Kalighat Temple

Kalighat Temple is one of the most prominent temples of Kolkata dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. Where devotees come every day for prayer from all over the country. 

This temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths where the four toes of the right foot of the goddess fall.

In the sanctum sanctorum, there is a unique idol of the goddess, displayed with three eyes, four hands, and a long protruding tongue.

It is made out of sandstone crafted by the twin saints, Atmaram Giri and Brahmananda Giri. The tongue and the eyes of the idol are made of gold. The tiles in this structure painted with peacocks and flowers, which gives the temple a colonial charm.

Tourists can also visit a sacred pond called Kundupukur located inside the complex. Legend has it that bathing in it makes it easier for women to conceive.

It is believed that this temple was built during Chandragupta II, the ruler of the Gupta Empire. Its original structure was a small hut, while the present temple built by Sabarn Roy Chowdhury, a landlord from Kolkata in 1809.

Legend has it that when Lord Shiva was performing the Rudra Tandava dance with the body of Goddess Sati on his shoulder, his body got mutilated, and its pieces fell at various places. Each of these places became a Shaktipeeth, and these 51 Shaktipeeths have different religious significance.

The Kalighat temple is a must-visit place in Kolkata due to its religious value, history, and legend.