Kalighat Temple --- History and Facts Associated With It

Kalighat temple is one of the most dignified and recognized temples of Kolkata, (capital city of West Bengal). Situated in South Kolkata, the temple embraces faith and devotion of many Hindu and other pilgrims from all over India and also from across the world. The temple was initially a small hut. A type of a temple constructed by a famous king named Mana Singha. King Mana Singha had modified the small hut into a small temple in the earlier sixteenth century. The present temple which we can visit now in the town of Kolkata was constructed in the year eighteen hundred and nine by a famous zamidar named Sabarna Roy Choudhury. He belonged to a very rich and famous Brahmin family. He was a resident of a place named Barisha in the district of Kolkata, twenty four paraganas. His family and his inheritors still involve themselves in the cultural developments and activities that take place in Bengal. The family has been distributed themselves to settle in other adjacent villages of Kolkata namely Hali Shahar and Baruipur. The temple attracts the worshiper goddess Kali, another avatar of goddess Durga. The goddess Kali, another avatar of goddess Durga is considered as the goddess of Shakti (power).



The temple of Kalighat is one Shakti peethas of India. There are total fifty one Shakti peethas in all over India where one or more than one body parts of sati (wife of lord Shiva) has fallen. The reason that lead to such a destruction and devastating act of sati is that, sati was angry on her father because her father (king daksh) did not invite lord Shiva in the famous dakhya yagya that took place at sati’s patent place. She was very annoyed with this behavior of her father and ran to her to ask that why he did not invite Shiva and in reply to this question of sati, her father started saying such things about lord Shiva which sati could not take and she attempted suicide. By seeing this lord Shiva got very angry and he started to destroy the universe. To stop this tremendous anger (Pralay) of Shiva, lord Vishnu had to apply his wheel called sudarshana chakra. The sudarshana chakra segmented sati’s body into pieces. Then different parts of her body feel at different parts and in Kalighat her toe of right foot is dropped. The place of Kalighat is immensely populated and alive (full of life). The place of Kalighat is over occupied by the foreign cultures and immigrants. The idol of goddess which has been kept there in the temple to worship is adorned with silver and gold jewelries and clothes.

Victoria memorial---Memorabilia of Queen Victoria

Victoria memorial is situated in the city of Kolkata in the state West Bengal. The establishment of the beautiful memorial was in the fond memory of Queen Victoria who was the queen of United Kingdom. The memorial is both a commemorate and a monument which now acts as a museum and serves the purpose of a tourist spot. Queen Victoria was entitled as the Empress of India. The memorial was constructed in the year nineteen hundred and six after the foundation stone was kept by Prince of Wales. The main aim to build Victoria Memorial is to depict the successful tenure of the British Empire in India. This was the main reason why Sir William Emerson designed the Victoria Memorial in the same style that is applied in Belfast City Hall.

Architectural method that had been executed for construction of this elegant memorial is very fashionable and chic. Victoria memorial portrays the architectural zenith of the city of Kolkata. The architectural design used in Victoria memorial is the amalgamation of both British and Mughal empire system and structural design. Victoria memorial is through out constructed with the white marbles and so the representation of the Victoria memorial is very similar to the taj mahal located in Agra which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Victoria memorial is none the less than the taj mahal in both look wise and structure wise. And the tourists are equally attracted to Victoria memorial as well as taj mahal. Victoria memorial was inaugurated after fifteen years of construction. That means the year in which the Victoria memorial was inaugurated is in nineteen hundred and twenty one. The length and width of the Victoria memorial is three hundred thirty eight by two hundred and twenty eight. The height to which it rises is one hundred and eighty four feet. Victoria memorial is planted with a number of trees all around its surroundings where youngsters are often found to sit and chat and have a quality time to spend with each other.

Along with the trees there are also number of benches which allows the visitors or the tourists to sit and glance at the beauty and elegance of the graceful and sophisticated monument. The outer area of Victoria memorial is type of a garden with number of lights and fountains. There is a fairy situated above the main tomb which is brilliantly engineered and only with a blow of wind it starts rotating. In the interior of Victoria memorial you can find collection of various sculptors, paintings, coins, stamps, maps, textiles and etc. These are considered as the souvenir of Queen Victoria which embodies her life style.