Bishnupur - The land of terracotta temples

Bishnupur is a town in the Bankura District of West Bengal and located at about 132 km from Kolkata. It is famous for its terracotta temples and Baluchari sarees. The town has a glorious past that is reflected in its rich architecture, music, and handicrafts such as pottery and weaving. It prospered in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Ruled by a line of Hindu Rajas of the Malla dynasty, Bishnupur developed a unique form of architecture and has perhaps the most brilliant and detailed terracotta work in Eastern India has withstood the ravages of time. The Terracotta tiles depict stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The Temples like the Shyam Ray Temple, the twin shrines of Jorbangla and the Rasmancha is a must-visit. Apart from its heritage, Bishnupur is also known for its traditional handloom sarees. Pottery, art facts, and even jewelry made of terracotta in Bishnupur are also very popular. Bishnupur is also famous for the School of Hindustani Music which flourished under royal patronage along with the Bishnupur School of Painting. This style of music is still being kept alive in local academies of music. 

The history of Bishnupur can be traced back to 694 AD, when King Raghunath founded the Malla dynasty. However, it was much later in 994 AD that the place was named Bishnupur. The name is derived from the name of the Hindu God Vishnu. The most powerful king of the dynasty was King Raghunath Singh Dev II, who ruled from 1626 AD. At that time the administration of Bengal was in the hands of Shah Jahan and his son Shuja. He developed a close friendship with the king and there followed a period of peace when art and music already flourishing, reached great heights. It was during this period that the Jorbangla Temple was erected.

Bishnupur Mela

The Bishnupur Mela is held every year around the last week of December, near the Madanmohan Temple. This fair stretches over four days and people from all the nearby villages come together to celebrate the end of the agricultural season. A recent addition is the Bishnupur Utsav, held immediately after the Mela. It is a classical music and dance festival in recognition of the ‘Bishnupur Gharana’ in music.

Bishnupur Arts

The most famous art form of Bishnupur is terracotta work. Apart from the temples, terracotta pottery, art crafts and even jewelry are popular. One of the most exquisite sarees in India called the Baluchari Sarees is created by craftsmen of this place. The silk strands are dyed separately and then put into a loom. One sari may have an entire episode from the Mahabharata woven into its border and Pallu. Bishnupur is also famous for the metal craft, popularly known as 'Dokra'. The top attractions to visit in Bishnupur are; Rasmancha, Shyamrai Temple, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Jorebangla Temple, and Madan Mohan Temple.

Best time to visit: 

October to February; summers can get very hot. The Bishnupur festival happens in the last week of December at the Rajbari and is a great time to be there.

How to Reach:

Bishnupur lies in the Bankura district of West Bengal. It is connected by direct train, cabs, and buses from Kolkata (139 kms); it takes about four hours by road and three hours by train. It is also accessible by road from Jamshedpur (167 kms) and takes about four hours by car. The nearest airport is Kolkata.