Tourism in Bishnupur: Things to do in Bishnupur

Bishnupur 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 an uninterrupted 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 that has withstood the ravages of time.

Location

Located in the Bankura district of West Bengal, it takes about five hours to drive down from Calcutta. The landscape is gently undulating and dotted with sal (Shorea robusta; a tall timber tree) and mahua (Bassia latifolia; a common shade tree), the fine red soil lending it own beauty to the place.

History

The history of Bishnupur can be traced back to AD 694. The period before this is shrouded in mystery. King Raghunath I founded the Malla dynasty in AD 694. However, it was much later in AD 994 that the place was named Bishnupur. The name is derived from 'Vishnu', the majority of people belonging to the 'Vaishnava' sect.

The most powerful king of the dynasty was King Raghunath Singh Dev II. His reign started in AD 1626, at the same time as the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan occupied the throne in Delhi. Administration of Bengal was in the hands of Shahjahan's son Suja. He developed a deep friendship with the king of Bishnupur and there followed a period of peace when art and music, already flourishing reached its height. It was during this period that the Jorebangla Temple was erected.

Fairs & Festivals of Bishnupur

Poush Mela, which is also known as the Bishnupur Mela (fair), is held every year around December 25 near the Madanmohana Temple. This fair stretches over four days and is similar to the Poush Mela that is held annually in Shantiniketan at about the same time. During the fair, people from all the nearby villages come together to celebrate the end of the agricultural season.

Best Time to Visit Bishnupur

Bishnupur in West Bengal is accessible to tourists for most time of the year. However, the best time to spend a fulfilling holiday is undoubtedly between the months of October to March. At this time of the year, the weather is pleasant. Explore the terracotta temples, rich heritage of architecture, music and handicraft at peace. Summers in the city are an exhaustible affair. Temperatures touch 40 degree Celsius. The hot and humid weather is disagreeable. The rains dampen the moods. Only in the pleasant winters the city exerts its true charm. Crowds are drawn in huge numbers in the annual Jhapan festival in August and the Bishnupur Mela in the last week of December.

How to Reach Bishnupur

By Air

BY AIR -

The nearest airport to reach Bishnupur is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata. From the town the airport is 121 kilometers away. The international air terminal has regular flights connections from all over the country and the world. From the airport take a ride on the state owned buses or hire a cab to cover the distance.

By Train

BY RAIL -

Bishnupur has its own railway station. The railhead is in the centre of the city. Direct trains are available from Howrah and Satraganchi for people travelling from Kolkata. Regular train options are available from all over India.

By Road

BY ROAD -

Bishnupur is well -connected by road network. It’s very easy to reach the city from anywhere in west Bengal. The city bus depot has regular connections. Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC) and South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) buses ply regularly between Dharmatala/ Esplanade bus stand of Kolkata and Bishnupur. Private air conditioned and non-air conditioned cabs can be availed as well.

Tourist Attractions in Bishnupur

Sightseeing

The ancient capital of Mallabhum, Bishnupur, is a repository of some excellent terracotta temples. The brick temples at Bishnupur, built between the 17th and 18th centuries when terracotta had reached its zenith under the Malla kings, are located in the ruined fort area and its neighborhood.

The oldest brick temple is a curiously shaped Rasmancha with an elongated pyramidal tower surrounded by hut-shaped turrets. It was built in the late 16th century by King Beera Hambira. Terracotta gained further momentum under King Raghunath Singh, son of Beera Singh, who built the Pancha Ratana Temple of Shyam Rai and the Jorebangla Temple of Keshta Rai. The temple of Shyam Rai with its superior figurines and floral patterns was the first of its kind in Bengal.

The temple of Madanmohana, the best known in Bishnupur, in the Sankharipara area was built outside the fort compound by King Durjana Singh Dev, son of Raghunath Singh, in AD 1694. It is built in the eka ratna style, a square flat-roofed building with curved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle. Its rich decorations and designs surpass the Shyam Rai and Keshta Rai temples. Here, for the first time, there are bigger terracotta plaques than those in the other two temples. There are impressive scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas carved on the temple walls.

Apart from temples, Bishnupur has some very attractive bandhs or large tanks that offer good sightseeing. The Lalbandh, Krishnabandh, and Pokabandh were built by the Malla kings around 17th and 18th centuries. These were made to provide water to the villagers and to protect the town from enemy attack by draining out the water towards them.

Art And Craft

The most famous art form of Bishnupur is its terracotta work. The exquisite craftsmanship of the terracotta artisans is evident in the Madanmohana Temple and the Shyam Rai Temple. The temple walls are richly decorated with the carvings of different aspects of Krishna's life-playing with Radha and the other milkmaids, incarnations of Vishnu, etc.

One of the most expensive saris in India called the Baluchari saris are created by craftsmen of this place. The silk strands are dyed separately and then put into a loom. Designs are woven with the help of a series of punch cards that are hung from the top of the loom. These punch cards are rectangular pieces of cardboard with hundreds of holes punched according to the design.

The colored strands pass through these holes and fall into place very precisely on the loom. One sari may have an entire episode from the Mahabharata woven into its border and pallu.

Tourism in Bishnupur