Sri Dakshin Kali Mandir, Chandi Ghat, Haridwar
This Kali temple is located almost in the wilderness, next to Chandi Ghat and on the banks of Ganga where it is known as Neeldhara. The Ganga gently flows southwards and this is why this temple is called Dakshin Kali (Dakshin is South in Sanskrit). The temple is small and its premises a little bigger than the temple. Marble Lion seems a recent addition. The idol in black seems old, how old is difficult to judge – but then it hardly matters. The specialty of this temple is that the Pooja is done at the midnight here when Ma Kali is offered Khichadi.
An elaborate board tells us that this is the place where Shiva drank the poison that came out of Samudra Manthan or churning of the ocean. After drinking it and holding it in his throat, he felt the immense heat, and he took bath in the Ganga here – giving it the name Neeldhara. Shiva, as we know, is also called Neelkanth for holding the blue poison in his throat. The board further tells you all the rituals and their dates as per the Indian calendar at the temple.
For the followers of Devi, this is the first Siddhapeeth of 10 Peethas of Dash Mahavidyas.