A little village called Dakshineshwar, north of Kolkata is home to the Hindu temple known as the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, which is situated on the Hooghly River’s eastern bank. A journey to Kolkata is frequently regarded as incomplete without a visit to the Dakshineswar Kali Temple due to its famed beauty and allure.
While the mystical guru and philosopher Ramakrishna Paramahansa and his wife Sarada Devi are identified with the spiritual history of this temple, the socio-political history connected to the temple is also highly fascinating.
The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple was constructed in the traditional Bengali “Nava-Ratna” or “nine spires” style. The main Kali temple is a three-story structure that faces south and has nine spires spread across the top two stories.
The main temple is constructed in an area of about 46 sq ft and is elevated by a high platform and a set of stairs, giving it a height of more than 100 feet (30m). An audience room is located in a small, covered verandah. In addition, a sizable Natmandir was constructed directly at the front side of temple.
The deity’s idol is kept in the GarbhaGriha (Sanctum Sanctorum). The Kali at Dakshineshwar, sometimes referred to as Bhavatarini, is seated on Shiva’s recumbent chest. The two statues are supported by a pure silver lotus with a thousand petals.
Twelve identical miniature Shiva temples facing east surround the main temple’s courtyard and are arranged in a row. The interiors of these temples are finished in black and white stone. There is a Shivalinga constructed of black stone within each temple. The temples were built in the traditional Bengali “Aat- Chala” (eight eaves) architectural style. The 12 jyotirlingas were considered when building the 12 Shiva temples.
At the northeastern corner of the primary temple is a Vishnu temple with Radha and Krishna idols. The temple, which is also known as Radha Kanta’s temple, is situated on a raised platform and has stairs leading inside. In the Vishnu temple, there are two idols: one of Radha is 16 inches long and the other is 21 and a half inches tall.
***The temple is open to everyone without charge***.
The following hours apply year-round to the temple’s opening:
The distance between the Dakshineshwar Temple and Kolkata is 13 km and 19 km, respectively.
Local Train: Take the train from Sealdah to Dankuni to get to Dakshineshwar from Kolkata. The temple is a short walk from Dakshineshwar station, where you can get off.
To go to the temple, you can take yellow taxis or rent a car in either Kolkata or Howrah. There is also a parking space here. Howrah is a few hours’ journeys from Dakshineshwar, while the airport in Kolkata is around 30 to 40 minutes away.
You can order a private cab from one of the best vehicle rental agencies in Kolkata and travel comfortably to all of the city’s well-known tourist attractions.
