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Explore Kolkata
Kolkata Tourist Information
Kolkata Places Of Worship |
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▪ 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. |
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▪ Belur Math |
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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. |
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▪ Kali Temple at Kalighat
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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, Shaktis 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. |
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▪ Mangal Madhav
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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.
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▪ Birla Mandir |
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The Birla Mandir is a beautiful temple in
Ballygunge. It has been built in the Orissan Style. |
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Jain Temples : |
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▪ Parasnath Jain Temple |
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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. |
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Parsi Temples : |
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▪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".
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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.
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Mosques : |
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▪ Nakhoda Masjid |
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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 Akbars 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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