Religious Places in Kolkata

Kolkata is known as an intellectual hub of India. The religious places in Kolkata reflect the secular nature of the city and its people.

Kolkata the then Calcutta, of West Bengal was established by the British. The British built Kolkata to function as an administrative center of the Indian subcontinent. The people from the old blighty built churches to reflect their Christian faith. The present day religious places in Kolkata often includes the remains of the faith whom the conquerors brought from faraway lands.

The population of Kolkata from its inception was the predominantly native bengalis who followed the Hindu religion and its rites. The mixed Indian and European population of Kolkata gave rise to a secular outlook which continues even today. The religious places in Kolkata reflect the secular nature of the city and its people. The religious places in Kolkata reaffirm the syncretic religious nature of its residents. It is not uncommon to see temples and mosques existing side by side in the same compound.

The major religious places in Kolkata include the following:
  • Kalighat Temple: Kalighat Temple is one of the Hindu religious places of Kolkata. The temple is famous for the Kali idol enclosed within the temple sanctum. Kalighat Temple occupies an area of 180 acres.
  • Dakshineswar Temple: Dakshineswar Temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in 1847. Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa, a renowned Hindu spiritual guru worshiped here. It is regarded as one of the major Hindu religious places in Kolkata.
  • St. Paul's Cathedral: St. Paul's Cathedral was the direct offshoot of the British Raj. St. Paul's Cathedral was built in 1847. It is regarded as one of the foremost Christian religious places in Kolkata. St. Paul's Cathedral is a magnificent edifice with a 65 meters high tower.




Last Updated on : 23 October 2012