Kalighat is a holy destination. This ancient neighbourhood in South Kolkata has a very old but vibrant history. Some opine that the name Calcutta itself was derived from the word Kalighat.

Kalighat is where the famous Kalighat Kali Temple is located, which is dedicated to the goddess Kali. This is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. In this place, the right toe of Shakti or Sati fell during the Rudra Tandava of Lord Shiva. Over the years, this holy place has been highly esteemed as a great pilgrimage for the Hindus. 

The temple is located on the banks of river Adi Ganga. The striking difference of the temple is the idol of goddess Kali. Unlike other idols, here in this temple the goddess has been represented incompletely. Her face is visible and long protruded tongue which is made of gold attracts attention. Earlier, the temple was a small hut. The present day temple was built in 1809. The temple draws huge number of devotees throughout the year, especially during occasions like Kali Puja, Durga Puja, the Bengali New Year day etc.

Kalighat is complete with divine ecstasies and it has been a source of inspiration for many creative people. Parts of the Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh was set here. Also the locality has been mentioned many times in songs and poems.