Rebuilt in 1809 on the site of a much older temple, Kalighat (as it is also known) is the actual temple from which Kalikata (anglicised to Calcutta) takes its name. Accordind to legend, Shiva went into a frenzy after the death of his wife Sati, dancing with her dead body and making the whole world tremble. The gods had attempted to stop him in various ways before Vishnu took his solar discus and chopped the disintegrating corpse into 51 bits. The spot where each piece fell became a pitha,or pilgrimage site, for worshippers of the female principle of divinity - Shakti.

The shrine here marks where her little toe fell. Kali represents the destructive side of Shiva's consort and demands daily sacrifices. In the morning goats have their throats slit here to satisfy the goddess' bloodlust. The temple is about two km directly south of St Paul's Cathedral and is easily accessible by metro.