Belur Math

Belur Math is the main monastery of the Ramakrishna Order.

It's a beautiful campus spread over forty acres right on the banks of the Ganges, about an hours drive from Calcutta.

Photography is not allowed, so pictures are courtesy Google.

The main temple is an interesting looking structure, which looks at one time like a temple, a cathedral, a mosque and maybe with shades of Mughal and Greek architecture. It is said to be an amalgamation of different religious faiths, symbolizing Ramakrishna's main mission of world religious unity. It was at Belur Math that Swami Vivekananda breathed his last.

The campus includes an aesthetically and interestingly laid our museum that charts the travels and lives of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. It's so beautifully done, that one can spend a couple of hours just in the museum alone.

They have 'bhog' a free lunch, which feeds almost 3000 people everyday, and we were lucky enough to make it to the lunch. It was so tasty....in fact the kheer could easily be the best I've ever had.

The main temple

 Inside of the temple

They published a coffee table book of Vivekananda's writings, like a manuscipt in his own handwriting as a 150th year birth anniversary commemoration. Priti and I, both picked up a copy each as memoir of our visit.

If visiting Calcutta, it's well worth setting aside half a day for Belur Math.