Overview

  • Features: Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission with a math (‘monastery’) and smaller shrines
  • Opening Times: 6:30 am to 12:00 pm & 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm, daily
  • Best Time to Visit: Evening for aarti ceremony
  • Duration: 2 to 3 hours
  • Travelled By: Train, boat
  • Cost: Free
  • Address: Grand Trunk Road, Belur, Howrah, West Bengal, India
  • Type: Monument

Author Reviews[display_rating_item_results rating_form_id=”2″ rating_entry_ids=”1″ show_category_filter=”false” show_options=”true” result_type=”star_rating” preserve_max_rating=”true” show_title=”false” show_count=”false” ]

Total Rating: [display_rating_result rating_form_id=”2″ show_count=”false” show_rich_snippets=true] [accordions load=”1″] [accordion title=”User Reviews” last] [display_rating_item_results rating_form_id=”5″ show_options=”true” result_type=”star_rating” preserve_max_rating=”true” show_title=”false” show_count=”true” show_rich_snippets=true] [/accordion] [accordion title=”Add Review”][display_rating_form show_email_input=”true” show_comment_textarea=”true” show_name_input=”true” rating_form_id=”5″] [/accordion] [/accordions]

What We Liked

Peaceful, meditative environment.

What We Disliked

Not a lot to see here.

Summary

About 16 km north of Kolkata city, on the west bank of the Hooghly river, is Belur Math, the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. It was founded in 1886 by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of the 19th-century Hindu saint Ramakrishna who preached the unity of all religions. To symbolize this, the Math (‘monastery’) synthesizes Hindu, Christian and Islamic architectural styles in a peaceful and meditative atmosphere.

Belur Math Kolkata

 

[singlepic id=462 w=720 h=560 float=center]

 

About 16 km north of Kolkata (Calcutta) city, on the west bank of the Hooghly river, is Belur Math, the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. The order was established in 1886 by the dynamic, reformist Hindu crusader, Swami Vivekananda, the foremost disciple of the 19th-century Hindu saint Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Today, the Mission has centres around the world.

 

[singlepic id=460 w=720 h=560 float=center]

 

Within the sprawling complex lies the centrepiece, Ramakrishna Math, a modern temple which was built in 1938, and embodies Ramakrishna’s philosophy, based on the unity of all faiths. To symbolize this, the Math (‘monastery’) synthesizes Hindu, Christian and Islamic architectural styles in a peaceful and meditative atmosphere. The ground plan is in the shape of a cross, the windows have arches reminiscent of Mughal buildings, the gate shows Buddhist influence and Hindu architectural motifs decorate the façade. Within the immaculate main shrine, an evening aarti (musical prayers) is performed daily at 5:30 pm which enlivens the atmosphere inside.

Several smaller temples and dormitories for the monks belonging to the order line the riverbank, and devotees and seekers of spiritual peace roam the grounds. Sri Sarada Devi Temple, entombing the guru’s wife, is located near the Hooghly river bank. Theses smaller shrines are open from 6:30 am to 11:30 am and 3:30 pm to 5:15 pm daily.

Accessed from the car park, the beautifully presented dual-level museum charts Ramakrishna’s life and travels, with mock-ups of buildings in which he stayed from Rajasthan to New York. The museum is open from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm daily except Monday.

Belur Math makes for a great day trip from Kolkata. The complex is spotlessly clean, and the atmosphere contemplative and calm.

No photography is permitted inside the complex.

 

Getting to & from Belur Math

Located about 16 km from Kolkata city, the quickest and most affordable way to get from Kolkata to Belur Math and back is to take a suburban train from Howrah which takes about 30 minutes. Six daily suburban trains run from Belur Math to Howrah and back.

Minibus 11 and bus 54 run to Esplanade, bus 56 to Howrah; however, the miserable stop-start traffic could make this journey long and unbearable.

If you’re coming to Belur Math from Dakshineswar or vice versa, consider taking a ferry which is not only quick and affordable but also a lovely way to see the Hooghly river as you float downstream. Ferries do not ply when the tide is moving upstream, so you might have to wait till the tide turns which can take around half an hour or more.

 

[wpgmza id=”48″]