Fodor's Expert Review Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Dedicated to Kali the Courageous, a ferocious incarnation of Shiva's wife, Parvati the Beautiful, this temple was built in 1881 by indentured Bengali laborers working at nearby lime pits. Inside is a jet-black statue of Kali, the fiercest of the Hindu deities, who demands sacrifices and is often depicted with a garland of skulls. More cheerful is the shrine to Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity. Perhaps the most popular Hindu deity, Ganesh is the child of Shiva and Parvati. During the temple's opening hours you will see Hindus going in to receive blessings: the priests streak devotees' foreheads with vibhuti, the white ash from burned cow dung.