Char Bangla Temples

Char Bangla Temples
An ASI Listed Monument
ASI signage at the Char Bangla Temple complex in Baronagar
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Location
Location	Baranagar, Murshidabad
State	West Bengal
Country	India
Shown within West Bengal Show map of West Bengal Char Bangla Temples (India) Show map of India
Geographic coordinates	24°15′08″N88°14′37″E / 24.2521°N 88.2436°E / 24.2521; 88.2436 Coordinates: 24°15′08″N88°14′37″E / 24.2521°N 88.2436°E / 24.2521; 88.2436
Architecture
Type	Ek-bangla
Completed	18th century

Char Bangla Temples, are located at Baranagar in the Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block in the Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

[Interactive fullscreen map]

Cities, towns and locations in the Lalbag and Domkal subdivisions, Murshidabad district
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical place
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

The Char Bangla Temples are located at 24°15′08″N88°14′37″E / 24.2521°N 88.2436°E / 24.2521; 88.2436 .

The temples

David J. McCutchion mentions the Char Bangla Temples at Baranagar as ek-bangla temples with triple entrance, measuring 31’ x 15–16.5’. The northern temple is dated 1760. Two of the temples have rich terracotta façade, one has incised plaster and the fourth one is plain. He says that apart from the Baranagar group, the ek-bangla is hardly found in West Bengal except in a “cursory form” ^[1]

According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal the Char Bangla group of four Siva Mandirs are ASI listed monuments. ^[2]

History

The temples were built by Rani Bhabani of Natore. The temples are famous for their exquisite decorations based on either mythology or daily life. The tendency of the Ganges to change course frequently is threatening the existence of these heritage structures. The river, which earlier used to flow some distance away is now within yards from the temples. ^{[3] [4]}

Char Bangla picture gallery

The temples

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  Temple 1
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  Temple 2
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  Temple 3
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  Temple 4

Decoration

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References

1. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 26,28, 30. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN   978-93-81574-65-2
2. "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India". Item no. 111. ASI. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
3. "250-year-old temple in Bengal village faces wrath of a river, administration sleeps". Kolkata News. Hindustan Times, 15 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
4. "The Char Bangla Temples of Murshidabad, West Bengal". Ancient Inquiries, 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.

External links

Murshidabad travel guide from Wikivoyage