Kalka Ji Mandir, Delhi
Kalka Ji Temple is a famous temple in Delhi that honors the Hindu goddess Kali. This temple, which is conveniently located in South Delhi, is also known as Maa Shri Kalka Ji Mandir, Kalka Mandir or Kalka Devi Mandir.
Although the present temple displays elements of contemporary architecture, legends trace its origins to the Hindu mythological Treta Yuga (Hindi meaning Silver Age) period. According to religious commentators, the oldest parts of the Kalka Ji Temple were constructed around 1764.
A large number of men and women come to this temple every day, with women in greater numbers. On the other hand, Kalka Temple experiences its busiest period during Navratri.
Kalka Ji Mandir Delhi Entry Fee
- No entry fee
Kalka Ji Mandir, Delhi Phone
099715 76388
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Wedesday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 4:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. |
AARTI-PRAYERS Timings
Morning :
06.00 – 7.30 a.m. (Winter)
05.00 – 6.30 a.m. (Summer)
Evening :
06.30 – 8.00 p.m. (Winter)
07.00 – 8.30 p.m. (Summer)
The Temple remains Closed during 11:30 am to 12:00 pm for offering prasad to the deity and between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm for cleaning
Kalka Ji Mandir Timings,Entry Fee & Aarti Schedule
Throughout the week, Maa Shri Kalka Ji Temple remains open from 4 am to 11:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to enter this Kali temple free of charge. To make it easier to collect money from devotees, donation boxes have been installed throughout the temple.
The daily schedule of the temple remains mostly the same, with the exception of minor adjustments in the muhurat, or auspicious time, determined by the on-duty Hindu gurus. Different timetables are followed in the morning and at night.
The morning schedule is as follows:
5 am: Ganesh Vandana: This is a practice in which people recite poems and sing songs in honor of the Hindu god Ganesha.
The makeup time is from 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning. During this time, the idol of Mother Shri Kalka ji is dressed in new clothes and decorated with flower garlands, jewelry, and respectful tilaks. During this period, the temple is not open to the public.
Morning Aarti, 6:30–7 am. In worshiping Kalka Ji during the Aarti ritual, the priest chants verses and rings a traditional portable bell at the same time. Additionally, some priests collect guest offerings, burn incense sticks, and place them at the base of the idol. During this period, many devotees can be seen praying or carrying thalis filled with money, earthen lamps, fruits, pastes, and leaves, which are considered auspicious.
11:45 am to 12:15 pm: The temple is closed while Bhog, or food, is brought to the idol as a symbol of charity so that the idol can recognize the good deeds of people, Maa Shree. It is offered to Lord Kalka, the goddess. Offerings are made to the idol during the afternoon.
The temple remains closed from 3 to 4 pm for maintenance, cleaning, and repairs.
The tentative evening schedule is as follows:
Ganesh Vandana at 7 pm: Ganesh mantras are recited after dusk.
Shringa Time: 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: The temple is once again closed for the public so that the priests can prepare the idol of Maa Shri Kalka Ji for the evening ceremonies.
Evening: 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm Aarti: Aarti is performed once again in the evening. Most tourists flock to the temple only at the time of Aarti, when there is much hectic activity, including singing, throwing flowers, and playing traditional Indian musical instruments to accompany the Aarti. It’s quite a show.
11:30 PM: Sajja Offering: During the last rites of this day, baskets full of flowers are presented to the goddess Shri Kalka Ji. The temple then closes for the night and reopens at four in the morning the next day.
Who is Kalka Ji?
Hinduism considers Kalka ji a mythological goddess. Known to most people as Kali, she is considered one of the many incarnations of another Hindu goddess, Durga. Kalka Ji is distinguished by his dark skin color and inauspicious behavior. She is often praised as a representation of defiance, aggression, female power, intolerance, and defiance.
One of the Siddhapeethas of Kali is the Kalka Ji pilgrimage site, located in Delhi. The word Siddhapeetha literally means “temple of satisfaction.” Religious scholars have termed this particular Kali temple “Jayanti Peetha” or “Manokamna Siddha Peetha.”. Ichchha means “desire.”. For this reason, most of the devotees who worship Maa Shri Kalka Ji in this temple think that their prayers are accepted.
The Ancient Legend of Kalka Ji
Legend has it that Goddess Kalka ji was born in the Aravalli Hills of Delhi, east of Kailash, where this temple now stands. According to Hindu tradition, millions of years ago, possibly during the Golden Age (Satyug), many mythological deities lived around the Maa Shri Kalka Ji Temple.
Persecuted by some giants, these gods were eventually forced to oppose Lord Brahma, the “Lord of Gods.”. By the way, he had given this responsibility to Goddess Parvati. This goddess invoked another goddess, Kaushaki Devi, who successfully defeated the giants.
But the outcome of this crime was not good. When the fragmented blood of these two demons came into contact with dry earth, many more demons were born. It was a big challenge for Kaushaki Devi to unite to fight so many giants. Thus, Kali—another incarnation of herself—was given birth to by her beloved mother, Maa Parvati.
Kali had the unique ability to change her shape according to the situation. Her lower lip touched the floor, and as she opened her mouth wide, her upper lip reached the sky. Kali Devi was able to absorb all the blood that Kaushaki Devi had spilled from the demons she killed with her huge mouth.
When these two ladies worked together, the great danger was completely eliminated. Because of her unique gifts, Kali was highly respected and considered the most prominent deity in the region. Pleased with the compliments, he decided to stay there permanently.
History Behind the Kalka Ji Mandir
The construction date of this Kali temple is the subject of many theories. Historians believe that Maa Shri Kalka Ji Temple was built by the Marathas in 1764 AD. Nearly a century later, in 1816, Mirza Raja Kidar Nath, the peshkar (treasurer) of the Mughal king Akbar Shah II, decorated the temple with his own designs. The present temple took almost a hundred years to take shape. Most of the cash came from donations given by followers.
But folktales tell a different story. There are legends that the Pandavas and Kauravas worshiped in this temple during the Mahabharata (Bronze Age). It is also believed that Kalka Ji was born here.
The legal owners of the land on which this temple is situated are Thok Jogians and Shamlat Thok Brahmins. Within this temple, these pundits are also responsible for performing puja seva, or worship ceremonies.
Architecture of Kalka Ji Mandir
The exterior of Maa Shri Kalka Ji Temple is decorated with marble. Brick forms the base, but for added sophistication, these blocks are first covered with plaster and then marble. The outer structure of the temple is protected by a tower in the shape of a pyramid.
The distinctive design of this Kali temple has a central chamber with 12 sides, each with a separate entrance. It is 24 feet long on both sides. All 12 doors are made of marble and lead to the galleries. At the conclusion of each of these galleries are three outer portals, measuring eight feet and nine inches in width. The number of these arched external entrances is 36 in total.
There is a carved stone figure of Goddess Kali on a marble pedestal in the center of the temple. There is a carving on this idol on which his name is written in Hindi. There is a stone trident in front of the picture of Kalka Devi.
Two tiger statues made of red sandstone are on either side of the statue. Entering through one of the eastern doors of the temple, you can see the entire setup. Mother Shri Kalka ji is protected by the marble railing. These railings and pedestals also include calligraphy in Nastaliq style.
How to Reach Kalka Ji Mandir
There are several ways to reach Maa Shri Kalka Ji Temple, which is located opposite Nehru Place Business Center in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Some of those options are given below:
Metro: Kalkaji Temple The nearest metro station to the temple is called Kalkaji Temple Metro Station. After getting off the metro car, it takes only 11 minutes to walk 900 meters to the temple. This is one of the easiest, fastest, and cleanest routes to reach Kalka Ji Temple.
City Buses: Kalkaji Mandir Stop is the bus stop closest to the temple, located approximately 1.5 km away. Although Delhi’s buses are the least expensive form of transportation, they can be a little crowded and uncomfortable at times. It may take some time to arrive, depending on the bus’s route, since it may travel through several different routes before dropping you off at the Kalkaji Mandir Stop. It will take you nearly twenty minutes to walk the remaining distance.
Private Transportation: There is space available for private vehicle parking at the temple. You can therefore either drive a car of your own or rent one from one of Delhi’s best car rental firms. You can always use a radio cab, like Ola or Uber, if you don’t drive. If the lack of air conditioning is acceptable to you, you can also hire autorickshaws.
Places to Visit near Kalka Ji Mandir
It does not take much time to discover Kalka Ji Temple. After spending an hour in and around the temple, if you have a full day, you can visit the following other local places:
1. Lotus Temple: Also known as Baha’i Temple, Delhi’s Lotus Temple is a little over a 10-minute walk from Kalka Ji Temple. The strikingly beautiful lotus-shaped architecture of this building attracts the most curious travellers to this temple, which is open to people of every religion. Surrounded by sprawling greens and ponds on each side, the Lotus Temple has 9 faces and 27 petals in all.
2. Astha Kunj Park: Spread over 200 acres, this public park is only 800 metres from Maa Shri Kalka Ji Mandir. A pleasant escape from the city’s pollution, Astha Kunj Park invites people to relax, play some football or cricket, go for a leisurely stroll or a long jog, or even walk their dogs. There is an open-air gym for people of all ages to work out their muscles, and there are also chairs at various locations for resting.
3. ISKCON TEMPLE: A little over 1 km from Kalkaji Mandir is the famous ISKCON Temple. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has dedicated this huge complex to the worship of the deity Krishna and also to the advancement of Vedic studies. Also known as Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir, the temple has the largest Bhagvat Gita in printed form. One can visit the temple between 4:30 AM and 1 PM, and again between 4 PM and 9 p.m.
4. Tughlakabad Fort: From Kalka Devi Mandir, about 6 km towards Tughlaqabad Extension brings one to the eponymous fort. Commissioned by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq in 1321, the fort is built with granite and lime mortar. While most of the structure is in ruins today, the 14th-century charm of the Tughlaq dynasty still fills the place. The place is open from 7 AM to 5 PM on all days.
5. Hauz Khas Forest: A 20-minute drive from Shri Kalka Ji Temple opens the doors to the enchanting Hauz Khas area of Delhi. While the Hauz Khas Forest is only a park, the astounding number of towering trees and other plants has earned it the moniker of a forest. The park is most popular among morning walkers and yoga enthusiasts who take advantage of the tranquil surroundings.
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