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Explore Kolkata  Kolkata Tourist Information Kolkata Places Of Worship

 


Dakshineshwar Temple

Rani Rasmoni built this temple on the banks of the river Ganges.The large temple complex was built between1847 and 1855.It has as its centerpiece a shrine of the goddess Kali and there are 12 other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.There is also another temple dedicated to Radha Krishna. It is here that
Ramkrishna attained his spiritual enlightenment.He preached unity among people of different religions. He was a conduit for divinity into the human world and the prescence of that divinity may still be experienced at the Kali temple of Dakshineshwar.

▪ Belur Math

This beautiful place, on the banks of the river Hooghly, is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. The beautiful settings are in stark contrast to the industrial surroundings of Belur. The mission was founded in 1938 by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) and named after his mentor Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886).The Ramakrishna Mission is famous for its missionary work and has branches all over the world. Schools and colleges run by the mission are amongst the best in the country. The main temple in Belur Math incorporates the various architectural styles of the different religions of India.


▪ Kali Temple at Kalighat

Built in 1809, the Kali Temple is an ancient centre of Hindu pilgrimage. The architecture is of typical mediaeval Bengal style. Open from morning till 10 at night. Foreigners are not allowed inside the temple. Despite industrilazation and commercial activity that has given Calcutta a new look, the Kali temple of Kalighat remains uncharged, attracting a larger number of pilgrims and visitors every day.
According to legend, the Kali temple commemorates the place where the right toe of goddess Shakti fell when siva was carrying her burnt remains to Kailas, his abobe in heaven. The story goes, Daksha, Shakti’s father, was all set to perform a major yagna (religious ceremony, sacrifice). Everyone from the three worlds had been invited to attend the function, except his daughter and her husband, Siva. Daksha had never taken to the snake-skin clad, ash-covered, ascetic-like Siva whom his daughter had married against his wishes. He hought to avenge the insult by ignoring them while inviting everyone else for his yagna. Shakti, unable to tolerate the slight to her husband, approched her father in the yagna hall and confronted him. Daksha insulted her and bade her away. Angered, hurt and humilated, Shakti cursed the yagna to become fruitless and destroyed herself by jumping into the sacrificial fire of the yagna. It was when Siva was taking away these burnt remains of his wife that parts of her body fell, it is believed in 51 places. Kalighat is one of these pithas (sanctuaries) especially sacred to followers of Sakti.


▪ Mangal Madhav

The Mangal Madhav (Lord Krishna) is probably the tallest statue in Calcutta. It is situated behind the Birla Academy of Arts and Culture, in South Calcutta.


▪ Birla Mandir

The Birla Mandir is a beautiful temple in Ballygunge. It has been built in the Orissan Style.


Jain Temples :

▪ Parasnath Jain Temple

The Parasnath Jain Temple is an oasis of beauty in congested north Calcutta. It is dedicated to Sital Nath, the 10th of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras (Prophets). It was built in 1867.

Parsi Temples :

▪The Armenian Church

The oldest Extant Church in Calcutta, it was originally designed as a wooden structure by an Armenian architect in the early 18th century. Some fifty-five years later, a building of brick and mortar replaced the original wooden structure. Remnants of the Armenian Cemetery, on whose site the church was built, can still be seen. Most of the tombstones that crowed the churchyard carry inscriptions in syric and a few in English. The interior of the church is adorned with marble. A stairway leads to an overhead gallery whose walls are replete with mural tablets. The altar has a Cross, the Gospels and 12 candlesticks, symbolizing Christ and his Apostles. Three oil painting by the English artist, A E Harris, also adorn the alter. They portray "The Holy Trinity", "The Last Supper" and "The Enshrouding of Our Lord".
 

▪ St Paul's Cathedral

The St. Paul's Cathedral was built in 1847. It is one of the most impressive religious landmarks in the city.
 

Mosques :

▪ Nakhoda Masjid

Nakhoda Mosque on Rabindra Sarani is a sacred place of worship to the Muslims of Calcutta.The Nakhoda Mosque stands to the North of Dalhousie Square. It is a splendid specimen of Indo-Saracenic architecture, reminiscent of Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, near Agra. The large prayer hall can accommodate more than 10,000 persons at a time. A dominant dome is seen between two minarets of great height (50m) surrounded by many smaller minarets about 30m in height, crowned by cupolas. The foundation stone for the mosque was laid in 1926 by a small community known as the Kutchi Memons. Marble is used lavishly in the interiors, while red sandstone decorates the arches of the big gateways. Open from 6 AM to 8 PM daily.
 
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