Names & Legend
Among the many Shakti Peeths of Bengal, Nalhati is one of the most important, and it is an easy pilgrimage from Kolkata. An unusual part of Sati’s body is said to have fallen here – her vocal cords, the pipe of the throat. In Bengali and Hindi this is called nal or nol, and the town takes its name from it.
The moment Lord Vishnu cut Sati’s body with his Sudarshan Chakra to stop Lord Shiva’s Tandava of grief, her vocal cords fell at Nalhati, and the place became a seat of the Goddess.
Location
Nalhati is a well-known town in Birbhum district, West Bengal, close to the border with Jharkhand. It is about 15 km from Rampurhat. Travellers by road follow the Panagarh–Morgram highway, and the town is easy to reach after crossing the Brahmani river.
The Goddess & Bhairava
The Goddess is worshipped as Kalika, also seen as Durga, and her temple is known as the Nalateshwari temple. Lord Shiva as Bhairava is called Yogesh, the lord of yoga. The image of the Goddess is a stone with a long open mouth, decorated with vermilion and silver, symbolising the throat and voice of the Mother.
Devotees pray to Maa Nalateshwari for the gift of a sweet, truthful voice, for success in speech and learning, and for relief from illnesses of the throat.
Interesting Facts
Apart from the temple of Devi Kalika, Nalhati is known for its small hills. The temple stands at the foot of a hill, and from the hilltops visitors can see other sacred Hindu temples and enjoy wide views of the Birbhum countryside. A mosque also stands on the hill, a reminder of the region’s shared heritage.
Birbhum is often called the land of Shakti, and pilgrims usually combine Nalhati with nearby shrines such as Tarapith, Nandipur, Attahas, Bakreshwar and Kankalitala.
Festivals & Worship
Kali Puja, on the new-moon night of Diwali, is the greatest festival, when the temple is decorated with lamps and devotees keep vigil through the night. Durga Puja, Navaratri and the monthly Amavasya are also celebrated with special pujas and bhog.
How to Reach & When to Visit
Nalhati Junction railway station is on the Howrah–Malda line and has direct trains from Kolkata; the temple is a short ride from the station. Rampurhat, the larger town nearby, has more hotels. The best time to visit is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and the major festivals are held.