Gokulchand Temple | |
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![]() Gokulchand Temple | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
Location | |
Location | Gokulnagar Bankura district |
State | West Bengal |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 23°02′28″N87°27′42″E / 23.0412°N 87.4617°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Pancharatna |
Completed | 17th century |
Gokulchand Temple is a 17th-century stone built pancharatna temple in Gokulnagar village in the Joypur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Gokulnagar is located at 23°02′28″N87°27′42″E / 23.0412°N 87.4617°E .
Gokulnagar is off the State Highway 2 at Salda. [1]
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
David J. McCutchion mentions the Gokulchand temple at Gokulnagar as one of the earliest pancharatna temples of the Malla kings. It has turrets on four columns, a kind of chhatri , instead of the corner wall sections. Along with the at-chala , the pancharatna is the most popular type of temple in Bengal. With a 45 feet square base, it is built of laterite with stucco figures. According to the badly damaged temple plate it was built in 1639 (and that obviously goes with a question mark). [2]
This pancharatna (five-pinnacled) temple at Gokulnagar is the largest stone temple in Bankura district. It is 64 ft. in height and the area of temple complex is 23,500 sq. ft. According to the ASI information board at the temple, it was built in 1643, during the rein of the Malla king, Raghunath Simha. The style of construction of the temple is similar to that of the Shaymaraya temple at Bishnupur. The wall decorations depict various avatars of Vishnu and raslila motifs and other mythological incidents. [3] [4]
The temple was in a bad shape and plundered till it was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1996. The idol of Lord Krishna has long been removed to Bishnupur. The complex is abuzz with activity when the idol is brought back for 5 days during Holi and worshipped here. [1]
According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal (serial no. N-WB-31) Gokulchand Temple is an ASI listed monument. [5]
Chandrakona is a town and a municipality in the Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India. The city is located between Ghatal and Garhbeta. The king – Chandraketu was the founder of the kingdom of Chandrakona. In Ain-E-Akbari it was mentioned as ‘Mana’.
Bahulara Ancient Temple is located in Bahulara village in the Onda II village panchayat, in the Onda CD block in the Bankura Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is 5 km (3.1 mi) from Ondagram railway station and 25 km (16 mi) from Bishnupur.
Dharapat is a village in Bishnupur subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Bishnupur.
Dihar is a village and an ancient archaeological site of great antiquarian importance brought into the limelight by Maniklal Sinha. Located in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Bishnupur and is near Dharapat.
The Rasmancha is a historical temple located at Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal, India. It was commissioned by Mallabhum king Hambir Malla Dev in 1600 CE. Length and breadth of this temple is 24.5 meter and the height is 12.5 meter. The base of the temple is made of laterite stone and upper part is made with bricks.
Raghunath Malla Dev, also known as Raghunath Singha Dev, was the fifty-first king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1626 to 1656 CE.
Patrasayer is a village in the Patrasayer CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Ghutgarya is a census town in the Barjora CD block in the Bankura Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Gumut is a village and gram panchayat in the Bishnupur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India. It includes Muninagar.
Gokulnagar is a village in the Joypur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Baital is a village in the Joypur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is a part of Dakshinbar village.
Dwadashbari is a village in the Bishnupur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Balsi Purbapara is a village in the Patrasayer CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Hadal Narayanpur are two adjacent villages considered as one in the Patrasayer CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Akui is a village in the Indas CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Jagannathpur is a village in the Barjora CD block in the Bankura Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Maynapur is a village and a gram panchayat in the Joypur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Madanmohanpur is a village in the Sonamukhi CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Bali Dewanganj is a village and a gram panchayat in the Goghat I CD block in the Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Ratna Style is a style of Bengal temple architecture, that originated in Bengal from the 15th to 16th centuries, under the Mallabhum kingdom. Originating as a regional style in Hindu temple architecture. It is an extended style of the Chala temple. The special feature of Ratna-style temples is the curved cornice of the chala.