Bandel Church

One of the oldest Christian Churches in West Bengal is the Bandel Church, it stand as one of theprime feature of the Portuguese settlement in West Bengal. The Bandel Church was built around 1660, to dedicate Nossa Senhora de Rosario,who is also known as Our Lady of Rosary.It can be said that in West Bengal, the Bandel Church is one of the most prominent Among all other churches.

Bandel Church

The history says that that almost around 16th century, the Portuguese used Bandel as a port. It is said that Mughal emperor Akbar had given them a permission to built a town in Hooghly, that was around 1571. As they have settled their priest have started to baptize the natives there, it is said that arounf 1598, in Hooghly, the number of Catholics were almost five thousand which included natives and other mixed races.

The Portuguese has built a port and a fort on the banks of the river Hooghly, in the year 1579, and they also listed the service of a band called Augustinian Friars, which was a largest religious body in Goa at that time.the very nest year Captain Pedro Tavares got the full permission from the Mughal emperor, to peach Christianity open publicly and to construct churches, thus The Bandel Church began to construct in the year 1599.

But the old church was burnt down by the Moors during the sacking of Hooghly in the year 1632, the new church was built by Gomez de Soto over the ruin one in 1660.

Kalighat Kali Temple

Goddess KALI

Kalighat Kali Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, is a Hindu temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. Standing on the old course on the bank of the river Hooghly which is also popular also known as Bhagirathi in Kolkata, West Bengal, Kalighat is a ghat which is sacred to Kali. Fromthe word Kalighat, it is said that the name kolkata have been derived, the river has almost drifted away. Now the temple stands on a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects with Hooghly.

In spite of sectarian  differences, almost thousands of devotees visit this temple from all parts of the world, they treat Goddess Kali, almost like a human mother, and pray for their domestic problems, and when their wishes are fulfilled they return to this place praying to express the gratitude. This kind of religious attitude toward the Goddess is actually taught and guided by the priests.

The diety of Kalighat temple is different, it does not follow the pattern of other images of Kali in Bengal. This current idol of touchstone has been made by two saints Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Dakshineswar Kali Temple is situated on the eastern bank of river Hooghly, is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. This temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in the year 1855, who herself was a devotee of Kali and a philanthropic. The deity which presides in this temple is Bhabatarini, an aspect of Kali. This temple is is also famous as it has got its association with Ramakrishna Paramhansa during the 19th century Bengal.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Apart from the nine spired main temple, this temple compound has got a large courtyard surrounding the temple, there are rooms along the boundary walls. Here one will found twelve temples of Shiva. Just at the river front, one will get to see the temple of Radha Krishna, there is a bathing ghat on the river and also a shrine of Rani Rashmoni.. Another attracting feature of this temple is "Nahavat Khana" where ramkrishna is said to have spent a considerable part of his life.

The history of the temple says that this temple was found at the mid of 19th century by Rani Rashmoni.When she was planning to go for a pilgrimage in Benaras. The history says that she was suppose to travel by 24 boats, along with, her relatives would go, servants and other belongings. But the night before the pilgrimage, she had a dream vision in the form of Divine mother, goddess Kali, who reported her in the dream saying that instead of going to Benaras, to install herstatue in the bank of river Ganges and worship her here, she will accept the worship in this place.

Belur Math

One of the chief disciples of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda founded Belur Math which is known as the head quarters of  Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Belur Math is one of the significant place in Calcutta, it is located on the west bank of the river Hooghly in Belur, West Bengal.. This temple is one of the prime symbol of Ramakrishna Movement. One will be amazed to see the structure of the temple which has notable among all, as it has the fusion of Hinduism, Christianity an Islamic culture, it signifies the unity of all religion.

Belur Math

Sri Ramakrishna Temple, this temple was actually designed and was constructed under the supervision of Swami Vivekananda, the architect of this mesmerizing math was swami Vijnanananda, who himself was a great disciples of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. This temple was ordained on 14th January on the very day of Makar Sankranti day in 1938.

Swami Vivekananda Temple stands where  Swami Vivekananda mortal was cremated in 1902.It was ordained on 28th of January 1924, the upper part of the temple has an Om (a Bengali character).

Another attraction is the Ramakrishna Museum, where all the things used by Ramakrishna Paramhansa,Swami Vivekananda , Sarada Devi are kept. Like long worm used by Swami Vivekananda during his visit to west, Sister Nivedita's table and organ by Mrs Saveir are all kept, this museum has an active roll during the movement in Bengal in those days.