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Located
on
the
banks
of
the Hooghly
River,
the
Dakshineshwar
Kali
Temple
is
one
of
the
most
popular
places
of
worship
not
only
in Kolkata but
all
across
eastern
India.
The
temple
was
founded
by
Rani
Rashmoni
in
1855,
a
philanthropist
and
an
ardent
devotee
of
goddess
Kali.
The
presiding
deity
of
the
temple
is
Bhavatarini,
an
aspect
of
goddess
Kali.
The
19th
century
mystic
sage
and
reformer
Ramakrishna
Paramhansa
and
his
wife
Sarada
Devi
were
associated
with
this
temple
for
a
major
part
of
their
lives.
A
divine
place
The
temple
is
built
in
the
traditional
‘nava-ratna’
or
the
nine
spires
style
following
the
Bengal
School
of
Architecture.
The
three-storeyed
south
facing
temple
has
nine-spires
in
the
upper
two
storeys.
It
stands
on
a
high
platform
with
a
flight
of
stairs.
The
idol
of
Bhavatarini
standing
on
Lord
Shiva
is
securely
housed
inside
the
garbha
griha
(sanctum
sanctorum).
Both
the
idols
are
placed
on
a
thousand
petal-lotus
flower
made
of
pure
silver.
Opposite
the
main
temple,
a
row
of
12
identical
Shiva
(mini)
temples
stand
facing
east.
These
are
built
in
the
‘Aat
Chala’
style
of
Bengal
Architecture.
A
Vishnu
temple
is
located
on
the
extreme
north-east
of
the
main
complex
and
houses
the
idols
of
Radha
and
Krishna.
A
small
temple
dedicated
to
Rani
Rashmoni
was
added
later
and
is
located
near
the
entrance.
One
of
the
top
religious
places
in
Kolkata,
Dakshineshwar
Kali
Temple
attracts
thousands
of
devotees
every
day.
Pay
homage,
watch
the
aarti,
take
a
dip
in
the
river
or
simply
watch
the
sunset
sitting
at
the
ghats
of
Hooghly—a
visit
to
the
iconic
temple
is
a
must
if
you
are
in
Kolkata.
If
there’s
a
temple
that
has
always
been
revered
as
one
of
the
holiest
temples
in
Kolkata
by
all
the
local
residents,
it
is
the
Dakshnineswar
Kali
Temple.
The
temple
has
been
there
in
the
city
for
ages
and
has
always
been
one
of
the
most
important
places
of
worship
for
the
Bengali
population
at
large.
Apart
from
the
local
population
of
Kolkata
and
devotees
from
other
neighbouring
towns
of
West
Bengal,
the
Dakshineswar
Kali
Temple
also
sees
the
presence
of
tourists
who
visit
this
place
in
great
numbers,
both
for
offering
their
prayers
and
also
for
exploring
an
age
old
temple
which
has
no
less
than
a
heritage
status
in
the
city
now.
As
far
as
the
Dakshineswar
Kali
Temple
timings
are
concerned,
the
temple
is
open
from
6
am
in
the
morning
to
9
pm
in
the
night.
Deep
rooted
in history
The
Dakshineswar
Kali
Temple
is
not
just
any
other
temple
dedicated
to
Goddess
Kali.
Well,
the
reference
is
not
just
to
the
fact
that
it
is
one
of
the
holiest
and
one
of
the
most
revered
temples
in
the
city
and
among
the
Bengali
population.
The
temple
has
also
been
an
important
part
of
West
Bengal’s
history.
While
the
spiritual
history
of
this
temple
has
the
mystic
sage
and
reformer
Ramakrishna
Paramahansa
and
his
wife
Sarada
Devi
attached
to
it,
it
is
also
the
socio-political
history
which
is
also
associated
to
this
temple.
Founded
by
Rani
Rashmoni
of
Bengal
in
1855,
the
Dakshineswar
Kali
Temple
came
into
being
just
two
years
before
the
Sepoy
Mutiny
of
1857,
or
which
is
also
popularly
known
as
India’s
first
war
of
Independence.
It
is
also
the
architecture
of
this
temple
which
has
a
historical
touch
to
it.
After
all,
the
temple
has
been
built
in
the
most
traditional
form
of
architecture
that
most
ancient
Bengali
temples
are
known
to
have.
The
beauty
and
charm
of
the
Dakshineswar
Kali
Temple
is
known
to
be
such
that
a
trip
to
Kolkata
is
often
said
to
be
incomplete
without
a
visit
to
this
temple.
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