Kali Bari Temple, Shimla

The Kali Bari was founded in the 1840s by Bengali residents of colonial Shimla and moved to its present site below the Mall. The deity is worshipped as Shyamala, a form of Kali, and one common account traces the name 'Shimla' to Shyamala. The temple is small and busy, especially during Navratri and on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and is an easy stop on a walk along the Mall. Its congregation still reflects the Bengali community that built it, and Durga Puja here is a notable event in the town's calendar.

1. The temple is a short walk downhill from the Mall Road, near the Ridge.
2. Shimla is reached by the toy train from Kalka or by road from Chandigarh (~115 km).
3. From the lift on Cart Road, walk up to the Mall and follow signs down to the temple.

Any time of year. Navratri and Durga Puja are the high points but also the most crowded.

• The approach is by steps and a slope — not step-free.
• It gets very crowded during festivals; go early on those days.
• Photography inside the sanctum is usually not allowed.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.