India has a long tradition of Shakti worship, where the Goddess is worshipped as the supreme divine power or Shakti. Goddess Kali is one of its most important forms of Shakti. She is worshipped as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, Kalika and Dakshina Kali across Kali temples in India.
From the famous Kalighat Kali temple in Kolkata to the hilltop Kalika Mata temple in Pavagadh, here are the top 15 powerful Kali temples you should visit.
1. Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal
This famous Kali temple in Kolkata is one of India’s 51 sacred Shakti Peethas. It is believed that the right toe of Goddess Sati fell on the temple’s spot, making it one of the holiest places to worship Maa Kali. Hundreds of devotees visit the Kalighat Kali temple to ask for the Goddess’s protection during Kali Puja and Durga Puja.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March (especially during Kali Puja)
- Temple Timings: 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- How to Reach: Take the Blue Line metro to Kalighat Station or Jatin Das Park Station.
- Nearby Railway Station: Majerhat Railway Station (3.9 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Esplanade Bus Stand (5.5 km)
2. Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal
Located beside the Hooghly River, this Kali temple in West Bengal is dedicated to Maa Bhavatarini, a form of Adya Kali. Philanthropist Rani Rashmoni built this temple in 1855. It later became closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
- Temple Timings: 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
- Aarti Timings:
- Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM
- Bhog Aarti: 12:30 PM
- Sandhya Aarti: 6:30 PM
- Shayan Aarti: 8:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take the Blue Line metro to Dakshineswar Metro Station or reach by local bus/taxis.
- Nearby Railway Station: Dakshineswar Railway Station (800 m)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Babughat Bus Stand (13.9 km)
3. Tarapith Temple, Birbhum, West Bengal
Dedicated to Maa Tara, the Tarapith Temple in Birbhum is one of the most sacred Kali temples in West Bengal. It is considered both a Shakti Peetha and a Siddha Peetha, and is believed to be the place where Goddess Sati’s third eye fell. Tarapith is also an important place for Tantric worship, with many rituals traditionally performed at the nearby Mahashmashan, or cremation ground.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
- Temple Timings: 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take a train to Rampurhat and continue by auto, bus or taxi
- Nearby Railway Station: Rampurhat Railway Station (9.6 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Rampurhat Bus Stand (4.6 km)
4. Shree Kalika Mataji Temple, Pavagadh, Gujarat
Located on top of Pavagadh Hill, Shree Kalika Mataji Temple is a famous Kali temple in Gujarat and an important Shakti Peetha. According to temple tradition, sage Vishwamitra installed Maa Kalika on the hill. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during Navratri and the Chitra Sud fair.
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- Best Time to Visit: October to February
- Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM
- Aarti Timings:
- Mangla Aarti at 6:00 AM
- Sandhya Aarti at 7:00 PM
- How to Reach: Reach Pavagadh by road, then take the ropeway and walk to the hilltop.
- Nearby Railway Station: Champaner Road Railway Station (26 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Pavagadh Bus Station (5.9 km)
5. Bhadrakali Temple, Warangal, Telangana
This Kali Mata temple in Warangal is one of the oldest Bhadrakali temples in India, dating to around 625 CE. Built during the Chalukya period, it sits on a hilltop beside the Bhadrakali Lake. Local traditions believe that the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond once formed the left eye of Goddess Bhadrakali.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
- Temple Timings: 5:00 AM to 8:30 PM
- How to Reach: Take a TGSRTC bus to Warangal.
- Nearby Railway Station: Warangal Railway Station (4.1 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Hanamkonda Bus Station (2.3 km)
6. Chamunda Devi Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Chamunda Devi Temple is an ancient Kali temple in Kangra, about 19 km from Palampur. The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, the form Goddess Kali took when she killed the demons, Chanda and Munda. Dating back to the 16th century, it is also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, believed to be the home of Shiva and Shakti.
- Best Time to Visit: March to June and September to November
- Temple Timings:
- Summer: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Winter: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Aarti Timings: Morning and evening timings change seasonally
- How to Reach: Take a bus or taxi from Dharamshala
- Nearby Railway Station: Pathankot Junction (94 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Dharamshala Bus Stand (15 km)
7. Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
Located inside Chittorgarh Fort, Kalika Mata Temple dates back to the 8th century and was originally built as a temple for the Sun God. In the 14th century, Rana Hamir rebuilt the temple and dedicated it to Goddess Kali. Today, it is one of the most important Kali temples in Western India and attracts large crowds during Navratri.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March (for Navratri)
- Temple Timings: 5:00 AM to 12 PM, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take an auto or taxi to the Chittorgarh Fort.
- Nearby Railway Station: Chittorgarh Junction (8.4 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Chittorgarh Bus Stand (6.3 km)
8. Kalikambal Temple, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Kalikambal Temple is a historic Kali temple in Chennai, dedicated to Goddess Kalikambal and Lord Kamadeswarar. The temple was originally located near present-day Fort St. George and was later moved to George Town. The temple is also famous because Chhatrapati Shivaji is believed to have visited it in 1677 to seek the Goddess’s blessings.
- Best Time to Visit: November to February
- Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
- How to Reach: Take a bus, metro, auto or taxi to George Town/Parry’s Corner
- Nearby Railway Station: MGR Chennai Central Railway Station (3.5 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Broadway Bus Terminus (2 km)
9. Baitala Deula Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Baitala Deula Temple is an 8th-century temple in Bhubaneswar dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, a fierce form of the Goddess. This Kali temple is especially known for its unusual khakhara style of architecture and its connection with Tantric worship. The main shrine contains an eight-armed image of Chamunda.
- Best Time to Visit: October to February
- Temple Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take an auto, cab or city bus from central Bhubaneswar.
- Nearby Railway Station: Bhubaneswar Railway Station (3.7 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Baramunda ISBT (7.6 km)
10. Gad Kalika Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
This ancient Kali Mata temple in Ujjain is well-known for its connection to Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. It is believed that Kalidasa prayed to Goddess Kali at this temple, and the Goddess blessed him with knowledge. During the Kumbh Mela, thousands of devotees visit this Maa Kali temple as part of their pilgrimage.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March
- Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take an auto, taxi or local bus from Ujjain city.
- Nearby Railway Station: Ujjain Junction (4.3 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Nanakheda Bus Stand (7 km)
11. Kalkaji Temple, Delhi
This is one of the most visited Kali temples in Delhi. Goddess Kali is worshipped here as Maa Kalka. The temple is also known as Manokamna Siddha Peetha, as devotees believe Maa Kalka fulfills their wishes.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March (for Navratri)
- Temple Timings: 4:00 AM to 11:30 PM, with short breaks during the day.
- Aarti Timings:
- Morning Aarti: 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM
- Evening Aarti: 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
- How to Reach: Kalkaji Mandir Metro Station is about 250 metres from the temple.
- Nearby Railway Station: Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (6.9 km)
- Nearby Bus Station: Nehru Place Bus Terminus (1 km)
12. Bhadrakali Temple, Aharapada, Odisha
Located about 5 km from the town of Bhadrak, this Kali temple is an important pilgrimage site for Shakti devotees. Maa Bhadrakali is worshipped here as a black stone idol, seated on a lotus over a lion. Local legends also say that the town of Bhadrak got its name from Goddess Bhadrakali.
- Best Time to Visit: October to February
- Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take an auto or taxi from Bhadrak.
- Nearby Railway Station: Bhadrak Railway Station (13 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Bhadrak Bus Stand (8.8 km)
13. Ujjaini Mahakali Temple, Secunderabad, Telangana
This is a famous Kali temple in Secunderabad dedicated to Goddess Mahakali, a fiercer form of Goddess Kali. It was built in 1815 after Suriti Appaiah prayed to Mahakali at Ujjain during a cholera outbreak. He later installed her idol in Secunderabad to thank her for protection. This Kali temple is especially famous for the Bonalu festival held during Ashada.
- Best Time to Visit: July-August for Bonalu
- Temple Timings:
- Saturday to Thursday: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Friday: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take a local bus, auto, or metro (to Paradise Station)
- Nearby Railway Station: Secunderabad Railway Station (1.5 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (9.8 km)
14. Shri Kali Mata Temple, Patiala, Punjab
Built by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1936, this is one of the most well-known Maa Kali temples in Punjab. The temple has a six-foot idol of Goddess Kali that was brought from West Bengal.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March (for Navratri)
- Temple Timings:
- Summer: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM (10:00 PM on Saturdays)
- Winter: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM (9:30 PM on Saturdays)
- How to Reach: Take an auto, taxi or local bus from anywhere in Patiala.
- Nearby Railway Station: Patiala Railway Station (1.2 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Patiala Bus Stand (5.8 km)
15. Maa Khadgeshwari Kali Mandir, Araria, Bihar
Known as the tallest Kali temple in the world, the Maa Khadgeshwari temple is about 152 feet tall. Devotees from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Nepal visit the temple to offer prayers and seek blessings. Tuesdays and Saturdays are special here, when devotees offer kheer or khichdi to Maa Kali as prasad.
- Best Time to Visit: October to November (during Kali Puja)
- Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- How to Reach: Take an auto, e-rickshaw or taxi from anywhere in Araria.
- Nearby Railway Station: Araria Court Railway Station (3.7 km)
- Nearby Bus Stand: Zero Mile Bus Stand (4.1 km)
Things to Know When Visiting Kali Temples
While customs and rules can differ from one Maa Kali temple to the next, here are some common things you should remember when visiting a Kali temple:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Wear simple and modest clothes suitable for a temple visit. | Avoid shorts, sleeveless clothes or other outfits that may not meet the temple’s dress rules. |
| Remove your footwear before entering the Kali Mata temple. | Do not carry footwear into areas where it is not allowed. |
| Follow the queue and wait for your turn during darshan. | Do not push or disturb other devotees, even when the temple is crowded. |
| Check Kali mandir temple timings before leaving. | Do not assume regular timings will apply during Kali Puja, Durga Puja, Navratri or other festivals. |
| Check whether phones, cameras, bags and leather items are allowed inside. | Do not take photos or videos inside the sanctum if photography is restricted. |
| Visit early if you want to avoid long queues, especially on festival days. | Avoid peak hours during Kali Puja or Navratri if you are not comfortable with large crowds. |
FAQs
- Which is the most famous Kali temple in West Bengal?
The Kalighat Kali Temple is considered to be one of the most famous Kali temples in West Bengal.
- What is the best time to visit the famous Kali temples in Kolkata?
October to March is a good time to visit famous Kali temples in Kolkata, as the weather is generally more comfortable. If you want to see the grand celebrations at Kali temples like Kalighat and Dakshineswar, you should visit during Kali Puja.
- Is Kamakhya Temple a Kali temple?
No, Kamakhya Temple is not specifically a Kali temple. It is a Shakti temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya and one of the major Shakti Peethas. However, the temple complex has shrines dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas, which include Goddess Kali.
- Are all Kali temples Shakti Peethas?
No. Maa Kali temple can be dedicated to Goddess Kali without being a Shakti Peetha. Shakti Peethas are those temples where parts of Goddess Sati’s body or ornaments fell.
- What are the different forms in which Kali is worshipped?
Dakshina Kali and Shyama Kali are especially common in Kali temples in West Bengal, while Bhadrakali is widely worshipped in South India, including Telangana and Kerala. Mahakali is worshipped in parts of Maharashtra and Telangana, Kalika in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and Chamunda in North India, particularly Himachal Pradesh.
