Dakhineswar Kali Temple: A Spiritual Journey in Kolkata

Are you looking for a place where you can experience the divine presence of Goddess Kali and witness her grace, power, compassion, wisdom, etc.? If yes, then you should visit the Dakhineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. This temple is one of the most popular and revered temples dedicated to Goddess Kali in India. It is also known as the “Goddess of Kolkata” and the “Mother of the Universe”.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Dakhineswar Kali Temple. We will cover its history, architecture, idols, legends, attractions, and more. We will also give you some tips on how to visit or explore this temple and make the most of your spiritual journey.

History of Dakhineswar Kali Temple

The Dakhineswar Kali Temple was built by Rani Rashmoni Devi in 1855. She was the queen of Bengal and a devout follower of Goddess Kali. She had a dream about building a temple near Ganges after she was disappointed by her husband’s death and her son’s rebellion.

She decided to build a statue instead of going to Varanasi because she wanted to stay close to her husband’s soul and her son’s repentance. She started building the temple with her own hands and funds, despite facing many challenges and oppositions from others.

The temple took 12 years to complete and was inaugurated on 18th January 1857. It was named after Dakhineswar, which means “the abode of Lord Shiva”. The temple became a symbol of Rani Rashmoni’s devotion and courage.

Photo of Dakshineswar Kali Temple 1/3 by

The temple witnessed many historical events during its construction and later years. Some of them are:

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 also known as India’s first war of Independence: The temple was attacked by British forces during this rebellion that shook the foundations of colonial rule in India.

The Partition of Bengal: The temple was divided into two parts by the British authorities after they annexed Bengal in 1911.

The Partition of India: The temple was again divided into two parts by the British authorities after they partitioned India in 1947.

The Liberation War: The temple was liberated by Indian forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

The Golden Temple: The temple was renovated and beautified by the Indian government in 2016 as part of its efforts to promote tourism and cultural heritage.

Also read: Dakshineswar Temple - Holy Pilgrimage in Kolkata

Architecture of Dakhineswar Kali Temple

The Dakhineswar Kali Temple has a unique architecture that reflects its spiritual purpose and cultural heritage. It has nine spires that symbolize nine aspects of Goddess Kali: power, courage, compassion, wisdom, etc.

The red sandstone material gives it a warm and majestic appearance. The intricate carvings and sculptures depict scenes from Hindu mythology and history. The domes, arches, pillars, windows The domes, arches, pillars, windows, etc. create a harmonious balance between nature and art.

Idols of Dakhineswar Kali Temple

The main idol of Goddess Kali in the sanctum sanctorum is a masterpiece of art and devotion. It is about 2.5 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. It is made of red sandstone and carved by skilled artisans.

Photo of Dakshineswar Kali Temple 2/3 by

The idol shows Kali’s fierce and fearless attitude towards evil and ignorance. She has four arms, each holding a different weapon: a trident, a sword, a garland, and an axe. She also has a snake around her neck that symbolizes her power over death.

The idol has a serene and compassionate expression on her face. She has closed eyes that indicate her meditation and concentration. She also has a lotus flower in her right hand that symbolizes her purity and grace.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Dakhineswar Kali Temple is from 6 am to 8 pm. It is best during the summers, as in winters, the weather can be very problematic, especially for the kids. You can visit throughout the year as the weather is not a problem in Kolkata.

The temple is a major draw for local Hindu devotees and can be very busy during the daytimes and evenings, especially at weekends. Arrive in the early morning to beat the crowds and heat. You can also enjoy the evening arti or aarti, which is a ritual of offering prayers and chants to Goddess Kali.

Other Attractions of Dakhineswar Kali Temple

The Dakhineswar Kali Temple has many other attractions that enhance its spiritual and cultural value.

Photo of Dakshineswar Kali Temple 3/3 by — (c) Telegraph India

- One of them is the Nat Mandir or Vishnu Mandir near the main temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna One of them is the Nat Mandir or Vishnu Mandir near the main temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It has a beautiful dome-shaped roof and a colorful facade. It also has a statue of Lord Krishna playing his flute.

- Another attraction is the Nahabat chamber where Ramkrishna Paramhansa lived for 40 years and wrote his spiritual teachings. He was a saint and a mystic who had a deep connection with Goddess Kali. He also had many visions and experiences of her.

- A third attraction is the shrine in honor of Rani Rashmoni that is located near the main temple. It has a statue of her holding a lotus flower. She was the queen of Bengal and a devout follower of Goddess Kali. She had built the temple for Goddess Kali’s sake.

- A fourth attraction is the bathing ghat where devotees can take a dip in the holy river Ganges before entering the temple. The river Ganges is considered to be sacred and pure by Hindus. It also has many temples and ghats along its banks.

- A fifth attraction is the landscaped garden where visitors can enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of the place. The garden has many flowers, trees, fountains, and statues that create a serene atmosphere.

How to Reach

There are different ways to reach the Dakhineswar Kali Temple from Kolkata city centre depending on your mode of transportation and preference. Here are some of the options:

By metro:

You can take a metro train from Belgachia Metro Station to Dakshineswar Metro Station, which is located near the temple. The station is part of the Kolkata Metro Line 3 and it is easily accessible by public transport or by taxi. The journey takes about 33 minutes and costs ₹10 - ₹12.

By bus:

You can take a bus from Shyambazar Bus Stand to Tantipara Bus Stop, which is also near the temple. The bus stop is well connected by local and long-distance buses. The journey takes about 29 minutes and costs ₹24 - ₹35.

By taxi:

You can take a taxi from Kolkata city centre to the temple, which is about 6.3 km away. The taxi fare may vary depending on the traffic and route, but it may cost around ₹220 - ₹270.

You may also like to check out: DAKSHINESHWAR & ISKCON || TWO DAYS IN KOLKATA

The Dakhineswar Kali Temple is a place where you can experience the divine presence of Goddess Kali and witness her grace, power, compassion, wisdom, etc.

The temple has a unique architecture that reflects its spiritual purpose and cultural heritage. It has many other attractions that enhance its spiritual and cultural value. You can visit or explore these attractions to make your visit more enjoyable and memorable.

If you are looking for a place where you can experience the divine presence of Goddess Kali and witness her grace, power, compassion, wisdom, etc., then you should visit the Dakhineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. You will not regret it!

We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback about this article or our website, please feel free to contact us at support@tripoto.com . We would love to hear from you!

Dakshineswar Kali Temple Reviews

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The Temple complex on the bank of river Hooghly, West Bengal. Type Bengal architecture Style Navaratna Founder Rani Rashmoni Completed 31 May 1855; 166 years ago Temple(s) 12 Shiva temples, 1 temple of Radhakrishna and 1 Main Temple of Goddess Kali HISTORY : The Dakshineswar Kali Templewas founded around the middle of the 19th century by Rani Rashmoni.Rani Rashmoni was a Mahishya by caste[8] and was well known for her philanthropic activities. In the year 1847, Rashmoni prepared to go upon a long pilgrimage to the sacred Hindu city of Kashi to express her devotions to the Divine Mother. Rani was to travel in twenty-four boats, carrying relatives, servants, and supplies. According to traditional accounts, the night before the pilgrimage began, Rashmoni had a vision of the Divine Mother goddess Kali in a dream and reportedly said, There is no need to go to Banaras. Install my statue in a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges river and arrange for my worship there. Then I shall manifest myself in the image and accept worship at that place. Profoundly affected by the dream, Rani immediately looked for and purchased a 30,000-acre plot in the village of Dakhineswar. The large temple complex was built between 1847 and 1855. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) plot was bought from an Englishman, Jake Hastie, and was then popularly known as Saheban Bagicha.Partly old Muslim burial ground shaped like a tortoise, considered befitting for the worship of Shakti according to Tantra traditions, it took eight years and nine hundred thousand rupees to complete the construction. The idol of Goddess Kali was installed on the Snana Yatra day on 31 May 1855 amid festivities at the temple formerly known as Sri Sri Jagadishwari Kali, with Ramkumar Chhattopadhyay as the head priest. Soon his younger brother Gadai or Gadadhar (later known as Ramakrishna) moved in and so did his nephew Hriday to assist him. On 31 May 1855 more than 1 lakh (one hundred thousand) Brahmins were invited from different parts of the country to grace the auspicious occasion. The next year, Ramkumar Chattopadhyay died, and the position was given to Ramakrishna along with his wife Sarada Devi, who stayed in the south side of the Nahabat (music room) in a small room on the ground floor, which is now a shrine dedicated to her. Ramakrishnana was responsible for bringing much in the way of both fame and pilgrims to the temple. Rani Rashmoni lived for only five years and nine months after the inauguration of the temple. She fell seriously ill in 1861. Realizing that her death was near, she decided to hand over the property she had purchased in Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh) as a legacy for the maintenance of the temple to the temple trust. She accomplished her task on 18 February 1861 and died on the next day.After her death, her sons-in-law took to celebrating Durga Puja in their respective premises.

Aditya Sen

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Dakshineshwar Kali Temple(wiki) In the early phase of 1800's, Dakshineswar was a mere village, which nestled along the eastern bank of the Ganges River. Dense forest surrounded the area. It is said that Rani Rashmoni of Janbazar, while on her pilgrimage to Varanasi, had a dream, where she was instructed to built a Kali temple. Rani Rashmoni was quite a dynamic woman, who was highly respected and adorned by her people. She was intensely moved by the dream and to materialize it, she instructed her people to search for suitable plots to erect the Kali Temple. After a long hunt for land, eventually a 20-acre plot was selected in the village of Dakshineswar. A part of the land belonged to the European Christian, whereas the other part was a Muslim burial ground. In the year 1847 AD, under the patronage of Rani Rashmoni, the construction of Dakshineswar Temple was initiated on this very site, signifying the unity of different faiths.

Megha Paul

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5 pm: Dakshineswar Kali Temple On the opposite side of the Hooghly River (which is a distributary arm of the River Ganges) and a boat ride away from Belur Math is the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Sitting snug on the banks of the Hooghly, this temple beckons big crowds of worshippers who can also bathe in the river. Dedicated to goddess Kali, the construction of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple was done between 1847 and 1855, covering an area of about 25 acres. Ramakrishna Paramhansa, was also associated with this temple as a priest and finally achieved his spiritual vision in this temple itself. I walked into his meditation room, which is open to the visitors. The entire compound is sort of a fair, showcasing Kolkata street food, stalls and plenty of religious objects for sale. There is no way you can miss grabbing a bite of the puchkas, Naleen gud sandesh, churmur and masala lemon tea. However, be an early bird for this one.

nivedita1220

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The fifth and the last day in Kolkata was the busiest since I was finally feeling better and had a long list of places pending on my list. I started the day with a visit to Dakshineshwar Templealong with a friend. Since Metros start only by 10 AM on Sundays, we took a bus till Dunlop and took an auto from there to the temple. On our way, we stopped at my friend's family math ' Mahamilan Math' which was extremely peaceful and tranquil and I bought some really mesmerizing incense sticks from there. I got Goosebumps when I finally had 'Darshan' of the 'Ma Kali Idol'. I looked at Ma Kali and all I could hope for was to imbibe courage and strength in my being, as every ounce of her presence spoke of those two qualities. I felt really empowered and after sitting at the ghat for a while, I meditated in the hall inside the temple premises.

Nilanjana Chatterjee

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A very beautiful and a very scenic place of worship. This temple was built by Rani Rashmoni who happens to be a great devotee of Lord Ramakrishna Dev. Built near the banks of River Ganga, this place is considered to be quite spiritual as the Lord himself resided here when he was alive.Local's tip: Firstly, make sure you don't wear a costly footwear because you need to remove them at a common place and the way it is kept, there are high chances of damage or theft. Also, if you wish to worship, try and buy your things for worship like flowers and sweets from the very first shop near the entrance. Most importantly, photography is prohibited in the temple.