Dakshineswar Bhavatarini Kali Temple
दक्षिणेश्वर काली मंदिर
Rani Rashmoni’s nineteenth-century Bhavatarini shrine on the Hooghly, with a nine-spired Kali temple and close associations with Sri Ramakrishna.
Dedicated toMaa DurgaExplore this sacred place
Place and overview
Dakshineswar stands on the eastern bank of the Hooghly near Kolkata. Rani Rashmoni founded the temple in 1855, and the presiding Goddess is worshipped as Bhavatarini Kali.
Tradition and setting
The temple is closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna. That devotional history gives the place an importance beyond its architecture: Bhavatarini is the temple’s own form of the Goddess, within a living Bengali Kali tradition.
The complex includes the nine-spired Kali temple, Shiva shrines and riverfront spaces. Read the central shrine alongside these surrounding places rather than treating the whole precinct as a single isolated monument.
Planning your visit
Allow time for the temple and its riverfront setting, particularly on weekends and festival days. Follow the current instructions for photography, queues and movement around active worship.
River access and transport are separate practical questions from darshan. Check the temple’s official information and current local advice before using river routes, and observe barriers and safety instructions at the waterfront.
Timings, entry and routes can change. Check the current notices from the official references below before travelling.
References and corrections
Original BhajanDhara summary. Temple history and visitor context draw on the following temple, government or institutional references.
Sacred narratives are presented as tradition. Opening hours and booking arrangements should be confirmed at the source.