Old Maa Kaali Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the nearest international airport, about 60 km away.

• By train

  Sonipat is connected by rail with Delhi, Panipat and Jind.

• By road

  Sonipat lies on Grand Trunk Road (NH 44) and the Delhi Western Peripheral Expressway. The town is the headquarters of Sonipat district.

Rules to know

• The temple is a place of worship open to people of all religions and castes.

Why devotees come here

Old Maa Kaali Temple stands on Kami Road in Sonipat, Haryana. It is an ancient temple of Maa Mahakaali, said to be around 6000 years old, and it draws devotees to two fairs every year.

Local tradition links the temple with the Pandavas. Before the battle of Kurukshetra, they are said to have prayed here and taken the blessings of Maa Kaali for their victory. The Pandavas are also said to have built a well near the temple.

There used to be a prayer spot of Chandi Mata here. Lodhamal re-constructed it in 1377. In 2002, devotees renovated and rebuilt the temple and gave it a new look.

Inside the temple, an eternal flame keeps on burning. The flame was brought from temples in Calcutta and Kalkaji. Devotees believe that praying here for 40 days with a pure mind brings a wish to fulfilment. The temple is a place of worship open to people of all religions and castes.

Festivals

• Sheetala Shaptami, after HoliSheetala Shaptami fair

  Devotees bring sweets made from new grain, along with coconut, fruits and cloth (chunri).

• Asaadh monthAsaadh month fair

  The second of the two yearly fairs at the temple, with the same kinds of offerings.

Tips for your visit

• Look for Ram Leela Ground on Kami Road, with the temple at its rear.
• Plan a Saturday visit to join the special prayer held in the temple each week.

Questions people ask