Bishnupur, Bankura

For other uses, see Bishnupur (disambiguation).

Bishnupur
—  town  —
Bishnupur Location of Bishnupur in West Bengal and India
Coordinates	23°05′N 87°19′E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District(s)	Bankura
Parliamentary constituency	Bishnupur
Assembly constituency	Bishnupur
Population	61,943 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 59 metres (194 ft)
Website	bankura.org/site/Bishnupur.htm

Bishnupur (Bengali: বিষ্ণুপুর) is a town and a municipality in Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. It is famous for its terracotta temples and the balucheri sarees.

History

Bishnupur was ruled under the Gupta period by local Hindu kings who paid tribute to Samudra Gupta^{[citation needed]}. Following a long period of obscurity, where the land oscilated between being a minor independent principality and a vassal state . The land is also called Mallabhum after the Malla rulers of this place. The Malla rulers were Vaishnavites and built the famous terracotta temples during the 17th and 18th century at this place. The terracotta temples here are the best specimen of the classical style of Bengal architecture. The legends of Bipodtarini Devi are associated with Malla Kings of Bishnupur.

Bishnupur (the distance from Kolkata is 132 km), now the headquarters of the subdivision of the same name in Bankura district, is a seat of crafts and culture.

For almost a thousand years it was the capital of the Malla kings of Mallabhum, of which Bankura was a part, till their power waned during the times when Mughal Empire weakened under the last monarchs of the dynasty.

The patronage of Malla king Veer Hambir and his successors Raja Raghunath Singha and Veer Singha made Bishnupur one of the principal centres of culture in Bengal. Most of the exquisite terracotta temples for which town is justly famous were built during this period.

Apart from the unique architecture of the period, Bishnupur is also famous for its terracotta craft and its own Baluchari sarees made of tussar silk.

Royal patronage also gave rise to Bishnupur Gharana (school) of Hindustani classical music and the Bishnupur school of painting.

Detail of terracotta relief from the Rasmancha

Geography

Bishnupur is located at 23°05′N 87°19′E. It has an average elevation of 59 metres (194 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bishnupur had a population of 61,943. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bishnupur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 77% and female literacy of 61%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Language

Bishnupur is a predominantly Bengali speaking city. However English is also understood to a fair extent.

Transport

Bishnupur is reasonably well connected via roads. Due to its importance as a tourism destination, it is basically connected to almost all major places of Bengal. Long distance buses connect Bishnupur to places like Arambag, Durgapur, Asansol, Kolkata etc. There are regular and frequent bus services available between Kolkata and Bishnupur. The buses usually leave Kolkata from the Espalnade bus stand. The journey takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes. On a whole the journey is not very comfortable as the Buses ply through the undivided two-lane SH-2 (SH2 cannot be termed as one of the best maintained roads in the country), via Kotulpur, Jayrambati-Kamarpukur, Arambag, Champadanga meandering through densely populated towns and villages all along the way. Bishnupur is well-connected by rail to the rest of the country via Kharagpur and Bankura. Express and mail trains do ply between Kolkata and Bishnupur on a regular basis. The Rupashi Bangla Express, Aranyak Express and the Purulia Express are the most convenient trains to reach Bishnupur from Kolkata; these trains come via Kharagpur(Midnapur) and take approx 3:30 to 4:15 hours to reach Bishnupur from Kolkata. Within the city of Bishnupur, private auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are most convenient mode of communication. Recently CNG autos have been introduced plying through various parts of the town. These vehicles are environment-friendly, non-polluting, convenient, less time consuming and cheap mode of travel. Nearest International Airport is at Dumdum, Kolkata (Netaji Subhash International airport) which is 140 km away; a smaller private air strip at Panagarh belonging to the Indian Air Force is rarely used. A new airport is coming up in Andal (90 km from Bishnupur). It's expected to be completed in the next two years.

Culture

Temples and other places

Main article: List of temples in Bishnupur

There are many such temples which stand testimony to the exquite craftsmanship of the artisans of the region. The temples were crafted from the local laterite and brick. The temples are covered with terracota tiles depicting scenes from the epic Mahabharata. The temples are located in Bishnupur and across many other small villages in the Bankura district.

• Dalmadal Kaman
• Lalgarh
• Lalbandh
• Acharya Jogeshchandra Museum
• Gumgarh
• Pathar Darwaja (Main Gateway of Bishnupur)
• Garh Darwaja (Small Gateway of Bishnupur)
• Stone Chariot
• Nutan Mahal
• Birthplace of Shrinibas Acharya

Music

A school of music, called the Bishnupur Gharana, was established here in 1370 A.D and flourished under the patronage of the Malla kings. The school hit its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries. This style of music is rooted in the Dhrupad style and is still being kept alive in local academies of music.

Products

Terracotta is characteristic of Bishnupur. Apart from the temples, terracotta pottery, artifacts and even jewellery made in this very traditional material is famous. The potters here derive their inspiration from the glorious history of kings, soldiers and wars. Bishnupur is also known for its silk (tussar), particularly the Baluchari Sarees. Woven on Jacquard punch-card looms, these sarees have episodes from the Mahabharata woven into the border and pallu. Bellmetalware, conch-shell jewellery is also available here.

Festivals and fairs

There is a snake festival in August, Ultorath and the Bishnupur fair in December.

Municipality

During the period 1990-2010, the 175 years old Bishnupur Municipality was controlled by INC. From 2010 it is controlled by TMC.

Image Gallery

• 

  Dalmadal cannon at Bishnupur, commissioned by the Malla kings

• 

  Jor Mandir (c. 1726)

• 

  Rasmancha (c. 1600), a platform for Vaishanva Ras Yatra festival

• 

  Radhamadhab Temple (c. 1737)

• 

  Kalachand Temple (c. 1656)

• 

  Jor-Bangla Temple or Keshta Roy Temple (c. 1655)

• 

  Jor Mandir complex (c. 1726)

• 

  Madan Mohan Temple (c. 1694)

• 

  Radha-Gobinda Temple (c. 1729)

• 

  Shyam Ray Temple (c. 1643)

External links

• Official Website of Bishnupur Panchayat Samity
• Official Website of Bishnupur
• Official Website of SDO Bishnupur
• Picture of Bishnupur
• Christmas Day at Bishnupur
• West Bengal tourism
• Bishnupur: Cycles of life in a Bengali town
• Bishnupur page in Government of India website
• Bishnupur (West Bengal) travel guide from Wikitravel