Bishnupur - Embodiment of Terracotta
Bishnupur (in Bankura District of West Bengal) with some of the finest specimen of Bengal architecture - is easily accessible by road and train from Kolkata. Bishnupur was a kingdom of Mallya dynasty. Mallya Raj Jagamallya established this Bishnupur kingdom. He first set up the Mrinmayee Devi Temple in 997 AD. Mallya Raj Birhambir was influential king and he took Baishnav religion to Bishnupur and established Rashmancha in 1600 AD. Rashmancha is the oldest brick temple. Jor Bangla temple is another important temple in Bishnupur which portrays the traditional design of double roof terracotta architecture. The terracotta art engraved on the wall of Jor Bangla temple relates to ancient mythology. This temple was built by Mallya king Raghu Nath Singh in 1655 AD. Radhashyam temple was built by Mallya king Chaitanya Singh in 1758 AD. The architecture is magnificent here. This temple has a nahavat Khana at the entrance of the temple. Radha Lalijiu temple is