Daat Kali Temple in Dehradun
Daat Kali Temple is a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site in Dehradun. Many Dehradun residents who purchase a new vehicle bring it here to seek the deity’s blessings. To protect the vehicle from harm, the temple priest performs a special puja in its name.
This Hindu shrine, known locally as ‘Kali ka Mandir,’ is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Every year, thousands of devotees visit, and many passers-by stop to worship the Goddess Kali. There is a tunnel nearby that is thought to be one of Dehradun’s oldest. Because the tunnel is only one way, all vehicles must travel in a straight line to avoid road accidents.
The Daat Kali Temple is extremely religious, and those who purchase a new vehicle bring it here to receive the Goddess’ blessings. The priest performs a special puja in which coconut is offered and a black thread is tied to the vehicle. A Vahan Durghatna Yantra is also attached to the vehicle to keep it safe from the evil eye, accidents, and other hazards. Because the temple is close to the Dehradun-Saharanpur road, all vehicles stop to pay their respects.
Daat Kali Temple was constructed on June 13, 1804. It is regarded as one of Dehradun’s most prominent Devi Ma Temples. This sacred site was built during the construction of the Dehradun-Saharanpur highway. Daat Kali Temple can be visited all year, but due to its location on the highway, it sees a high volume of traffic during the tourist season of March-June. As a result, visitors should avoid going during those months.
Goddess Kali once appeared in the dream of an engineer working on the national highway project, according to local legend. In his dream, the goddess handed him an idol of herself and told him to build a temple on the spot. The engineer gave the idol to Mehant Sukhbir Gusain, who named the temple Daat Kali Mandir in honour of the goddess.
There is a large hall in the temple where devotees can rest. There is also a perpetual fire that has been burning here since 1921. Many visitors, both locals and tourists, wait patiently for their turn to offer oil, flour, and ghee to the deity. The temple hosts a grand puja during Navratri, which is attended by a large number of devotees. To avoid chaos, traffic is stopped at the highway during this time. Bhandara is also held here, and devotees from all walks of life are served prasad.
Daat Kali is one of the best places to visit in Dehradun for those on a spiritual tour. The temple is known as the desired Seedhi Peeth or Kali Mandir and is located on the Saharanpur road. It is believed that the Mata Daat Kali temple is one of those Seedhi Peeth. The Daat Kali temple on the Saharanpur road is about 14 kilometres from Dehradun. It is 7.7 kilometres from ISBT Dehradun on the Dehradun-Saharanpur road. The nearest railhead to the temple is the Dehradun railway station, which is 13 kilometres away. While Jolly Grant airport is 41 kilometres away, it is the closest air connectivity from here.
