✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Kali Mata Mandir in Kalka, Panchkula district, is the old temple the town is named after, and it is also called Kalka Mandir. Google Maps shows about 28 km and 46 minutes by road from Chandigarh via NH 5. The listing showed the temple opening at 5 am when we checked overnight; devotees visit during Navratri, and Wikipedia says a mela is held every year in March–April.
Kalka sits on the road from Chandigarh to Shimla and is described as a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, so the temple is an easy stop on the way up. This guide draws on the Panchkula district portal, the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board’s own page for the temple, Wikipedia and Google Maps. We found no Haryana Tourism page for the temple, and the district page is short, so we mark the details that rest on one source.
Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| Name | Kali Mata Mandir, also called Kalka Mandir (district portal); listed on Google Maps as Prachin Shree Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka |
| Where | Kali Mata Mandir, 911, Kalka–Shimla Road, Sohan Nagar, Kalka, Haryana 133302 (Google Maps) |
| From Chandigarh | About 28.4 km, roughly 46 minutes via NH 5 on Google Maps; the district portal puts the Chandigarh airport 42 km from the temple by road |
| Station and bus stand | Kalka Railway Station 1 km and Kalka Bus Stand 2 km by road (district portal) |
| Timings | Google Maps showed “opens 5 am” when we checked overnight on 21 September 2026; no closing time was shown |
| Phone | 01733 220 797 (Google Maps listing) |
| Festivals | Devotees visit during Navratri, and a mela is held every March–April (Wikipedia) |
| Visitor rating | 4.7 on Google Maps, about 10,400 reviews (21 September 2026) |
The temple and the town
The district portal calls it one of the old shrines of Panchkula and a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, and says the town of Kalka is named after the Kali Mata temple. Wikipedia agrees that the name comes from the goddess Kali and calls Kalika Maa the town’s ruling deity. It describes an ancient Kali temple in Kalka that devotees visit every year during Navratri.
Two accounts of the temple’s origin circulate. The Shrine Board’s page says that in the Satyug the goddess Jagdamba destroyed demons including Mahishasur at this spot, which is how the place became known as Kali Mata of Kalka. The same page, like Wikipedia, records a belief that the Pandavas established the temple during their exile in the Dwapar era, and adds that a cow named Shyama used to anoint the mother’s pinda with her milk every day, which astonished them. Both are legends and traditions, not dated history, and we found no independent record that confirms them.
The temple is run by the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, whose own site lists Kali Mata Temple (Kalka) among its temples; the signboard over the entrance in the 2023 photograph above names the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Pujasthal Board, Panchkula. The board also runs Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula and Chandi Mandir, as our guides to those temples explain.
Visiting: timings, crowds and etiquette
- Timings: the Google Maps listing showed “opens 5 am” during our overnight check and did not show closing time or the rest of the week, so confirm the day’s schedule at the temple office or on 01733 220 797. The Shrine Board’s Kalka page carries a general timings block headed Mata Mansa Devi (summer 4 AM to 10 PM, winter 5 AM to 9 PM) without saying it applies to Kalka, and the board’s office number is 0172-2920988.
- Festival days: Wikipedia says devotees visit every year during Navratri and that a mela is held in March–April. Expect queues at those times.
- Etiquette: remove your shoes before entering and dress modestly.
Other places in Kalka
- Shri Trimurti Dham Balaji Hanuman Temple: Wikipedia places it on a hilltop at the eastern edge of Kalka, overlooking Parwanoo; the name means a place where three idols stand together.
- Kalka–Shimla Railway: the narrow-gauge line to Shimla starts from Kalka station and features on the UNESCO World Heritage list; work began in 1898 and it opened for traffic in 1903 (Wikipedia).
- Pinjore: lies just south of Kalka, and our Pinjore Garden guide covers the Yadavindra Gardens.
How to reach Kali Mata Mandir from Chandigarh
Google Maps shows 28.4 km and about 46 minutes via NH 5, with 28.1 km and 48 minutes on another option in current traffic. The district portal says Kalka Railway Station is 1 km from the temple and the bus stand is 2 km, and Wikipedia says many government buses connect Kalka with Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Delhi and Shimla. Kalka is the northern terminus of the Delhi–Kalka railway line, according to Wikipedia.
More temples and festivals
- Navratri at Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula and Chandi Mata Mandir, Panchkula, two more Devi shrines in the Panchkula area.
- Best places to visit for Navratri in Chandigarh for the festival season.
- Our Chandigarh festival calendar for dates across the year.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kali Mata Mandir in Kalka?
It is on the Kalka–Shimla Road in Sohan Nagar, Kalka, Panchkula district, Haryana 133302, according to Google Maps. The district portal says Kalka Railway Station is about 1 km away.
Is the town of Kalka named after the temple?
Yes, according to the Panchkula district portal, which says the town is named because of the Kali Mata temple. Wikipedia also says the name comes from the goddess Kali.
How far is Kalka Mandir from Chandigarh?
Google Maps shows about 28.4 km and roughly 46 minutes via NH 5.
What are the temple timings?
Google Maps showed “opens 5 am” when we checked overnight but no closing time. Call the temple on 01733 220 797, the number on the Maps listing, or the Shrine Board office on 0172-2920988 to confirm.
When is the annual mela at Kalka?
Wikipedia says a religious mela is held in March–April every year, and that devotees visit during Navratri.
Who manages Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka?
The Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, which lists Kali Mata Temple (Kalka) on its own website alongside Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Mandir.
What can I see near Kali Mata Mandir?
Shri Trimurti Dham Balaji Hanuman Temple on a hilltop at the east edge of Kalka, the Kalka–Shimla Railway starting from Kalka station, and Pinjore Garden to the south.
