Lalji Temple, Bishnupur, West
Bengal
Lalji
Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Bishnupur Town in
Bankura District of West Bengal State, India. Lalji Temple, also called as
Radha Laliju temple was built by the Malla King Bir Singha II in 1658 CE. This
Temple was built exactly 100 years earlier than the Radhashyama Temple. The
Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Bishnupur Bus Stand, 4.5 Kms from
Bishnupur Junction Railway Station and 3.5 Kms from Bishnupur New Bus Stand.
For brief details, please
refer below link;
The Temple
There
are seven Eka Ratna (meaning single pinnacled) temples located in
Bishnupur. Lalji Temple is one among them. In earlier days, all these
laterite temples were all covered with stucco images. However, with passing of
time, most of the stucco works are lost. Lalji Temple is a beautiful
laterite temple built as per Ek Ratna temple architecture style. Like most of
the other temples in Bishnupur, this is also dedicated to Lord Krishna.
However, it is not a living temple and currently has no deity.
The temple is square on plan and
stands on a high plinth consisting of ornamental stucco decorations on low
relief carvings. It has a char chala (sloping) roof and a single sikhara
(single pinnacled tower) on top of that. Most of the terracotta panels on the
exterior except for few on the upper part of arched openings are destroyed.
In its verandah is preserved a
stone slab (lying loose) with an inscription in Bengali characters, dated 1577
Saka (1655 A.D.), recording the erection of a Navaratna temple of Krishna by
Rani Lakshmanavati, wife of Raja Hari Narayan. In front of the Lalji temple is
a Natamandira or dancing hall, to the west of which stands an Orissan tower
with a porch in front dedicated to Raghunathji.
The outer yard is separated from
the inner by a wall and contains a small Pancharatna temple of Kameshwar Siva
with an inscription dated 1577 Saka; to its south-west lies a circular pavement
for the Rasmancha. The whole is enclosed by a high wall, with a large gateway
to the east; over the gateway is a slab with a Bengali inscription ascribing
the erection of the Thakur Bari to the Burdwan Raj in 1238 B.S. (1831 A.D.).
In front of the gateway are two
cars, which are drawn on the Dasara day, the smaller being that of Lalji and
the larger that of Raghunathji. The cost of the establishment and of the
festivals is met from the income of a Debottar estate set apart for the purpose
by the Burdwan Raj. As the stone inscriptions states the temple was built by
Bir Singha II of Malla dynasty in 1658 AD.
Connectivity
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Location
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