Bishnupur, Bankura

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For other uses, see Bishnupur (disambiguation).
Bishnupur
বিষ্ণুপুর
Town
Rasmancha (c. 1600), a platform for Vaishanva Ras Yatra festival
Rasmancha (c. 1600), a platform for Vaishanva Ras Yatra festival
Bishnupur is located in West Bengal
Bishnupur
Bishnupur
Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Bankura
Elevation 59 m (194 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 61,943
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency Bishnupur
Vidhan Sabha constituency Bishnupur
Website bankura.org/site/Bishnupur.htm

Bishnupur 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 oscillated 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.[1]

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 Dev and Bir Singha Dev 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.

Mrinmoyee tample of kings is treated as a valuable historic place.

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 in late 18th-century[2] and the Bishnupur school of painting.

Detail of terracotta relief from the Rasmancha
Terracotta plate found in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India
Terracotta temple found in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India

Geography

Bishnupur is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..[3] It has an average elevation of 59 metres (194 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[4] 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.

Education

There are number of well known schools and colleges in Bishnupur. For higher education, there is a college named Ramananda College under University of Burdwan. There is also a music college named Ramsharan College of Music. The names of the schools are:

  1. Bishnupur Krittibas Mukherjee High School
  2. Bishnupur High School [1]
  3. Bishnupur Parimal Debi Girls' High School
  4. Kusumbani Jamundas Khemka High School
  5. Sibdas Central Girls' High School.
  6. Bishnupur Public School-High,A Co-Ed. English Medium (Recognised by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education as a Listed English School Under School Education Department Govt. of West Bengal)
  7. Bishnupur Public Primary Teachers' Training Institute,A D.El.Ed. College(Recognised by N.C.T.E. & Affiliated to West Bengal Board of Primary Education)
  8. Bishnupur Public Institute Of Education,A D.El.Ed. College(Recognised by N.C.T.E. & Affiliated to West Bengal Board of Primary Education)

There is also an engineering college, Mallabhum Institute of Technology; a government poly-technique college named K.G.Engineering Institute; and two private polytechnic college named "Mallabhum Institute Of Polytechnic(MIP)" and Bishnupur Public Institute of Engineering.

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.

Bishnupur is well-connected by rail to the rest of the country via Kharagpur and Adra. Express and mail trains 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 in Andal has came up (90 km from Bishnupur).

Culture


The Bishnupur Mela is held every year around the last week of december,in Raj Darbar. Later on Highschool Ground. A recent addition is Bishnupur Utsab, held immediately after the Mela.It is a classical music and dance festival in recognition of the 'Bishnupur Gharana' in music.[5] But the Bishnupur Utsab has been stopped due to some financial problems and other matters.

Temples and other places

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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.

  • Rasmancha(oldest brick temple with an elongated pyramidal tower Surrounded by hut-shaped turrets)
    The inner part of Rasmancha, Bishnupur,Bankura,West Bengal,India
  • Pancha ratnaTemple of Shyam Rai
  • Jorebangla Temple of Keshta Rai
  • Madanmohan Temple
  • Dalmadal Kaman
  • Lalgarh
  • Lalbandh
  • Acharya Jogeshchandra Museum
  • Gumgarh
  • Pathar Darwaja (Main Gateway of Bishnupur)
  • Garh Darwaja (Small Gateway of Bishnupur)
    Garh Darwaja (Small Gateway of Bishnupur),Bankura,West Bengal,India
  • Stone Chariot
  • Nutan Mahal
  • Memorial of Shrinibas Acharya
  • Gour-Nitai Temple (Tejpal)
  • KeshabRai Temple (Patpur)

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.Tabla,shetar, harmonium and flute comprise the main instruments.

Products

Terracotta is characteristic of Bishnupur. Apart from the temples, terracotta pottery, artefacts and even jewellery made in this very traditional material is famous.The most famous of the terracotta products are the hand made beautiful jars,disks and the more famous of them are the terracotta horses,elephants,ganesha and nataraj.But nowadays the skilled artists and potters are not present and also they make different products like faces,men,wall hangings and also the mini sized dalmadal cannon.The potters here derive their inspiration from the glorious history of kings, soldiers and wars.'Dokra', one kind of metalcraft is also famous. 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 and terracota jewellery is also available here.

Festivals and fairs

There is a snake festival in August, Ultorath and the Bishnupur fair in December.Also durga puja and kali puja or diwali is celebrated with pomp here.

Municipality

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

Image Gallery

  • Jor Mandir (c. 1726)

  • 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 Arnab Dutta 2011.JPG

    Shyam Ray Temple (c. 1643)

this gate is the entrance of the Malla Raja's kingdom. near 17th century

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Bishnupur
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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