Dedicated to Goddess Hangseshwari, a form of Maa Kali lies Hangseshwari Temple on the west bank of the Hooghly River in Bansberia, Hooghly, West Bengal. Started in 1799 by Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy and completed in 1814 by his widow, Rani Shankari, this temple is famed as a tantric site, its thirteen lotus-shaped towers reflecting the human body’s mystic channels.
Notable Fact: The temple’s 3-foot blue neem-wood Hangseshwari idol, standing on a lotus from Shiva’s navel, embodies tantric principles, with its thirteen lotus-bud towers symbolizing the body’s chakras, as noted by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Overview of Hangseshwari Temple
Hangseshwari Temple is a key Hindu pilgrimage site for Shaktism in Bansberia, 10 km from Hooghly, blending tantric worship with Bengal’s devotion. Known for its unique ratna architecture, the 2-acre complex includes the Ananta Basudeba Temple and Swanbhaba Kali Temple. Managed by a temple trust since 1814, it sees thousands during Kali Puja. Rani Hanseswari was the mother of Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy, hence the deity is worshipped as Maa Hanseswari.
History of Hangseshwari Temple
It is said that Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy, inspired by a dream of Goddess Kali, laid the temple’s foundation in 1799, after studying Kundalini and chakras in Varanasi from 1792–1798. He sourced stones from Chunar, but died in 1802, leaving the second floor unfinished. His widow, Rani Shankari, completed it in 1814, spending five lakh rupees. A Sanskrit slab at the entrance, dated Saka 1736 (1814 CE), credits their work. The nearby Ananta Basudeba Temple, built in 1679 by Rameshwar Ray, adds to the site’s legacy.
Architecture of Hangseshwari Temple
Hangseshwari Temple rises 27.5 meters in a five-story, thirteen-ratna structure, each tower shaped like a lotus bud on a 2-acre plot by the Hooghly. Built of Chunar stone and brick, the main shrine, 10 meters by 10 meters, follows tantric Satchakrabhed, symbolizing human anatomy—Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala, Sushumna. Narrow tunnels link the inner chamber to the domes, mimicking nerves. The triple-arched entrance, 6 meters wide, has floral carvings. The adjacent Ananta Basudeba Temple, octagonal with terracotta panels, spans 8 meters by 8 meters. The design is one of the unique ones, built for tantric rites.
Sculptures of Hangseshwari Temple
The temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum houses is a 3-foot blue neem-wood Hangseshwari idol, four-armed, in a yogic pose—left leg on right—holding a sword and demon’s head, with hands in Abhaya and Varada mudras, set on a lotus from Shiva’s navel. A white marble Shiva lies on the upper floor, with twelve smaller Shivas under the other minarets. The Ananta Basudeba Temple houses a 4-foot Krishna idol, black stone, with terracotta panels of Ramayana and Krishna tales. The main shrine’s walls have 10 terracotta panels, 0.8 meters by 0.4 meters, painted red. The inner structure of the building resembles human anatomy. The temple’s architecture symbolizes the concept of “Tantrik Satchakrabhed.” Its design reflects the structure of the human body, with the five-story temple representing the five main channels: Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala, and Sushumna.
Top Things to Do in Hangseshwari Temple
Join Ritual Worship: Attend 5:00 PM evening Aarti or offer flowers and sindoor to Hangseshwari, seeking her blessings, guided by priests for ₹100–500.
Explore Ananta Basudeba Temple: Visit the adjacent 1679 temple, 200 meters away, to see terracotta carvings of Krishna’s life, free entry.
See Swanbhaba Kali Temple: Walk 300 meters to the 1788 Kali temple, built by Nrisingha Deb Roy, for its serene rites, no cost.
Take Bhog: Buy coupons by 10:30 AM for khichuri bhog at 1:00 PM, costing ₹35, served hygienically in the complex.
Study Terracotta Art: Examine the intricate terracotta panels on both temples, showing epic tales, open 7:00 AM–7:30 PM, free.
Information for Travelers
How to Reach Hangseshwari Temple, Hooghly
In Bansberia, 10 km from Hooghly and 50 km from Kolkata, the temple is reached by train, bus, or taxi, set by the Hooghly River.
By Air
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata, 40 km away, connects to Delhi (2 hours), Mumbai (2.5 hours), Bangalore (2.5 hours). Taxis take 1.5 hours, ₹1000–2000.
By Train
Bansberia Railway Station, 2 km away, links to Howrah (1 hour, ₹10–50). Autos or totos take 5 minutes, ₹20–50. Bandel Station, 4 km away, takes 20 minutes by auto.
By Road
Bansberia connects to Kolkata (50 km, 1.5 hours), Hooghly (10 km, 20 minutes), Chinsurah (12 km, 25 minutes) via NH-12. Buses, taxis and autos cost ₹20–50, no steps to enter. Roads may be narrow, with railway crossings; ask locals for directions.
Hours and Entry
Open daily, 7:00 AM–12:00 PM, 4:00 PM–7:30 PM. Free entry; puja costs ₹100–500, bhog ₹35. No phones or cameras inside; lockers available at temple counters. Wear clothing covering shoulders and knees; women in sarees or suits, men in kurtas or dhotis. Stalls sell offerings nearby.
Best Time to Visit
October to March, temperatures 12–25°C, suits visits. Kali Puja (November) and Navratri (October) draw crowds; visit at dawn. Avoid April–June, 25–40°C, for milder weather and fewer visitors. Evening Aarti at 5:00 PM is ideal.
Nearby Attractions
Ananta Basudeba Temple, 200 meters, 1679 Krishna temple with terracotta art.
Swanbhaba Kali Temple, 300 meters, 1788 Kali shrine by Nrisingha Deb Roy.
Bandel Church, 6 km, 1599 Portuguese basilica, rebuilt in 1660.
Hooghly Imambara, 8 km, 1861 Shia mosque with historical clocks.
Zafar Khan Ghazi Masjid, 2 km, ancient mosque by the Hooghly River.
Final Thoughts
Hangseshwari Temple in Bansberia, Hooghly, West Bengal, is a tantric heritage of West Bengal where Goddess Hangseshwari’s divine grace and blessings, by the Hooghly’s stream, touches all the devotees and travelers who visit, making it a place you must see among India’s holy sites and temples.
