BISHNUPUR TEMPLES

Some of the temples are nicely illuminated on Saturdays and Sundays between 6pm and 9:30pm, but it is not a sound and light show. If you are short on time,auto-rickshaw drivers will take you around the main temples. Hiring the services of a guide can be a good idea. For a complete half-day tour, count Rs 300.

North and northeast of College Road

Jore Bangla Temple. Completed in 1655. Unique in its kind, it consists of two hut-like structures topped by a small square tower. The interior and exterior ornaments are of great finesse and represent scenes of the social life of the time.

Lalji Temple. Completed in 1658. This stone temple stands out by its almost white color and its surrounding wall. It is in a rather bad state of conservation, so that one distinguishes only remains of ornaments. The whole remains however impressive. Going towards Madan Mohan (north), you will cross what remains of the old doors of the city. They are made of laterite and date from the second half of the ^17th century.

Madan Mohan Temple. Completed in 1694. Its curved Bangla-style roof, topped by a single sikhara, makes it a very representative example of this style of architecture. The terracotta ornaments depict scenes of the Rasha festival, war and hunting.

Patpur Temple. No inscription to date it has been found; experts believe it dates from the second half of the ^18th century. On the sides of the entrance door, you will find two beautiful representations of Vishnu. To get to this temple located more than 1 km east of the city gates, one passes through beautiful small traditional villages with mud houses, where life seems to have remained the same since ever.

Radhashyam Temple. Completed in 1758, this is the newest temple in Bishnupur. Built in laterite, it is famous for its numerous stucco reliefs representing geometrical forms and floral designs. Just in front of this temple, you can go to the Durga Mandir. An incredible banyan tree stands in front of the entrance.

Rashmansha Temple. Built in the second half of the ^16th century by Bir Hambir, the most famous of the Malla kings. Its function was to house idols from the various temples of the kingdom, in order to display them to the public during the festival of Rasha. Its pyramidal roof and the triple gallery surrounding the sanctuary make it a unique architectural construction in India. The outer walls are decorated with terracotta lotuses, and on the eastern side, dancers and singers can be seen.

Shyamraya Temple. Its construction was completed in 1643. Surmounted by five towers (including a central one) with arches, this brick temple is said to be in the ratna ("tower") style. The walls are decorated with terracotta scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Hindu epic tales. The hunting expeditions of the Mallabhum kings are also depicted. The terracotta sculptures at Shyamraya are considered to be the most elaborate in all of West Bengal. There is only one other five-towered temple in Bishnupur: the Madan Gopal, west of the city.

Northwest of College Road

Madan Gopal Temple. Made entirely of laterite, it was completed in 1665. It is the other five-towered temple in Bishnupur (along with the Shyamraya). The central tower is octagonal. It is not known for its ornaments, which include only a few lotuses on the porch arches. But it is worth the trip, because it is located in the middle of the city and the way to get there is full of little surprises: old houses, metal temple on wheels, small trades...

South of College Road

Dalmadal Cannon. Dating from the ^16th century, it was used to contain the Marathi invasions in 1742. This imposing piece of artillery weighs 30 tons and is nearly 4 meters high. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word dalamardan, which means "to disperse the enemy bands". The other guns of the Malla kings were confiscated by the English administration.

Chinnamasta Temple. Located just after the cannon, it is of recent construction and has nothing to do with the Mallabhum temples. It is dedicated to one of the most venerated goddesses in Bishnupur, Chinnamasta Mata, who carries her head in one of her twelve arms. Chinnamasta means "with separated head" in Bangladeshi.

Jore Mandir Temples. This harmonious complex of three laterite temples was completed in 1726. The smallest of them, located in the center, is richly decorated with stucco illustrations of the Ramayana. Away from the constructions of the city, in the middle of a somewhat lunar relief, it is very pleasant to walk there at the time of the sunset.

Nanda Lal Temple. It probably dates from the ^17th century. Few ornaments.

Radha Govinda Temple. Completed in 1729, it is flanked by some bas-reliefs. Just next door, note the miniature temple.

Southeast of College Road

The following two temples are within the precincts of the Archeological Survey of India.

Kalachand Temple. Completed in 1656, this is one of the oldest laterite temples in Bishnupur. One can see representations of Krishna, dancers and ascetics.

Radha Madhab Temple. Completed in 1737, its three-arched entrance porch is remarkable. You will find many bas-reliefs representing episodes of the life of Krishna. Flowers, birds, and other animals complete the picture.