Kolkata is an extremely wonderful city in terms of religious expeditions. People belonging to various religions and cultures live here, with immense peace and harmony. The city also houses several worship places, related to different religions right, from Hinduism to Zoarastrism. The ancient temples of this place are famous throughout the world. Kolkata is known for its festive and celebratory mood. The British reign in the city has also made its culture, a very cosmopolitan one. The people in this city bow in front of every religious home with equal respect and devotion. In this article, we will help you explore the various religious places in Calcutta.Worship Places in Kolkata
Kalighat Temple
The people of Kolkata pray to Goddess Kali with great devotion. The temple of Kalighat is yet another shrine that is also dedicated to the Goddess. It is one of the 52 holy Shaktipeeths in India. This temple is thought to be in existence from 15th century, originally as a small hut, built by some devotee. The present Kalighat temple, however, was built about 200 years ago, by Sabarna Roy Choudhury family of Barisha.
Birla Mandir
The wonderful Birla Mandir of Kolkata was built by the renowned Birla family of India. This temple has been constructed from sandstone and white marble and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. Apart from being known for its sacredness and holy feel, the temple is also known as the magnum opus of architecture in Kolkata.
Thanthania Kalibari
Thanthania Kalibari is another famous temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, who is worshipped in the form of Mata Siddheswari here. The small clay idol of the Goddess, enshrined in the temple, is reconstructed every year. The best days to visit this temple are Tuesdays and Saturdays, as they are considered to be the sanctified days of Mata Siddheswari.
Belur Math
Belur Math is the headquarters of the world-renowned spiritual movement, known as the Ramakrishna Movement. More than a religious place, it is the center of mental peace and spiritual enlightenment. The place houses temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda and Swami Brahmananda.
Dakshineshwar Temple
Dakshineswar Temple is one of the most famous temples of Kolkata. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, this temple was built by Queen Rasmani of Janbazar. The temple is also the divine place of holy enlightenment of the great saint Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans.
Pareshnath Jain Temple
Paresh Nath Jain Temple is one of the rare Jain temples in Kolkata. The temple premise consists of four temples, of which the main one is dedicated to the 10th Jain Avtaar, Sri Sital Nath Ji. Apart from being known for its religious sanctity, the place is also known for its magnificent architecture.
St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata is the first Episcopal Church of the eastern world. As the cathedral is dedicated to Saint Paul, it depicts his life of, through pictures and posters and also exhibits various representations of his holy deeds. It is one of the must-visit places in the city.
Magen David Synagogue
Magen David Synagogue is one of the five synagogues in Kolkata. It is also the oldest Jewish worship place in the city. It is even thought to be the biggest synagogue in Asia Pacific. This synagogue was built by Elias Joseph Ezra, a renowned real estate agent of the city.
Missionaries of Charity
‘Missionaries of Charity’ is basically a religious order, founded in 1950, by Mother Teresa. It is an organization that works for the poor and destitute. Through its branches, spread in 133 nations, it helps the real needy and deprived section of society.
ISCKON Temple
ISCKON i.e. International Society for Krishna Consciousness was a society founded by his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966. The international headquarters of the society is based in Mayapur, near Kolkata, through which it spreads its mission of unsectarian, monotheistic movement.
Agni Mandir
The Agni Mandir of Kolkata is one of the rare temples of Parsis in Kolkata. It is dedicated to the 'Fire God’. Because of the rare population of Parsi community in the city, this temple has become the center of almost all the Parsi get-togethers, prayers, functions and events.
Taraknath Temple
Kolkata is a wonderful place for religious expeditions. The entire city and its excursions are full of umpteen religious places and holy shrines. One of them is Taraknath Temple of Tarakeshwar, which is located near Kolkata, in Hooghly District of West Bengal.
St. John's Church
Kolkata celebrates the joy of religious amalgamation always. There are umpteen worship places in the city. Be it temple, mosque, synagogue or church, the city houses them all. St. John's Church is one of the most prominent churches in Kolkata. It is considered to be historic, as it was the first British built church in India.
