Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the sites where, in Hindu tradition, parts of the goddess Sati's body fell to earth. Here the toes of her right foot are said to have landed. The shrine is also traditionally linked with the origin of the name Kolkata. The present temple dates to the early 19th century and follows the Bengal 'aat-chala' style with a curved roof and spire. Inside, the image of Kali has a large gilded tongue and three eyes and is distinct from the more common black-faced depictions. Visitors typically walk through a narrow lane of stalls selling hibiscus garlands, sweets and brass items, leave shoes at the entrance, join the queue for darshan and then pass around the complex, which includes a courtyard, a sacrificial area for goat offerings on certain days, and a tank called Kunda Pukur. A visit takes one to two hours, longer on festival days. The temple is open from about 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM and again from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Tuesdays and Saturdays are traditionally the busiest days and queues can last several hours, as can the period around Kali Puja and Durga Puja. Early morning on a weekday is the calmest option. Priests, known as pandas, may approach visitors offering to speed up darshan for a fee; agreeing on any amount in advance or politely declining is common practice. Entry is free. Kalighat Metro station is a short walk away, and taxis serve the approach road. Photography inside the shrine is not permitted.