kolkata. The name Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat. The river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hooghly. The Adi Ganga was the original course of the river Hooghly. Hence the name Adi (original) Ganga.

Kalighat is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. According to ancient stories, Prajapati Daksha (father of Goddess Sati) once insulted Lord Shiva. Unable to accept this insult of her husband, Sati killed herself. When Lord Shiva heard of his wife’s (Sati’s) death, he picked her body on his shoulder and started Rudra Tandava (divine dance for destruction). In order to stop him from destroying the world, Lord Vishnu divided the corpse of Sati into 51 parts with his Chakra. Kalighat Temple is the place where toes of the right foot of Dakshayani or Sati fell, making the place a Shakti Peetha.

Kalighat is also associated with the worship offered to Kali by a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri, and the Chowringee area of Calcutta is said to have been named after him.

Daily Schedule & Rituals

◙ Temple Opens – 05.00 A.M
◙ Morning Darshan For General Public – 06.00 A.M. to 02.00 P.M.
◙ Evening Darshan For General Public – 05.00 P.M. to 10.00 P.M.
◙ Temple Closes – 10.30 P.M.

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