Page 297 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM  295

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Bankura district. 132 km (82
miles) NW of Kolkata. * 128,811.
Open daily. _ Jhapan (Aug).
Transport
£ @

The twin hut-like roofs of the Keshta Raya Temple, Bishnupur
Exploring the Temples 6 Barddhaman
of Bishnupur Barddhaman district. 125 km
The terracotta temples of (78 miles) NW of Kolkata. @
Bishnupur are scattered over _ Barddhaman Festival (Jan).
a 3-km (2-mile) radius, and
stand out vividly against the The Rajas of Barddhaman
vibrant green and ochre (Burdwan) were once powerful
colours of the landscape. landlords and great patrons
Terracotta Friezes The Rasa Mancha Temple, of the arts. Today, the small,
Scenes from the built by the ruler Bir Hambir in nondescript town is a gateway
epics alternate with the late 16th century, has 108 to some interesting sites. The
scenes from daily pillars and a pyramidal roof. rajas built several temples at
life. Here, Krishna Images of Krishna and Radha Kalna, 50 km (31 miles) to
plays his flute for the were displayed here for the the east, in the 18th and 19th
gopis (milkmaids). Rasa Festival, a tradition that centuries. The Shiva temple,
still continues today. with 108 minor shrines, is the
North of the Rasa Mancha most impressive. Nabadwip,
Temple is the large Keshta Raya 20 km (12 miles) to the north
(Jor Bangla) Temple, built in of Kalna, was the birthplace
1655. It has joined twin roofs, of Sri Chaitanya (1486–1533),
literally jor bangla. Floral motifs, founder of the movement that
scroll work and scenes from the revived the Krishna cult (see
Ramayana and Mahabharata p183). It is a charming town,
embellish the friezes on the walls. with a few old houses built of
The Madan Mohan Temple the narrow red brick, unique
further north, was built in 1694 to pre-British Bengal. Pilgrims
and has friezes showing events singing kirtans throng the
from the life of Krishna. To the Gauranga Temple. Nearby,
northwest, the 19th-century in Mayapur, is the large and
Shridhara Temple has nine modern Chandrodaya Temple,
spires or nav ratna. The frieze headquarters of ISKCON
at the entrance shows the god (International Society for
Shiva dancing. Krishna Consciousness).

Bankura Horses
Bankura district’s vibrant tradition of folk
art includes a variety of clay handicrafts.
The district’s most famous product is the
Bankura horse, a very stylized figure with
a long neck and elongated ears, in warm
terracotta colours. Artisans have used the
same techniques of hollow clay moulding and
firing for generations. Sizes vary from minute,
Interior Arch palm-sized toys to gigantic creations over 1 m
This doorway has rich (3 ft) high. The horses are votive figures and are
carvings of creepers, usually placed in front of local deities. Bankura clay horse
foliage and flowers.

294-295_EW_India.indd 295 26/04/17 11:45 am