BISHNUPUR: SHYAMA RAYA TEMPLE
Bishnupur, capital of the Mallabhumi kingdom between the 17th and the mid-18th centuries, is renowned for its elaborately adorned terracotta temples, made of the local red clay. The most imposing of these is the Shyama Raya Temple, built in 1643. It is richly decorated with scenes from Lord Krishna’s life as well as episodes taken from the epic Ramayana . Other motifs in the temple include scenes of hunting, boating and military processions.
- Bankura district. 152 km (94miles) NW of Kolkata.
-
128,811.
-
-
-
daily.
-
Rasa Festival (Aug).
The terracotta temples of Bishnupur are scattered over a 3-km (2-mile) radius, and stand out vividly against the vibrant green and ochre colours of the landscape.
The Rasa Mancha Temple , built by the ruler Bir Hambir in the late 16th century, has 108 pillars and a pyramidal roof. Images of Krishna and Radha were displayed here for the Rasa Festival, a tradition that still continues today.
North of the Rasa Mancha Temple is the large Keshta Raya (Jor Bangla) Temple , built in 1655. It has joined twin roofs, literally jor bangla . Floral motifs, scroll work and scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata embellish the friezes on the walls.
The Madan Mohan Temple further north, was built in 1694 and has friezes showing events from the life of Krishna.
To the northwest, the 19th-century Shridhara Temple has nine spires or nav ratna . The frieze at the entrance shows the god Shiva dancing.
Bankura district’s vibrant tradition of folk art includes a variety of clay handicrafts. The district’s most famous product is the Bankura horse, a very stylized figure with a long neck and elongated ears, in warm terracotta colours. Artisans have used the same techniques of hollow clay moulding and firing for generations. Sizes vary from minute, palm-sized toys to gigantic creations over 1 m (3 ft) high. The horses are votive figures and are usually placed in front of local deities.
