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5. Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalightat Kali temple is one of the 51 Shakti peethas in India. It is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. The temple is situated on the banks of Adi Ganga, which used to be the original course of Hooghly.

According to the legend, this was one of the 51 places where parts of Sati’s body fell after the Rudra Tandava of Shiva. Kalighat was the site where the toes of Sati fell and was discovered by a devotee in the bed of Bhagirathi River and started worshipping it. According to another legend it is associated with the place where a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri offered his worship to the Goddess Kali. Chowringee area in Kolkata is supposed to be named after him.

The temple has existed in its current form only for a little over 200 years, but one can find evidence of its existence in the scriptures and other text dating back to the Gupta period. The temple is maintained and overseen by an administration having members from the government and the Haldar family who also are responsible for conducting worship.

Every day thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple to offer their prayers and express their gratitude. This temple has Sosthi Tala, Natmondir, Jor-Bangla, Harkath Tala, Radha-Krishna Temple, and the sacred tank Kundupukur, each having a spiritual and religious significance.

This place is a must visit for anyone wishing to experience the spiritual and religious aspect of the Indian culture.