Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata
Kalighat Kali Temple is a illustrious shrine that welcomes thousands of devotees every year. Located at Kalighat in Kolkata, the temple can be easily reached by the means of local transport from the city as well as all parts of the country. In the southern part of Kolkata, Kalighat is a small vicinity that is well-known for its Kali temple. Kalighat Kali Temple is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Shakti in India.
Legend of Kalighat Kali Temple
Goddess Kali is regarded as the most compound goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Usually depicted in  a horrendous form, Kali is the destroyer as well as the liberator. Goddess Kali, in her wrothful form, is worshipped by thousand of devotees, who come all the way from distant parts of India and the World. The temple attracts a major portion of visitors to Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.Kalighat Temple is a significant religious place for the followers of Hinduism. As per the legends, the different body parts of Sati fell on the earth at the time of self-sacrifice. It is believed that the right toe of Sati fell here and subsequently; the temple was erected to commemorate the Goddess. Goddess Kalika is the presiding deity in the Kalighat Temple.
The original temple was built by Raja Basanta Roy, who was the uncle of Pratapaditya and the King of Jessore (Bangladesh). The original temple was sited on the banks of Hooghly; however the river has shifted away from the temple with the period of time. In the past days, traders used to take stop at Kalighat to pay their obeisance to Goddess Kali. The present structure of Kali Temple was constructed about 200 years ago. In 1809, Kalighat Kali Temple was built by Sabarna Roy Chowdhury of Barisha. Kalighat Temple has been often referred in the texts like Mansar Bhasan of 15th century. Situated on the banks of Adi Ganga, the temple has a sanctum sanctorum in the company of a huge hall by the name of Nat Mandir. In the north-east of this sanctum, there is a Shiva Temple. There is one more shrine dedicated to Radha Krishna. The main attraction of this temple lies in the idol of Goddess Kali that bears a long protruded tongue made out of gold.