Dakshineswar Kali Temple

On the banks of the Hooghly north of the city, the Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one of the most important religious sites in Bengal. Built in 1855, its striking nine-spired main temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali and is surrounded by a courtyard of twelve identical Shiva temples.

The temple is deeply associated with the revered 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who served as a priest here, and it draws a constant stream of devotees. The riverside setting and the grand architecture make it moving to visit even for the non-religious.

• ›The nine-spired main Kali temple.
• ›The row of twelve Shiva shrines along the river.
• ›The room associated with Sri Ramakrishna.

It gets very busy, especially on Kali Puja and weekends — go early. Leave shoes and cameras as directed; dress modestly. The Belur Math (Ramakrishna Mission HQ) sits across the river.