Nalahati Shakti Peetha

Kalika Shaktipeeth Shri Nalateswari Temple stands at Nalhati in Birbhum District, West Bengal. The shrine is dedicated to Kali in the form of Nalateswari Devi and occupies a prominent position in the town’s religious life. Its hill setting and inclusion within Birbhum’s cluster of Shakti temples make it a regular stop for pilgrims travelling through the district.

The Peetha is recorded as Nalahati. According to the tradition used in this database, Sati’s nala fell here. The term nala has been interpreted in different ways, including a tubular bone, windpipe or a related bodily structure, so it should not be translated too narrowly. The Goddess is Kali and the corresponding Bhairava is Yogisha, also written Yogesha. Nalateswari Temple is the accepted modern identification, while the anatomical meaning and spellings vary across textual and later accounts.

Navratri and Kali Puja are the principal periods of special worship, offerings and increased attendance. The shrine can be included with Tarapith, Bakreswar, Nandikeshwari, Fullara and Kankalitala in a broader Birbhum Shakti pilgrimage. Birbhum district’s tourism material recognises Nalhateswari among the important temples around Rampurhat. The temple’s significance therefore rests both on the Nalahati Peetha tradition and on its continuing role as an active regional Kali shrine.