BISHNUPUR JUNGLE CAMP

Bishnupur was ruled under the Gupta period by local Hindu kings who paid tribute to Samudra Gupta. Following a long period of obscurity, where the land oscillated between being a minor independent principality and a vassal state. The land is also called Mallabhum after the Malla rulers of this place. The Malla rulers were Vaishnavites and built the famous terracotta temples during the 17th and 18th centuries at this place. The legends of Bipodtarini Devi are associated with Malla Kings of Bishnupur.

For almost a thousand years it was the capital of the Malla kings of Mallabhum, of which Bankura was a part, till their power waned during the times when Mughal Empire weakened under the last monarchs of the dynasty.

The patronage of Malla king Veer Hambir and his successors RajaRaghunath Singha Dev and Bir Singha Dev made Bishnupur one of the principal centres of culture in Bengal. Most of the terracotta temples, for which the town is known, were built during this period.

Mrinmoyee temple of kings is treated as a valuable historic place.

Royal patronage also gave rise to Bishnupur Gharana(school) of Hindustani classical Music in late 18th-century and the Bishnupur school of painting.

Since 1997, the temples of Bishnupur is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site 's Tentative list.

HOW TO REACH

Bankura is well connected by road with Kolkata and surrounding towns like Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan, Panagarh and other parts of the state. From Bankura, you can take cab, bus or train to Bishnupur.  It is around  4 hours drive from Kolkata

BEST TIME TO VISIT

You can visit Bishnupur any time of the year though during summer the weather is very hot. Winter and Monsoon are the best time to visit here.

NEARBY ATTRACTION

1. Rasmancha
Rasmancha, the oldest brick temple was established by the King Hambir in 1600 AD. The majestic temple is architecturally so unique and unparalleled that it is one of its kind in the whole Bengal as well as the country. Rasmancha proudly stands on a laterite plinth and owns a single chamber neighbouring hut shaped turrets along with an elongated tower. You will get to witness a heritage that is enthroned with a pyramidal superstructure and is blessed with three circumbulatory galleries, tranquil pillars and mysterious arches with terracotta lotus motif. In the presence of daylight, when you will be walking through the galleries, you will feel history whispering in your ears by the language of light and shade. In the dark, glowing lights from the monument makes a thrilling ambience.

2. Mrinmoyee temple
Mrinmoyee temple, the oldest temple of Bishnupur was established by King Jagat Malla in 997 AD. According to local history, Maa Mrinmoyee ordered the king in his dreams to build the temple. Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Maa Mrinmoyee. Although the temple had to be reconstructed, the idol made of Ganga clay remained same.
Experience the oldest Durga Puja of Bengal (1021 years) and rich heritage immersing into a different flavor of religious warmth during the Puja. The festival starts with the worship of “Baro thakurani”, “Mejo thakurani” and “Choto thakurani” respectively, after setting up of a clay pot or “Ghat”. On the sacred moment of “Mahastami- Sandhipuja”, a cannon is fired and then vegetables are sacrificed.

3. Jorbangla Temple
Jorbangla temple was established by Malla king Raghunath Singh in 1655. The temple is one of the exceptional examples of the terracotta art of West Bengal and owns a unique architectural structure. The temple is named as “Jorbangla” because of its special “Do Chala” shape. The temple has its roof along with double-sided curved thatch, known as porch and shrine respectively, joined together. See the detailed sculptures of terracotta portraying multiple scenes from Mahabharata, Ramayana, Krishna’s childhood on its walls and get amazed. The panels decorated with terracotta-tales beautifully depict epic scenes like ‘Bhisma’s Sarasajya’, ‘Marriage of Ram-Sita’, ‘Maa Parbati with her two sons’, ‘Balgopal’s activities’, ‘story of Laxman and Surpanakha’ and many more.

4. Shyam Rai temple
The temple was built by King Raghunath Singh in 1643, is popularly known as ‘Panch-chura’ temple as it owns five pinnacles. The temple looks beautiful with triple arched passage on its four sides. It is one of the star attractions of Bishnupur because of its breathtaking terracotta art-forms on both interior and exterior panels. Various scenes based on religious stories like ‘Indra fighting sitting on Oirabot’, ‘Saga of Ram and Raban’,’Glimpses of Krishna Lila’, ‘love of Radha-Krishna’, ‘Hunting scenarios from old society’ etc. are truly representing the terracotta art at its best. Another attraction of this temple is a giant Raschakra that depicts various forms of ‘Radha-Krishna Lila amidst of Gopinis’.

5. Gar Darja
In Bishnupur, there are two proud gateways to the fort. Local people addressed them as ‘Gar Darja’. Beside ‘Murcha Hill’, you will see a small mound made of stone. After crossing the small gate, there comes a gigantic gate that was the entrance of the Bishnupur Royal Kingdom. ‘Gar Darja’ was made to protect the royals from enemies. It has a huge terrace and secret chambers. Soldiers used to keep track trespassers from the ‘Gar’ and made surprise attacks to smash them.

6. Madanmohan Temple
When you are in Bishnupur, this one pinnacled ‘Bishnu’ temple is a must see. Certainly, the temple is one of the main structural forms carrying the message of finest terracotta art in its body. Malla Raja Durjan Singh Dev established the temple in the name of Lord Madan Mohan in 1694. This is an active temple, till date.

7. Jore Shreni Temple / Poramatir Haat Area
Though known as Jor Mandir (meaning pair of temples), it is actually a complex of three Eka-Ratna temples: Two big temples of same size and a small one. These temples were built by Malla King Krishna Singh (pronunciation: sing-ho) in 1726. These ‘Eka-Ratna’ or ‘single towered’ temples are made of rust-coloured laterite. The big temple has a square base of 11.8m X 11.8m and a height of 12.8m above a low platform. The roofs of all three temples are typical Bengali ‘chala’ type surmounted by a ‘sikhara’ or tower. Around the innermost sanctuary where the idol is kept, there are covered porches on three sides. Except the rear wall, on each of these three sides there are three arched openings.

8. Archeological Museum
Acharya Yogesh Chandra Purakirti Bhawan is the local Museum in Bishnupur and is a must see for people who love archeology, art and history. You will get to see around 100 sculptures from the 10th-12th century, near about 5000 manuscripts, different types of folk arts, photographs, irreplaceable specimens of textiles and many more ancient items.

9. Lalbandh – History remains in water
Bir Singh built the seven lakes named Pokabandh, Shyambandh, Kalindibandh, Jamunabandh, Gantatbandh, Krishnabandh, and Lalbandh in 1658. Lakes were made for drinking water and to protect the town from enemy. Malla Raj Raghunath Singha is said to be infatuated with a Persian dancer, called Lalbai. He took her under his protection and later dug this large pond in her name Lalbandh.

10. Sareswar and Saileswar Temple
These twin temples are dedicated to Mahadev and located in the village of Dihar which is 8 km distant from Bishnupur. You will see a Nandi Bull seated at the entrance of the Sareswar Temple as if it is protecting it. These temples, made of laterite stone, are majestic examples of Oriya Deul style architecture. This place becomes a pilgrimage during ‘Mahashivratri’ festival and ‘Gajan’.