About Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, believed to be where the toes of the right foot of Sati fell. The presiding deity is Kali in her most fierce form — skull-garlanded, with a metre-long golden tongue, the cosmic mother of time and liberation. The temple gave its name to 'Kalikata' — which the British anglicised to Calcutta. The cremation ground adjacent to the temple reinforces Kali's role as the destroyer of ego and the bestower of moksha. The temple's lanes (bylanes near Southern Avenue) are full of flower sellers, sweet shops and priestly families.

The current temple was built in 1809 by Sabarna Roy Chowdhury, in a tradition of caste-open worship. The great 19th-century mystic Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a priest here and experienced his profound visions of Kali at this temple. His room is preserved nearby at the Ramakrishna Math.

Darshan & Aarti

🚌 How to reach

Last mile: Kalighat Metro Station (Line 1, Blue Line) is 200 m from the temple — the easiest approach. Autos and taxis from Hazra crossing.

Where to stay

Estimated expense (per person)

Estimated for a short 2-day pilgrimage.

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