Bishnupur (Rarh)

The nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (RDP ^IATA) at Durgapur, but only a few flights are present at the airport. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU ^IATA) at Kolkata is the nearest airport to get to Bishnupur smoothly.

• 🌍 Bishnupur railway station  SER . It takes about 3:30 to 4:15 hours from Kolkata, distance 201 km. Convenient connections - Rupashi Bangla Express departing Howrah at 6AM, Purulia Express departing Howrah at 4:45PM and Aranyak Express departing Shalimar at 7:45AM. To come by Aranyak Express from Howrah to Bishnupur, first go to Santragachi by local train. All these trains are via Kharagpur and Midnapore. You can also opt for Howrah-Chakradharpur passenger which leaves Howrah at 23:05 hrs. This train has a sleeper class. 

• 🌍 Bishnupur bus stand. West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) buses ply regularly between Esplanade Bus Terminus of Kolkata and Bishnupur. It takes about 4–5 hours to reach Bishnupur. The road distance is about 150 km. Buses are also available from Tarakeswar, Durgapur. Kharagpur, Bardhaman, Asansol and other nearby cities. 

From Kolkata travel to Dankuni, take the Durgapur Expressway (NH 19), at Ratanpur crossing turn left and take the Sheoraphuli-Tarakeswar road, go straight through to Arambagh and Bishnupur.

This area contains three of the best-known terracotta structures of Bishnupur. They are Shyamrai Temple, Kestorai Temple and the Rasmancha. This is a compact area and walking can be a good leisurely option. People who are short of time can opt for a cycle rickshaw.

• 🌍 Rasmancha. Built in 1600 by Bir Hambir it is the oldest standing structure in Bishnupur. The pyramidal structure stands on a high platform approached by a long flight of stairs. It consists of arched entrances separated by pillars and is crowned with a stepped pyramidal structure surrounded by smaller typical Bengal styled sloped roofed structures. It is architecturally unique and one of its kind in the whole of Bengal, probably in the whole of India. Sadly apart from a few floral lotus motif the Rasmancha does not contain any terracotta art work. It is not a temple and hence does not house any idol but during the festival of Ras all the idols from different temples of Bishnupur are brought at the Rashmancha for public display. 
• 🌍 Shyamrai Temple (Pancha Ratna Temple). The temple has five pinnacle, hence the name Panch Ratna. Built in 1643 by King Raghunath Singha. It is one of the largest temples of Bishnupur. The temple is accessible by triple arched entrance on all the four sides All the walls are richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring aspects of Lord Krishna’s life. 
• 🌍 Gumgarh. A window door less square structure located atop a small mound. Nothing much is known about the construction date and the purpose for which it was built. Some opine it was a prison while other believe it was a granary. Sadly it is nothing spectacular. 
• 🌍 Kestorai Temple (Jorbangla Temple). It follows the jora bangle style of architecture and hence is popularly known as the Jorbangle Temple. Her two buildings shaped like a typical Bengal hut joined together with a small turret on top. It is the most interesting one from the architectural point of view. Built by King Raghunath Singha Dev II in 1655 it is considered as one of the finest example of terracotta art in Bengal. All four sides of the temple are covered with the most intricate terracotta panels covering a wide range of topics. Panels of ships and boats are quiet in the temple. There are also several panels from the two great epics but a panel depicting Bishma is sarasajya (bed of arrows) stands out among all. 
• 🌍 Radheshyam Temple. Just next to the Kestorai Temple is the Radhashyam Temple. This Ek – ratna (Single Pinnacled) temple is built of laterite stone and contains lime stone stucco decoration. The temple is enclosed with high walls and is entrance consists of a triple domed Islamic style gateway. The temple dating back to 1758 was constructed by the Malla King Chaitanya Singha. 
• 🌍 Lalji Temple. A little away is the Radha Laljiu Temple, built 100 years earlier than the Radhashyam Temple the temple follows a similar single pinnacled structure. Built by the Malla King Bir Singha in 1658 it is considered as the finest laterite stone temple in Bishnupur. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Mrinmoyee Temple. Just opposite the Radhashyam Temple is the Mrinmoyee Temple, the oldest temple of Bishnupur. Sadly the old structure no longer exists and the ancient idol of Mrinmoyee is housed in a newly constructed structure. Mrinmoyee is an incarnation of Goddess Durga and durga puja is performed at the temple. 
• 🌍 Choto Pathar Darja (Small Stone Gateway). Once the temple town of Bishnupur was surrounded by a high wall complete with bastions. The walls were punctured by gateways gateways providing access to the fortified temple town. The fortified walls have long crumbled to dust and a couple of gateways remain on the northern end of the city. The Choto Pathar Darja (or small stone gateway) is the souther of the two gateways. The small gateway with an arched passageway is built of laterite stone. 
• 🌍 Baro Pathar Darja (Big Stone Gateway, Gate of Old Fort). This is the second of the two surviving gateways of the fortified temple town of Bishnupur. This lies north of the small stone gateway and is much larger in size. Unlike its smaller counterpart, this gateway is not just a passageway but comes with a complete defensive mechanism. The double-tiered gateway comes in with a guard house at the top level whole with narrow slits allowing the archers and the gunmen to fire their shots. North of the gateway is a 17th-century laterite stone chariot, which follows the ekaratna (single-pinacled) style of architecture. (updated Dec 2022)

This section contains no terracotta temples but houses seven single pinnacled (ek ratna) temples made of laterite stones. Apart from the seven temples there is a reconstructed old temple. The area also contains a huge cannon. The area also contains the artificial lake and the local museum. This area is also compact lush green area and best explored on foot. People who are short of time can opt for a cycle rickshaw.

• 🌍 Dalmadal Cannon, Dalmadal Para. Bishnupur has something more to offer than temples. The massive Dalmadal Cannon is one such attraction. The 1742 built cannon weighs 112 quintal and measures 3.8 meter with a diameter of 30 cm, including a muzzle of 29.2 cm. According to legend, when the Marathas attacked Bishnupur in 1742 Lord Madan Mohan himself fired the gun to drive them away. (updated Oct 2019)
• 🌍 Chhinnamasta Temple (Temple of the severed head godeses). Devi Chhinnamasta is the goddess with the severed head. She carries her severed head in one hand and other she carries a khara (sword like weapon). The present Chhinnamasta Temple is a new structure and has no historic elements. It is an active temple and photography of the idol is strictly prohibited. 
• 🌍 Nandalal Temple. This is the first of the seven single pinnacle temples and lies of the left hand side of the road, leading from the Chhinnamasta Temple. It is a south facing temple with a triple-arched entrance. It has a square plan and stands on a raised platform. It has very little ornamentation of shallow relief work. Originally the temple was plastered with lime but only traces of it remains to this day. The temple has no foundation plaque but according to architectural style it was possible erected sometime in the 17th century. 
• 🌍 Jor Mandir. This cluster of three single pinnacle (ek ratna) temple and lies on the opposite side the Nandalal Temple. All the three temples follow the square plan and are constructed on a raised platform. Among the three some beautiful stucco work can still be seen in the central one. These temples were built by Malla King Gopal Singh in 1726. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Radhagovinda Temple. This is the fifth single pinnacle (ek ratna) temple and lies just ahead of the Jor Mandir complex. An dedicatory inscription of the southern face of the temple say that it was built by Krishna Singh in 1729. On south eastern corner of the temple is a small brick built chariot shaped in the form of a miniature temple. 
• 🌍 Radhamadhab Temple. A short distance away is the 1737 built Radhamadhav Temple. The ek – ratna temple is accompanied by a do – chala (double sloped roofed) structure. The temple is built by Churamony Devi, wife of Krishna Singh. The temple still contains some interesting stucco work featuring animals. 
• 🌍 Kalachand Temple. Further down the road is the Kalachand Temple with its towering pinnacle. Built in 1656 by the Malla King Raghunath Singh temple once covered with stucco decoration, only traces of it remains to this day. 
• 🌍 Lal Garh Park and Watch Tower, Dalmadal Para. Located east of the seven single pinnacle (ek ratna) is the artificial lake of Lal Bandh (Bandh means dam). The lake dates back to the time of the Malla King Bir Singh II (reign 1657 -77). On the south eastern part of the lake is the Lal Garh Park. Garh literally means fort but sadly no traces of the fort remains to this day. It is a modern urban park with landscaped gardens. The only ancient structure is a well, which is said to be the entrance of an underground tunnel. The entrance of the well is sealed off due to security reasons. At the southern end of the park is a watch tower providing great views of the surrounding. The tower offers a bird's eye view of the seven single pinnacle (ek ratna) towering above the lush green forested canopy. 
• 🌍 Acharya Jogesh Chandra Purakriti Bhaban (Bishnupur Museum). The museum is houses in a two storied building just east of the Bishnupur Tourist Lodge. It houses artifacts not only from Bishnupur but the entire Bankura District and beyond. The museum exhibits stone and copper age artifacts. The music gallery showcases musical instruments of Bishnupur gharana. The textile gallery exhibits famous local sarees like baluchari and swarnachari sarees. There is a collection of terracotta artifacts made by award winning local artists. ₹ 5. (updated Jun 2020)

This area contains the famous Madanmohan Temple, the fourth and last major terracotta structure of Bishnupur. There are three other terracotta temples near by. All four temples are located in close vicinity to each other but far from the other areas and hotels, and are best explored on an auto or toto.

• 🌍 Madanmohan Temple. King Durjana Singh Deva built the temple in 1694 AD in the ekaratna style, a square flat-roofed building with carved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle. Impressive carvings on the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. The temple is enclosed inside a high walled complex. Entrance is from the western side through a do chala (sloped roof) gateway. On the southern side is a do chala (sloped roofed) structure, with arched entrances. 
• 🌍 Malleswar Temple. Unlike other temples of Bishnupur, this is a Shiva temple. It is a single pinnacle stone temple built by Bir Singha in 1622, making it one of the earliest temples of Bishnupur. It differs considerably from the other ekaratna temples of Bishnupur. According to historians, the temple was initially built in deul style, but the sikhar was later replaced with an octagonal turret or ratna. This change in architecture gives the temple an unusual look. The entrance is through a door on the western side. 
• 🌍 Murli Mohan Temple. An ekaratna laterite stone temple located east of the Madammohan Temple. It is built in 1665 by Siromani Devi (also called Chudamani), wife of King Bir Singha. The temple stands on an elevated platform. The extended sloped of the temple is supported by four pillars on each side. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Radha Vinod Temple. Radha Vinod Temple is an at-chala (eight-sloped roof) brick-built temple located west of Madanmohan Temple. It is built in 1659 by the wife of Raghunath Singha. The eastern side has a triple-arched entrance and the south has a single-arched entrance. Traces of terracotta ornamentation can still be seen on the outer walls. (updated Jun 2020)

These two terracotta temples are located next to each other but are quite far from the other areas or hotels. So it is best explored in an auto or toto. These temples are generally not visited by general tourists but are visited by history and terracotta enthusiasts.

• 🌍 Madangopal Temple. Madangopal Temple is a pancharatna (five-pinnacled) temple built of laterite stone. It was built in 1665 by Shrimoni Devi, wife of Bir Singha. 
• 🌍 Sridhar Temple. The only navaratna (nine-pinnacled) temple in Bishnupur with rich terracotta ornamentation. (updated Jun 2020)