Shyam
Rai Temple, Bishnupur,
West Bengal
Shyam Rai Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Bishnupur Town in Bankura District
of West Bengal State, India. Shyam Rai Temple was built by the Malla King
Raghunath Singh in 1643 CE. Shyama Raya Temple is also called as Panch Chura
Temple. This temple is one of the best examples of Pancha Ratna Style of
architecture. The Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Bishnupur Bus Stand,
4.5 Kms from Bishnupur Junction Railway Station and 3 Kms from Bishnupur New
Bus Stand.
History
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
Shyam Rai Temple is one of the
most beautiful temples of Bishnupur. The temple is entirely built of brick. It
has profuse terracotta ornamentation on both interior and exterior walls. This
temple is the best example for a brick temple in Pancha Ratna architecture
style. It has five sikharas (pinnacles) on a typical Bangla style curved Chala
roof. The central sikhara is octagonal. The central tower is also different in
terms of its roof. While the corner towers had single roofs, the central tower
has a double roof built in two levels. This is very similar to the ‘8 Chala’ or
8-sided roofing in Bengal.
Also, unlike the corner towers,
the central tower has a smooth dome at the peak. The doom was also built
of brick. The top of the central tower is 10.7 meters high from the base. The
remaining four corner sikharas are square shaped. The four sikharas are of
Pidha type resting on curved roof in the four sides. The corner towers have a
lined sloping roof (a close variation of the ‘Deul’ type of
roofs). On each direction of the corner towers, an arched window is created,
and the surface of the tower is also decorated with intricately decorated
terracotta tiles.
The temple is square in plan
with a dimension of 11.4 meters each side and is surrounded by triple arched
gateway on its four sides. Not only the interior and exterior wall, but even
four of five sikharas have extensive terracotta artworks. One of the sikharas
fell down and it was rebuilt by ASI Hence, it does not have any artwork. You
can easily make out of difference. Instead of making the sikhara curvilinear
form, the ASI had made it straight.
The intensively carved
sculptures include the hunting scenes, battle between Ram and Ravan, Krishna
romancing Radha, Krishna playing flute, different scenes of Krishna Lila,
various animals, birds, floral designs, scenes from the Puranas and epics, etc.
There is a huge Ras chakra which is the major highlight among all terracotta
works in this temple. It depicts Krishna and Radha in the middle surrounded by
Gopis in many concentric circles.
The temple is dedicated to Radha
and Krishna, but there is no deity found in the temple currently. This is the
only temple in Bishnupur in which we find some influence of Islamic
architecture in its curved ceiling. While Rasmancha, the only temple built
before the Shyam Rai temple, has a very high plinth (It can also be found in
temples built later), this temple has a very low plinth.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location
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