A Quick Guide To Bishnupur - The Temple Town Of Bengal

Bishnupur, a small town in Bankura district of West Bengal, is famous for its terracotta temples and is a great option for a short trip from Kolkata. There are a lot of places to visit in this historical town and here’s a quick guide to experience Bishnupur in a day.

Bishnupur was built by the Malla kings who once ruled a part of West Bengal. The temple town was built from the 10th to the 17th centuries, across a span of 700 years. The temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, hence the name ‘Bishnupur’.

Bishnupur was once the cultural capital of Bengal and was famous for its architecture, arts & crafts, music and textiles. Now it is a historical gem waiting to be rediscovered! Apart from the age-old terracotta temples, Bishnupur is also known for the craftsmanship of its terracotta figurines, pottery, jewellery and other decor items.

Top Places To Visit In Bishnupur

Rasmancha

Built in 1600 AD, Rasmancha is the oldest brick temple and the only temple of its kind in the whole country. The pyramidal structures are embellished with exquisite terracotta work and motifs.

During the Ras Festival, all the local idols from adjoining shrines and temples were displayed in Rasmancha for the public. Rasmancha has now been converted to a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey Of India.

Shyam Rai Temple

Shyam Rai Temple was built in the 17th century. The architecture of this Temple is unique and is one of the prioritized monuments on Archaeological Survey of India’s list. It has Pancharatna architectural style, and is perhaps West Bengal’s oldest surviving temple representative of this design.

It has beautiful terracotta sculptures, depicting various scenes from Ramayana, Krishna Leela and Mahabharata. Other paintings and sculptures depict the socio, economic and political life of people at that time. An unique feature about this temple is that its curved ceiling is influenced by Islamic architecture.

Jor Bangla Temple

Jor Bangla Temple is richly ornamented with terracotta carvings. The roof has the classic chala style of Bengal architecture. The structure reflects the traditional thatched huts of the region, one that serves as a porch, in front of the other, that serves as a shrine. This is one of the few temples in Bishnupur in really good condition.

Radhashyam Temple

Radhashyam Temple is esteemed as one of the few living shrines in the region (temples still operational). You can offer prayers to Radha and Krishna glimmering in the dark sanctum. The temple structure has a curved roof with a single tower that crowns the square structure of the building. Because of its historical significance and heritage value, the temple is well preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Lalji Temple

Lalji Temple is another one of the prominent terracotta temples of Bishnupur. The lower storey resembles the arched pavilion of Rasmancha, whereas the upper storey with shikhara resembles the Eka-Ratna style of temple architecture.

Pathar Darwaja or Main Gateway Of Bishnupur

Pathar Darwaja was the northern entrance to the ancient fort of Bishnupur and was built by Malla King, Bir Singha in the second half of the 17th century. This terracotta gateway is built with dressed laterite blocks. There are secret chambers which were designed for accommodating troops and soldiers. There were also arrow slits for the archers and gunmen.

You can also visit Mrinmoyee Temple, the oldest temple of Bishnupur established by King Jagat Malla in 997 AD (though it has undergone renovation since then), and the Madanmohan Temple, another prominent terracotta temple built in Eka-Ratna style.

There are 20 temples in the Bishnupur temple complex. There is so much to see in this little town, interesting history to learn about & architecture to admire everywhere that it is impossible to cover everything in a day. But with this guide you’ll definitely see the best ones.

This trip also made me realize once again that there are so many amazing places close to home where we haven’t yet been to or perhaps haven’t even heard of! I’ll definitely make it a point to visit a few of such places every year.

Planning Guide

How To Reach Bishnupur

By Rail: Bishnupur Railway Station is the nearest railway station and is well connected with different areas of West Bengal and some parts of India.

By Road: Bishnupur is well-connected by road and you can easily drive from Kolkata, Asansol, Purulia, Burdwan, Durgapur and other nearby cities. There are also regular buses plying from Kolkata.

Where To Stay In Bishnupur

You can easily do Bishnupur as a day trip like we did and return by the evening train or drive back. There are a few lodges and hotels if you want to stay the night.

Best Time To Visit Bishnupur

Bishnupur is open to visitors all throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Bishnupur is during the winter months (preferably December to February) when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy sightseeing to the fullest. During the summer season, especially from March to May, it can be get extremely hot and you’ll get exhausted easily. The monsoons aren’t a good time for sightseeing as the area has red soil which can get very muddy and sticky when it rains.

Bishnupur Sightseeing Cost

There are plenty of rickshaws & autos outside the station. Me & my friend booked a rickshaw for a few hours and it costed us just Rs. 500 to cover all these places.

Camera Gear Used For Photography:

Check out my ‘What’s In My Camera Bag‘ blog post for more details.

I really hope you enjoyed reading this article and you’ll find the information useful whenever you plan to visit these beautiful places in Bishnupur.

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