Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata: Timings, History & Legends

Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata: Kalighat temple is popular as Kali Mata temple in Kolkata and is a well-known Hindu temple. This is devoted to the goddess Kali.

The temple was established on the Hooghly River, which is why famous as the Ghat temple. Devotees came around the nation to seek the goddess’s blessings.

The idol is made of gold and features four hands, three eyes and a long tongue. Also, the southeast corner of the temple premise has a holy pond called ‘Kundupukur.’

The pond’s water is as sacred as the holy Ganga. Its water is considered holy to bless childless couples with a child. Lord Shiva is placed as Nakuleshwar, and Goddess Sati as Kalika.

What is the timing of seeking Goddess Darshan, and what story does it have? Let’s discuss this in the next sections.

Kalighat Kali Temple Timing

Location: Anami Sangha, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
Temple Timings: From 05:00 AM to 02:00 PM (Morning) 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM (Evening)
Note: Temple is closed from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM for Bhog
Festivals: Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Pohela Boishakh, Navratri, and Dondi Festival are the major festivals of the temple.

Historical Legends of Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata

As per the legends, lord Vishnu cut the Goddess Sati’s dead body with his Sudarshan chakra into 51 pieces; her right toe fell into this place. Lord Vishnu did this to save the universe from Lord Shiva’s fierce anger.

As per another popular story, once a devotee saw a bright ray of light from the Bhagirath river. He specified the light and discovered a human toe in stone form.

In the area, he also found a lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairava. He placed these idols in a small temple and started honouring them in the forest.

Over time, the temple started gaining popularity, hence the Kalighat Kali temple was identified.

Architecture of Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata

Sabarna Roy Choudhary developed the current architecture of Kalighat Kali temple in 1809. The temple is often described in 15th-century Mansar Bhasan.

The first temple was built by King Basant Rai, the Monarch of Jessore (Bangladesh) and Pratapadiya’s uncle.

This is mentioned in many Bengali devotional books from the 15th and 17th centuries. It has been considered to exist since Chandragupta II’s era.

King Mansingh constructed the initial temple, a little hut-shaped building, in the sixteenth century.

In 1809, the present structure was completed under the direction of Sabran Roy Chaudhary.

A remarkable statue of Goddess Kali is housed in the temple’s main hall. The current form of Maa Kali was sculpted by two saints, Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri.

The statue has three eyes, four hands, and a long tongue. It is made of gold. The Victorian-style tiles of the temple are shaped like peacocks and flowers.

Significance of Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata

In Kolkata, the Kali Ghat temple is very popular. On the moon day of the Hindu month Ashwin, during Diwali, people from across India assemble to perform Kali puja.

Devotees perform the puja with great dedication. This temple’s snan yatra is also famous and well-known. Pandits cover their eyes while bathing the idol.

Due to the stunning and unusual structure of the temple, it looks beautiful. Three stones show Goddess Shasti, Sitala, and Mangal chandi.

Unlike other temples, there are female pandits in the temple. A tank in the temple is assumed to hold pure Ganga water. The place is called Kaku-kunda.

As per devotees, bathing here gives multiple advantages. Multiple childless people are said to bathe here in the desire to become parents.

The bathing ghat is known as Jor-Bangla. Harkath Kala has the story of sacrifice. Another temple dedicated to Radha Krishna is the Shamo-Ray temple.

South of the Natmandir, Harkath Tala is the site designated for Bali (sacrifice). There are two adjacent sacrificial platforms for animal sacrifices. This group is known as Hari-Kat.

Goats and lambs are sacrificed in the smaller one, and buffalo are sacrificed in the larger one.

The single-strike sacrifice of the animals involves comparatively little animal suffering in contrast to professional slaughterhouses.

Bhog Offered To Goddess Kali

Kalighat temple in Kolkata is the most known temple honoured by Goddess Kali. The food offered at the temple is unique from others.

The Bhog is served two times a day. Fruits and sweets are offered as the first course around 6:30 AM.

Rice, pulao, and bhajis (vegetables dipped in gram flour and deep fried), mutton, fish, curries, and fruits prepared for the first main Bhog, which is presented around 2:00 P.m.

Between 6 pm to 7 pm when the next main meal is offered. The evening meal includes sandesh, begun bhaja (fried eggplant slices), aloo bhaji, and multiple bhajis made with seasonal vegetables.

At the end, the last meal is offered at 10:30 pm. The main offerings are sweets and milk.

Why is Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata Popular?

Kalighat temple in Kolkata has acquired its popularity due to its age and scented spiritual importance.

It is considered that the temple is one of the significant Shakti peethas. Within the time of Hindu scriptures and revering goddess, a Shakti peeth is a sacred location associated with Goddess Shakti, mainly in her multiple forms as Parvati, Durga, and Kali.

Shakti means the divine feminine force or power, whereas ‘Peeth’ means a place of worship or shrine.

Every Shakti peeth has its own history and description, and each is connected to a specific bodily portion of Goddess Sati.

Thousand of followers visit the temple and honour the Goddess or seek her blessings to have a child.

Amazing Places Inside Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata

1. Natmandir

Natmandir is a large and rectangular verandah created adjacent to the main temple building. In 1835, it was authorized by Zamindar Kashinath Roy.

When devotees climb the stairs of this place, they can clearly see the face of the Goddess. Transformations of the structure take place on time.

2. Jor Bangla

The verandah of the central temple is right to the outside of the sanctum sanctorum. The customs performed inside the temple can be viewed from here too, apart from natmandir.

3. Sosthi Tala

A three feet high rectangular platform; Sosti tala forms an altar for three stone designs that are shown and revered as three goddesses – Sosti, Shitala and Mangal chandi.

These are considered to be a part of Goddess Kali herself. Gobinda das Mondal created the Sosti tala in 1880.

The place is considered to be the samadhi site of Brahmananda Giri. This is also called as Monosha tala apart of Sosti tala at times.

4. Harkath Tala

Harkath Tala is situated on the southern side, next to Natmandir. Animal sacrifices, or Bali, are primarily performed here. Two wooden Bali paths are available for performing animal sacrifices.

Larger animals, like buffaloes, are sacrificed with the larger one, whereas smaller animals, like goats, are sacrificed with the smaller one. One strike is used to sacrifice the animals.

5. Temple of Radha-Krishna

This temple is situated inside the temple grounds, west of the main temple, and is also known to the locals as the Shamo-Ray temple.

In 1723, a settlement officer from Murshidabad constructed a separate temple dedicated to Radha-Krishan.

Later, in 1843, a zamindar constructed a new temple building in the same location named Uday Narayan Mondal, which is now the current temple building.

The current building was named Dolmanco by Madan koley of Saha Nagar in 1858. The kitchen for making Bhog for Radha-Krishna is completely vegetarian a custom that is placed separately from the usual kitchen.

6. Kundupukur

This is located in the southeast and outside of the boundary walls of the central temple; Kundupukur is a sacred tank around an area of 7200 square feet.

This is considered to have been much greater in size and also involved a bigger area than this is today.

Earlier, It was named ‘Kaku-kund’. The water of the tank is thought to be as holy water as the Ganges.

7. Nakuleshwar Mahadev Temple

A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, consort of Goddess Kali, Nakuleshwar Mahadev temple is located inside Kalighat Kali temple.

This is rooted opposite Temple Lane, right after the police station. This is Haldar Para Lane, on which the temple is located. The temple has been mentioned historically in the yore.

Right Time to Visit Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata

The best time to visit Kolkata is from October to March. During this time, the Navaratri celebration is performed with great devotion and enthusiasm.

A large number of devotees visit the temple to seek the deities’ blessings. Moreover, these months have been determined as the best months to visit Kolkata.

How to Reach Kalighat Kali Temple?

There are many ways to reach Kalighat temple in Kolkata, including by bus, train, and flight:

1. Airways
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is the closest airport in Kolkata, and it is connected to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad through continuous domestic flights.

2. Railways
The nearest railway station is Howrah, which is linked to all major cities and states in the country, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Ajmer, and Jaipur. Regular buses and taxis also depart from railway stations.

3. Roadways
Regular buses run from every part of the state. The national highways (NH2 and NH6) link Kolkata with the rest of the country. Visitors can also hire cabs or private vehicles to reach the temple.

Conclusion

Hence, Kalighat temple in Kolkata is a must-visit place for all, filled with spiritual and mythological history.

The temple is situated near Kalighat metro station, ensuring easy access from any part of the country.

Thus, the Kalighat Kali mandir is known as a powerful symbol of belief, custom, and cultural vibrancy.

It is a place where religious devotion combines with artistic expression and historical significance. It is an integral part of Kolkata’s cultural heritage.