Belur Math

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Belur Math, Kolkata

Why devotees come here

Belur Math is not a single temple. It is the home of a monastic order that traces itself to Sri Ramakrishna (1836 to 1886) and his chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda (1863 to 1902). Vivekananda placed Sri Ramakrishna's relics here on 9 December 1898, and daily worship began in the Old Shrine in January 1899. He gave the order its motto: for one's own salvation and for the welfare of the world.

The main Sri Ramakrishna Temple was conceived by Vivekananda and designed by Swami Vijnanananda. It was consecrated on Makar Sankranti, 14 January 1938. Seen from different sides, it recalls a temple, a mosque and a church, as a symbol of the unity of religions.

The 40-acre campus also holds the Holy Mother Temple for Sri Sarada Devi, consecrated in 1921, and the Swami Vivekananda Temple of 1924, built where he was cremated. You can also see the room where Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi on 4 July 1902, and a museum.

Getting there

• By air

  Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is at Dum Dum, about 16 km from Howrah Junction. Take a cab on to Belur.

• By train

  Direct suburban EMU trains run from Howrah to Belur Math station, about 1.5 km from the Math.

• By road

  Belur Math is about 7 km from Howrah Station by road. Ferries also cross the Ganga from Dakshineswar to the Belur side.

Rules to know

• The temples close at 11:30 AM and reopen for the evening session.
• After the evening arati bell, devotees may sit only in the Sri Ramakrishna Temple.
• The guest house is only for devotees who come on pilgrimage; enquire by email on the official site.
• The museum and the Math office keep shorter hours than the temples, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

Festivals

• Durga Puja and Kumari PujaSeptember or October

  In 2026 on 18, 19 and 20 October; Vivekananda began the Kumari Puja here in 1901.

• Kali PujaOctober or November

  Listed by the Math for 8 November 2026.

• Christmas Eve24 December

  On the Math's celebration list for 2026.

• Swami Vivekananda's birthdayJanuary

  Listed by the Math for 28 January 2027.

• Sri Ramakrishna's birthdayFebruary or March

  10 March 2027, with the public celebration on 14 March.

Tips for your visit

• From October to March the campus reopens earlier, at 3:30 PM, which suits elderly visitors who prefer daylight.
• Reach well before dusk to find a place for the Sandhya Arati in the main temple.
• Durga Puja and the Kumari Puja draw very large crowds, so pick an ordinary day for a quiet visit.
• Pair the visit with Dakshineswar Kali Temple by taking the ferry across the river.

Questions people ask

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