Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Flanking the mighty Ganges River, on the Kalighat Road, north of Kolkata is this sprawling temple with a Goddess Kali shrine in the center, surrounded by 12 of Lord Shiva. The great religious thinker Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is believed to have achieved spiritual nirvana, here and today pilgrims from around the world visit the temple to bask in its ethereal serenity. The goat sacrifice ritual everyday (that allegedly replaced the ancient practice of human sacrifice), however might leave one with a bad taste if sighted.