Kalkaji Mandir stands in New Delhi, Delhi, is a shrine to Kali, worshipped here as Kalka Devi. It is also known as Kalka Devi Temple, Jayanti Peetha, Manokamna Siddha Peetha.
One tradition identifies Kalkaji as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, holding that Sati's right foot fell here when Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra separated her body as Shiva carried it in grief. The temple, also called Jayanti Peetha or Manokamna Siddha Peetha, is among the most visited Kali temples in Delhi and is believed to fulfil devotees' wishes. The documented construction of the current temple building dates to about 1764 CE under the Marathas, with further additions made in 1816 by Mirza Raja Kidar Nath during the reign of Akbar II.
Delhi carries a distinct temple identity of its own: The capital's spiritual landmarks, from the vast modern Swaminarayan Akshardham to the 1939 Birla Mandir and the sprawling Shakti shrine at Chhatarpur.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 4:00 AM |
| Evening | Closes 11:30 PM |
The temple closes for bhog and cleaning from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Morning aarti is around 6:30 to 7:00 AM and evening aarti around 8:30 to 9:00 PM, with brief closures around each aarti for the deity's bathing rituals.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Navratri | Chaitra (March-April) and Sharad/Ashwin (September-October) | The temple's busiest period, with a special fair organized around the temple and very heavy footfall |
History and architecture
Architecture
A twelve-sided sanctum built of black stone and marble, with a central chamber and doorways on each side, surrounded by a verandah and topped by a pyramidal tower; the complex is surrounded by several dharamshalas for pilgrims
History
The documented construction of the current temple building dates to about 1764 CE under the Marathas, with further additions made in 1816 by Mirza Raja Kidar Nath during the reign of Akbar II. Local tradition holds that the site's worship is far older, tracing it back to the Satya Yuga, though this ancient origin is a legendary claim rather than one that can be independently verified.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Kalkaji Mandir metro station, on the Violet and Magenta lines, is about 180 metres from the temple; the temple is located near Nehru Place in South Delhi.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. The temple's ancient Satya Yuga origin is a traditional and legendary claim that cannot be independently verified; the documented construction dates of 1764 and 1816 are better attested