Due to its history and folklore, the Kalighat Kali Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peeths on Earth, is regarded as one of the holiest. The temple, which is devoted to the Hindu goddess Kali, is situated beside the Adi Ganga, a narrow canal that joins the Hooghly River. Because “Adi” means “original,” the canal’s name refers to the Hooghly River’s former original channel.
Kolkata’s Kalighat Kali Temple’s history
The current temple complex is 200 years old and was constructed in the 19th century. However, references to the temple can also be discovered in MansarBhasan’s composition from the 15th century and the 17th-century book Kavi Chandi. In LalmohonBidyanidhis’ “SambandaNirnoy,” the Kalighat Kali temple is mentioned once more.
According to legend, the first temple was a modest hut building that was later upgraded by King Manasingha in the early 16th century to become a legitimate temple. The Barisha family, who were patrons of Sabarna Roy Chowdhury, oversaw the construction of the current building, which was finished in or around 1809.
Great descriptions and verifiable evidence of the presence of Gupta Empire coins have provided an answer to the question of how old the temple was. The most renowned archer coins discovered in Kalighat following Kumargupta I’s reign serve as evidence that the temple existed during the Gupta period.
Natmandir
A large rectangular verandah called Natmandir was constructed next to the main temple structure. In 1835, Zamindar Kashinath Roy ordered the construction of the natmandir.
JorBengali
The main temple’s Jor Bangla is a verandah or platform located directly outside of the sanctum sanctorum. In addition to the natmandir, you can also watch the rites taking place inside the GarbhaGriha from this platform.
Soshti Tala
The sosti tala is a three-foot-high rectangular platform that serves as an altar for three stone statues, known as Sosti, Shitala, and Mangal Chandi—three goddesses who are regarded to be a component of Goddess Kali herself.
Harkath Tala
The southern side of Natmandir is where Harkath Tala is situated. Bali, or animal sacrifices, are typically performed here.
Temple of Radha-Krishna
This temple, which the locals also refer to as the Shamo-Ray temple, is situated inside the grounds of the main kali temple to the west. A settlement officer from Murshidabad constructed the separate Radha-Krishnan temple in the year 1723.
Kundupukur
Kindupukur is a holy tank that occupies a space of 7,200 sq ft and is located outside the perimeter walls of both the main temple to the southeast.
Temple of Nakuleshwar Mahadev
Lord Shiva, is the subject of the Nakuleshwar Mahadev Temple. On the other side of the temple, directly behind the police station, lies this temple.
The temple is accessible from 05:00 AM in the morning until 02:00 PM in the afternoon and from five in the evening until ten in the evening.
Entry costs:The temple doesn’t charge a fee to enter.
***Kalighat Station from the southern exit and Jatin Das Park Metro from the northern exit are the closest metro stations to Kalighat Kali Temple.***
