Bishnupur

Bishnupur is a city located in the Bankura district of West Bengal. Bishnupur was once the capital of Malla kings. It is also called Mallabhoomi after the name of Malla kings. These kings ruled here for about a thousand years. When terracotta handicraft got a boost in Bishnupur, the Bishnupur Gharana of Indian classical music also flourished.

The famous terracotta temples built by these Malla kings in the 17th and 18th centuries, the followers of Vaishnavism, are still standing proudly. The temples here are living examples of Bengal architecture. Bishnupur city is also famous for terracotta temples, Baluchuri saris, and brass ornaments, besides the Bishnupur fair held in the last week of December every year.

This fair is a unique confluence of art and culture. In this fair, artists come from far and wide to show their skills, and connoisseurs of their art also come. During the last week of the year, the whole city gets engulfed in the colors of celebration. Especially during the fair, a lot of crowd gathers here.

Malla Raja Veer Hambir and his successors- Raja Raghunath Singha or Veer Singha, played a prime role in making Bishnupur the major cultural center of the then Bengal. Most of the temples of the city were also built in the same period. The Rasamancha pyramid is the oldest temple made of bricks built by King Veer Hambir in the 16th century.

At the Raas festival, the idols of the entire city were brought to this temple, and people from far and wide used to throng to see them. The terracotta decoration done in this temple attracts tourists.

The verses of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas have been written on its walls and found through excavation. Similarly, terracotta was also excavated in the Jorbangla temple built by King Raghunath Singha in the 17th century.

There are so many such temples in the city that it can also be called the city of temples. Dalmandal Kaman, Nutan Mahal, and the birthplace of Srinivas Acharya are prominent among the famous temples of Bishnupur.

Terracotta is the identity of Bishnupur. Apart from utensils made from it, decoration items are also available here. At the fair, these shops are seen from one end. Apart from this, items made of brass are also made and sold here.

Apart from these things, Baluchuri sarees made here are famous not only in the country but all over the world, Baluchuri sarees have established their own identity.

Durga and Kali Puja celebrated here are worth seeing, and the city is decorated with different colors.

Places to visit in and around Bishnupur are Rasamancha, Lalji temple, Susunia Hill, Jorbangla temple, Mukutmonipur, Madan Mohan temple, Biharinath Hill, Radha Shyam temple, Joyrambati, Jhilmili, Hadal- Narayanpur, and Bishnupur Mela and many more to explore Bishnupur.

The best time to visit Bishnupur is during winter.