Kalachand Temple

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Kalachand Temple
Kalachand Temple Arnab Dutta 2011.JPG
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Bankura
Location
Location Bishnupur
State West Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates 23°3′33.17″N87°19′29.96″E / 23.0592139°N 87.3249889°E / 23.0592139; 87.3249889
Architecture
Type Bengal temple architecture
Style ek-ratna style
Founder Raghunath Singha Dev
Date established1656;369 years ago (1656)
Specifications
Length11.1 m (36 ft)
Width11.1 m (36 ft)
Height (max)9.2 m (30 ft)
Official name: Kalachand Temple
TypeCultural
Reference no.IN-WB-12
[1]

Kalachand Temple, Located in Bishnupur in Indian state of West Bengal.

Contents

History and architecture

According to the inscriptional plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1656 by Raghunath Singha Dev King of Mallabhum. The Temple is built in the Ek-ratna style temple architecture. [1] [2]

on the south bank side of the Lal-bandh. The temple is about 11.1m square on plan and 9.2 m in height. The south-facing Kalachand temple stands with corridor around, with three arched openings on all four sides. The roof of the temple is curved, upon which the sikhara rises upwards and ends with an amalaka on the top. The temple is decorated with low relief carvings and the main subject is Krishna-lila. Apart from Krishna-lIlia scenes there are also representations of Pauranic deities, ascetics and dancers. [1] [3]

Twelve such temples are still surviving in Bishnupur, of which two are made of brick and the rest are of laterite. The earliest of the eka-ratna temples is the Kalachand temple (in laterite). [1]

Currently, it is preserved as one of the archaeological monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India. [4] Since 1998, the Kalachand Temple is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site's Tentative list. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Biswas 1992, pp. 15.
  2. ↑ "ASI, Kolkata Circle". www.asikolkata.in.
  3. ↑ "BHID: Bishnupur Heritage Image Database". Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).
  4. ↑ "ASI, Kolkata Circle". www.asikolkata.in.
  5. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2024-09-03.

Sources

Further reading

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