Belur Math

Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, set on the western bank of the Hooghly River at Belur in Howrah, across the water from Kolkata in West Bengal, India. The complex was founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and the main temple was consecrated in 1938. Its architecture is deliberately synthetic, blending Hindu, Islamic and Christian motifs in a single design intended to express the unity of religions. The Ramakrishna Temple, with its tall central dome and arched entrance, is the focus of the grounds and houses a marble image of Ramakrishna. Smaller shrines nearby mark the sites associated with Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, whose cremation spot is commemorated on the riverbank, and a museum displays belongings and photographs from the order's history. The grounds are broad, quiet and well kept, with lawns, a ghat on the river, and a long tree-lined approach, so the atmosphere is far calmer than at many Kolkata temples. Visitors walk through the compound, may sit in the prayer hall for the evening aarti, and can take the ferry from Dakshineswar for a river approach, which is the most scenic way to arrive. The temple facade is best photographed from the lawn in the late afternoon, and the river views from the ghat are best at the end of the day. Cameras are not permitted inside the temple, and visitors are expected to dress modestly and keep silence in the prayer areas. A visit usually takes one and a half to two hours. Winter weekdays are the quietest, while Sundays, holidays and the birth anniversaries of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda draw large crowds. The compound is closed to visitors between the morning and afternoon sessions, so timing around the opening hours is essential.