About Kalkaji Temple:
Kalkaji Temple, also known as Kalkaji Mandir, is dedicated to Devi Kalka, one of the various embodiments of Goddess Durga. This temple prides itself on an existence of about 3000 years. However the oldest surviving portion of it dates to 1764 -1771 when the Marathas were in power and Shah Alam, then Mughal ruler of Delhi, was a mere dummy king acting upon their will. The temple stands on a hill and looks marvelous when lit in the evening. Though prayers are held four times a day but the special Tantric Aarti at 7 in the evening is a must watch. Kalkaji Temple is situated beyond the commercial complex of East Nehru Place, South Delhi just opposite Lotus Temple. Kalkaji Temple stands on a hill. The temple was built in the middle of 18th century and the oldest portion of the existing temple dates back to 1764. In the middle of the 19th century, Raja Kedarnath, Peshkar of Emperor Akbar II made certain changes and additions to the temple. It is believed that the original temple was used by the Pandavas and Kauravas to worship Goddess Kali. Bathing Goddess Kali everyday with pure milk and other holy items and then draping her with a bright red brocade sari is a ritual here. A legend has it that a cow used to come here and discharged all her milk over the holy stone. Gradually when the cow’s master, a farmer, understood what was happening, he erected a temple to honor the deity. Since then Kali is bathed with fresh and pure milk. The stone representing the Goddess Kali is housed in a twelve-sided building. The entire temple is made up of white marble and black granite tiles and the usual number of worshippers is a few hundred every day. The backside of the temple has a Dharamshala or a rest house which has been built with the help of donations given to the temple. The Kalkaji Temple in Delhi is decked up like a bride during Navratras and extra police force is deployed to check miscreants and control the crowed of almost two million. The pomp and show is such that many leading news channels come to cover the proceedings. People should be careful here since a lot of pick-pocketeers frequent the area in hope to ‘earn’ something.
General Information about Kalkaji Temple:
Location: Delhi
State: (Delhi) Union Territory of INDIA
Capital: Delhi is the capital of INDIA
Language: Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 45˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 20˚C, Min 5˚C (winter)
Best Season: September to February
How to Reach Kalkaji Temple:
By Air:
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is connected to all the important cities of the world with almost all the major international airlines operating out of here. Palam Domestic Airport connects Delhi to the major cities in India.
By Rail:
The Indian Railway with their modern and organized network connects Delhi to all major and minor destinations in India. The city has three major railway stations at New Delhi, Old Delhi, and Nizamuddin.
By Road:
Delhi is well connected to all the major cities of India by a network of highways and roads. Buses can be taken from the three Inter State Bus Terminuses (ISBT), at Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar, as well as many starting points in and around the city, from which various state-managed and privately run transport facilities like air-conditioned, deluxe and ordinary coaches operate.