Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat, south Kolkata, West Bengal (on the Adi Ganga) · Goddess Kali (Dakshina Kali), with Nakuleshwar Bhairav (Shiva) as guardian

Kolkata's ancient Shakti Peetha, which gave the city its name, where the toes of Sati's right foot are said to have fallen.

Kalighat is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and the most important Kali temple in Kolkata; many believe the name 'Calcutta' comes from Kalikshetra or Kalighat. The present temple was completed in 1809 with the patronage of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family, in the Bengali aat-chala style, on the bank of the Adi Ganga, an old course of the Hooghly. The striking image of Kali, with three large eyes and a long golden tongue, is a black stone face. A major renovation, including a gold covering on the spire top and a skywalk from Kalighat Road, was inaugurated in April 2025.

Timings

Temple open: approx. 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM daily
Bhog closure: approx. 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Note: Timings extend on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Kali Puja and other festivals; check locally.

Darshan types and costs

General darshan – Free
Darshan with a sebait / special queue – Varies – check at the temple office

Sevas and costs

Puja dala offering – Varies (baskets sold in shops outside; approx. ₹50 – ₹500+) (Daily, during temple hours)
Special puja through a sebait – Varies – agree in advance (Daily, mostly mornings)
Bhog offering – Varies (Daily, midday (bhog aarti approx. 1 – 2 PM))
Kali Puja (Dipanwita / Shyama Puja) – Free (Kartika Amavasya (Diwali night, Oct/Nov))
Sosthi tala and Kundupukur rituals – Varies (small offerings) (Daily)

How to book darshan

No online booking. Darshan is free; pujas are arranged on the spot with the temple office or sebaits.

Visitor information

Dress code

Modest traditional clothing. Remove footwear outside.

Best time to visit

October to March. Weekday mornings are least crowded. Kali Puja and Navaratri are the most festive.

How to reach

air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, about 25 km.
rail: Howrah (about 9 km) and Sealdah (about 8 km) stations; Kalighat suburban station nearby.
road: Kalighat Metro station (Blue Line) is about 1 km away; Jatin Das Park is also close. Buses and taxis run along SP Mukherjee Road.

Festivals

Kali Puja (Dipanwita) – Kartika Amavasya (Oct/Nov)
Durga Puja – Sep/Oct
Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) – Mid-April
Snan Yatra – Jyeshtha Purnima (Jun)
Tuesdays and Saturdays – Weekly