History:

Kalighat Kali Temple is one of the oldest and most important Hindu temples in West Bengal, India. It is said to date back to the time of the city's foundation in the early 16th century and many believe that it was built between 1250-1850 CE. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali and the most important festivals celebrated here are Durga Puja and Sandhi Puja. It is often known as the "Black Kali" temple and is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Pithas of India. As a place of religious and cultural significance, Kalighat is highly revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. It plays out the various facets of the Bengali way of life, from the traditional religious to the avant-garde contemporary. The temple has seen various forms of worship in its long and illustrious history and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India. It is one of the best temple in West-Bengal which you must visit.

Facts:

1. Kalighat Kali Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths and is situated in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. 2. It is believed that a part of Sati’s body (the dismembered body of goddess Sati) fell here. 3. The temple was built in 1809 and is visited by hundreds of devotees throughout the year. 4. It is believed that the temple is built over a natural underground source of water coming from river Hooghly or Dakshineshwar. 5. The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Kali, who is depicted with three eyes and four arms in the sanctum sanctorum. 6. The temple complex also houses other gods including Goddess Annapurna, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Bhairavi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha and Ganga & Yamuna. 7. The Kalighat temple is a major center for tantric practices and is known as “Pitha Peetha” or root temple of Goddess Kali. 8. The temple has a tank known as Rahas Tal located near it and devotees usually bath and offer prayers here. 9. Every Tuesday and Saturday, hundreds of devotees, mostly Sadhus, flock to Kalighat Kali Temple for puja. 10. On these days, the Goddess is said to be in a state of ecstasy and hence the pujas conducted are more elaborate and of a longer duration than usual. Here are some facts about the West-Bengal temple.These facts will help you understand why it is oldest temple list of the best temples in West-Bengal

Worship Method:

Kalighat Kali temple, a Shiva temple located in Kolkata, follows the fierce Tantrik worship method of worshiping the Goddess Kali. The Tantrik Kali worship of Kalighat Kali Temple is very different from the gentle Vaishnav Sampraday worship of Navaratna temple located nearby in north Kolkata. The worship method practiced in Kalighat is called ‘kavacha prasana’, which literally means ‘armour offering’. The temple priests chant particular mantras while making offerings of spices, flowers and ritual worship items to the deity. Followers of this practice believe that if the rituals are performed properly, the Goddess will offer them protection and keep away any evil forces that might otherwise harm them. Devotees also offer puja to the deities in the form of animal sacrifices. They also offer abhisekham, or a ritual bath, to the divine figure. This is done by pouring holy water, milk, and other items over the deity. In the Deity temples, the daily puja begins with two main rituals- ‘abhishekam’ or bathing and ‘arati’ or worship with lamps. Worshippers chant mantras and offer flowers, incense, and rice to the deity. Subsequently, the devotees make donations or bring offerings for the murtis of the gods and goddesses. Devotees offer special prayers two times a day- morning and evening. After evening prayers, devotees offer special prayers to Goddess Kali by chanting ‘kurukulam’, which is a special mantra associated with the Goddess. Finally, during the last part of the day, devotees will close the temple sanctum with a Sankalp Mantra. After this, the temple staff cleans and closes the temple. This most visited temple in West-Bengal

Opening Timing:

The Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. top temples in West-Bengal

How to reach:

The closest airport to the temple is the Kolkata Airport, which is about 14.8 km. The closest railway station to the temple is Tollygunge station, which is around 4.8 km away. You can take a prepaid taxi from the airport to the temple or you can take a bus or private hire vehicle. The temple is well-connected by city buses (Bus nos. 9C and 12C). Alternatively, you can also take a cab or auto-rickshaw to reach the temple. famous temples in West-Bengal