With rich antiquities, vibrant culture, impressive architecture and ceramic details, Bishnupur is a quaint little temple town located in central West Bengal. Bishnupur attracts travelers from around the world, it’s only a five-hour drive from the capital Kolkata lies. Regarded as one of the most important cultural centers of the country, the place honors its historical past through its traditional architecture, embroidery, ceramics and other handicrafts mostly known for baluchari sarees and brass casting, and the city also has twelve mud temples with ancient walls.

Rasmancha

Located at a distance of 1.5 km from Bishnupur bus stand, Rasamancha is a historical monument in Bishnupur, West Bengal. Surrounded by manicured gardens, it is the oldest brick architecture and the only one of its kind in the entire country.

One of the acclaimed historical temples of Bishnupur, it was built by the Malla king Vir Hambir in the 600th century. Also known as the Pyramid of West Bengal, the temple is famous for its unique tradition of Rasmancha, the popular description for the four-hundred-year-old Manch that celebrated Lord Krishna’s Ras Leela.

Lalji Temple

The Lalji Temple, also known as the Ek Ratna Mandir, is one of the oldest structures in Bishnupur founded in 1658 by Bir Singh II. Close to the Jor Bangla temple, it is one of the largest terracotta temples of Bishnupur completely enclosed by a wall around the broken gate leading to the east. While in Bishnupur, this temple should be visited by every traveler as it’s also a popular symbol.

The temple is built of laterite stones in the shape of a marble. The temple is built on a large square plinth with a slightly curved roof. It has a tower on which it stands. Three square doors on three sides. This sanctuary has a single opening on the south and east sides, and a staircase on the east and west sides.

Susunia Hill

The mountain is at a maximum elevation of 1442 feet, and is considered locally as a popular tourist attraction. The exotic flora and fauna packed into this place will surely warm your heart. The mountain is popular with climbers and cyclists because of its brightness.

The entire hill is beautifully covered with luxuriant trees, exotic trees and plants with many rare medicinal plants. Part of the Eastern Ghats, the mountain is popular with novices and experienced climbers. In fact, many of the country’s most famous and successful climbers started their journeys on this mountain. In the summer, hiking and camping activities are organized in Susunia. Shrouded by the Eastern Ghats chain, basking in greenery, a day on this hill is the perfect way to escape the harsh and polluted air of the city.

Jorbangla Temple

In 1655, the Malla king Raghunath Singh built the Jorbangla Temple. Famous for its unique bungalow architecture, it is one of the best tourist destinations in Bishnupur. The temple takes the form of two huts on top of a tower and is ornately decorated with carved terracotta. The temple attracts a number of devotees including many scholars and archaeologists interested in ancient architecture.

Madan Mohan Temple

The Madan Mohan Temple was built in the 17th century, by the Malla king Durjan Singh Deva in eka-ratna style for his family deities, Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Considered to be one of the oldest temples in Bishnupur, West Bengal, there are two massive pillars with intricate artwork at the base of the pillar depicting mythological scenes of Rama and Ravana fighting each other Lord Hanuman and his troop of monkeys.

Radha Shyam Temple

The Radha Shyam Temple was established in 1758 by Chaitanya Singh, a wrestling king and is one of the most famous temples in Bishnupur. Famous for its terracotta design, it already has a stucco dome-like sikhara depicting floral and geometric life of puranas.

Gum Ghar

This is a truly mysterious architecture. Locals swear that it was once a torture chamber, where criminals would be thrown into a hole in the middle of the rectangular structure. Beneath the hollow interior would lie spears and other weapons that would kill someone thrown inside.

Unfortunately, there is no actual evidence that this is the case, and it is handed down by word of mouth. This validation is very difficult because there is no way to see inside and satellite map images show that the inside is full of debris. It could also have served as a food pantry as having a punishment room so close to so many mandirs is a little questionable.

Bishnupur Museum

Bishnupur Museum is one of the major attractions of this city which was established in 1951. Located in Dalmadal Para, this museum is also known as Acharya Jogesh Chandra Purakriti Bhawan and is the only museum dealing with art and archaeology. It has more than 5000 manuscripts, 100 sculptures of the twelfth century, various original styles of textiles, pictures, and folk art and craft.

Joyrambati

It is one of the best places in West Bengal and one of the most important tourist attractions near Bishnupur. Jairambati is the birthplace of Ma Sarada Devi, wife of Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Followers of Sri Ramakrishna worship her as a holy mother. Surrounded by greenery and trees, it is a quiet but wonderful tourist attraction.

Jayrambati Monastery is the main attraction and a must-visit especially for spiritually inclined people who want to pray to the goddess. Another major attraction here is the Matri Mandir dedicated to Goddess Maa Sarada. Built in 1923, the temple houses a marble statue of Goddess Sarada along with her sacred relics.

Mukutmanipur

Mukutmanipur, another important tourist village in the district is famous for its earthen dam which is the second largest such dam in India. It is located at a distance of about 70 km from Bishnupur. It is a small village in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India. It is located at the confluence of Kangsabati and Kumari rivers near the Jharkhand border. A dam was built to irrigate agricultural croplands. It is 38 meters high and the lake covers an area of ​​86 square kilometers.

Panch Ratna (Shyamrai) Temple

The real name of this temple is Shyam Rai Temple but it is popularly known for its architectural style of Pancharatna. The temple was built in 1643 by Raghunath Singh, the king of Malla.

The square shrine is surrounded by a circular path, and its entrance is opened on four sides by three arches with many panels. The decorations show us modern social and religious scenes as well as other lives of the people of that time. Scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata can be seen on the floor.

FAQs – Top 11 Places to Visit in Bishnupur