Patiala Kali Mata Mandir

The Kali Devi Mandir at Patiala was built by the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, in 1936, who was inspired to build the temple and bring the idol of Goddess Kali and the “paawan jyoti” or the “sacred fire” from Bengal to Patiala. Situated opposite the Baradari Garden, the temple houses a six-foot-tall idol of Goddess Kali. The temple, made entirely in white marble, in itself is a work of art, an architectural wonder to say the least.

This is believed to be so because the kings of Patiala are known to have been ardent supporters and promoters of art and culture. The walls of the temples are adorned with beautiful murals, inscriptions and frescoes, telling the tales of Hindu mythology and stories from Hindu epics.

The six-foot idol, made of black stone and standing erect in a gold-plated sanctum, is seen in her popular image - bloodshot eyes, open mouth and a drooping tongue, with a bent sword and a human head in her hand.

Because of its architectural finesse, the temple has been declared a national monument.  Interestingly, an older temple to a Hindu deity Raj Rajeshwari also stands in the middle of the temple complex.