Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata
The nine-spired navaratna temple of Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, on the east bank of the Hooghly north of Kolkata, founded by Rani Rashmoni in 1855 and made famous by Sri Ramakrishna, who served here as priest. The temple publishes darshan from 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM, with Sandhya Aarti at 6:30 PM, and notes that its Board of Trustees can change the timings.
Photo: eclicks_by_bunny, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized
Dakshineswar timings in short
Two darshan windows with a three-hour midday closure, and aartis that begin before darshan opens and end after it closes.
History of Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Rani Rashmoni, a zamindar and devotee of Kali, had a vision in 1847 and bought about 8 hectares on the east bank of the Hooghly. The temple took eight years to build at a cost of 900,000 rupees, and the image of the goddess was installed on Snana Yatra day, 31 May 1855.
From 1856 Sri Ramakrishna served as head priest, and his spiritual life here brought the temple wide fame; it was here that Narendranath Dutta, later Swami Vivekananda, came to him. A notice on the temple's website dated 7 July 2026 names Nabin Bhaskar of Dainhat, in Bardhaman district, as the sculptor who made the image of the goddess.
- Consecrated
- 31 May 1855
- Founder
- Rani Rashmoni
- Spires
- Nine, navaratna style
- Height
- Over 30 metres
- Shiva temples
- Twelve, along the river
- Darshan
- 06:30–12:30, 15:30–19:30
Why Dakshineswar matters to Hindus
Dakshineswar is one of the great Kali temples of Bengal, and it is inseparable from Sri Ramakrishna, who realised the living presence of the Divine Mother before the image of Bhavatarini here. His wife Sarada Devi lived in the Nahabat, and the temple remains a place of pilgrimage for followers of the Ramakrishna movement.
Dipanwita Kali Puja on the new moon of Kartika is its grandest night, and Phalaharini Kali Puja in Jyeshtha marks the night Ramakrishna worshipped Sarada Devi as the Divine Mother.
More facts about Dakshineswar
- Deity
- Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, standing on the reclining Shiva
- Where
- Dakshineswar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on the east bank of the Hooghly
- Founded by
- Rani Rashmoni
- Consecrated
- 31 May 1855, on Snana Yatra day
- Style
- Navaratna, nine spires, over 30 metres high
- Associated with
- Sri Ramakrishna, priest here from 1856
- Also known as
- Dakshineswar Temple, Dakshineswar Kali Mandir, Bhavatarini Temple, Dakshineswar Kalibari, Dakshineshwar Kali Temple
Entry rules at Dakshineswar
The temple publishes no entry rules on the pages read here beyond its timings caveat.
Timings
The Board of Trustees can change the timings if required.
How to reach Dakshineswar Kali Temple
By train
Dakshineswar railway station is 13 km from Sealdah on the Calcutta Chord line; Dakshineswar metro station, on the Blue Line, opened on 22 February 2021.
By road
Vivekananda Setu and Nivedita Setu cross the Hooghly here, and the Belghoria Expressway links to Jessore Road near Kolkata airport.
Ferry
Ferries run to Belur Math and Uttarpara from the Maa Bhabatarini jetty.
Best time to visit Dakshineswar
The temple's great nights are Dipanwita Kali Puja on the new moon of Kartika, when the complex is lit with lamps and rituals go on all night, and Phalaharini Kali Puja in Jyeshtha. They are the most rewarding and the most crowded times to visit.
Within the day, darshan runs from 06:30 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 19:30. The evening window takes in Sandhya Aarti at 18:30; the midday closure from 12:30 to 15:30 is a good time to take the ferry to Belur Math.
Tips before you go
- Do not arrive between 12:30 and 15:30; darshan is closed.
- Come for Sandhya Aarti at 18:30, within the evening window.
- Take the metro to Dakshineswar station to avoid road traffic.
- Cross to Belur Math by ferry from the Maa Bhabatarini jetty.
- Visit the Nahabat, where Sarada Devi lived, and the Panchavati.
Not verified yet 5 items no official source publishes
- A dress code; none is published on the temple's site.
- Whether photography is allowed inside the main shrine.
- Whether entry is restricted by religion; nothing on the temple's pages read here says so.
- Festival timings for Kali Puja and Snana Yatra.
- Whether the timings change with the season.
Know one of these from an official notice? Send it to us and the page is updated with a new date.
Questions about visiting
Answered from what the temple publishes, with the gaps left as gaps.
What are the Dakshineswar Kali Temple timings?
The temple publishes darshan from 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. It is closed between those windows, and its Board of Trustees can change the timings if required.
What are the aarti timings at Dakshineswar?
Mangal Aarti at 4:00 AM, Bhog offering at 12:30 PM, Sandhya Aarti at 6:30 PM, and Shital Bhog and Shayan at 8:00 PM.
Who built Dakshineswar Kali Temple?
Rani Rashmoni, a zamindar and devotee, founded it. The image of the goddess was installed on Snana Yatra day, 31 May 1855, after eight years of construction.
What is the connection with Sri Ramakrishna?
Sri Ramakrishna served as head priest from 1856 and attained his spiritual realisation here. His wife Sarada Devi lived in the ground-floor room of the Nahabat, now a shrine.
Who is the deity at Dakshineswar?
Bhavatarini, a form of Kali. The temple describes the black stone image standing on the reclining Shiva, dressed in a Benarasi sari and gold ornaments.
Is there a dress code at Dakshineswar?
None is published on the temple's website. Dress modestly and expect to remove footwear.
How do I reach Dakshineswar by metro?
The Kolkata Metro Blue Line was extended to Dakshineswar station, inaugurated on 22 February 2021.
How do I reach Dakshineswar by train?
Dakshineswar railway station is 13 km from Sealdah on the Calcutta Chord line.
Is there a ferry from Dakshineswar to Belur Math?
Yes. Ferries run from Dakshineswar to Belur Math and to Uttarpara from the Maa Bhabatarini jetty.
What else is in the temple complex?
Twelve Shiva temples along the river, a Radha-Krishna temple, the Nahabat music tower and the Panchavati.
What is the biggest festival at Dakshineswar?
Dipanwita Kali Puja, on the new moon night of Kartika, when the complex is lit with lamps and rituals continue through the night.
Can I rely on these timings on the day?
They are the temple's published standing hours, which it says its trustees can change. Check before travelling, particularly around Kali Puja.
Need the timings in full?
The timings page carries the whole published schedule, block by block, and what to check before you travel.