108 Shiva Temples

Sunday, 22 February 2015

Our first stop in Kalna was the "108 Shiva Temples". 108 is an auspicious number for Hindus, and it is the number of beads in a Hindu "mall" (prayer beads). These temples were built in 1809 and have an interesting "aat chala" (8-sloped roof) structure. The temples are arranged in two concentric circles. The outer circle has 74 temples, and the inner circle has 34 temples. It is a fascinating structure, and I wish we could have had more time to experience it.

Google Maps view of the site.

Our rickshaws parked outside the temple.

The park-like space between the two circles of temples.

The outer circle. The temples have alternating white marble and black marble Shiva lingams. When viewing a temple head-on, you can see the lingams in the middle temple and the one to either side, but the lingams are not visible in the other temples.

The Krishnachandra Temple in the neighboring temple complex is visible above the small Shiva temples.

Looking at the outer circle from the doorway leading into the inner circle.

Inner circle temples.

Inner circle temples (and doorway into inner circle).

All the lingams in the inner circle are white marble.

A close-up view of the ornament atop every temple.

Pigeon above the door of a temple.

Looking back at the 108 Shiva Temples from temple complex across the street.