Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata
Kolkata, West Bengal
The Dakshineswar Kali Temple stands on the east bank of the Hooghly river, in the north of Kolkata. It was built by Rani Rashmoni, who is said to have been inspired by a dream, and it is dedicated to Goddess Bhavatarini, a form of Kali. The temple is closely tied to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who served as a priest here. It has a nine-spired temple in the Bengali style, a large courtyard, twelve Shiva shrines along the river, and a bathing ghat on the Hooghly.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Goddess Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, in the main temple
- See the nine spires of the temple and the twelve Shiva shrines along the river
- Walk to the ghat on the Hooghly and watch the pilgrims
- Visit the room where Sri Ramakrishna lived, in the grounds, if it is open
Ideal for
- Devotees of Goddess Kali
- Followers of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda
- Families visiting Kolkata for the first time
Good to know
- Hours differ by source, roughly 4 or 6 am to 8 or 10 pm, and one guide says the temple may close from about 12:30 to 3 pm, so check locally
- Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove footwear at the entrance
- The temple is very crowded at weekends and on festival days, so go early
- Phone and camera rules inside are not confirmed, so ask at the gate
- Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours
Spiritual significance
Dakshineswar is where Sri Ramakrishna worshipped Kali, and the temple is one of the best-known places of Bengal's devotion. It sits a short way upriver from Belur Math, which carries his work forward.
Why it matters
- The temple of Bhavatarini: a form of Kali, built in the 19th century
- Sri Ramakrishna's temple: he served here as a priest
- On the Hooghly: a ghat and twelve Shiva shrines by the river