Ras Mancha - The Pride of Bishnupur

By -
Bishnupur, nestled in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India, is a town steeped in history and cultural significance. Located approximately 160 kilometers from Kolkata, the capital city of Bengal, Bishnupur is renowned for its exquisite 17th and 18th-century Terracotta temples and traditional Balucheri sarees. In this article, let's delve into the beauty and uniqueness of a remarkable monument known as Ras Mancha in Bishnupur.

History:

In ancient times, the area around Bishnupur was known as the Mallabhum region and was ruled by the Malla dynasty for centuries. Despite the Muslim or Mughal invasions, this region remained relatively untouched. Founded by Adi Malla, the dynasty flourished under the reign of King Bir Hambir, who introduced the worship of Madan Mohan (Lord Krishna) and oversaw the construction of many beautiful brick temples.

Due to the scarcity of stone in Bengal, the Malla Kings turned to elaborately decorated terracotta temples, which became a hallmark of Bishnupur's architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries CE. Among these structures stands Ras Mancha, built by King Bir Hambir in 1600 CE.







Pavilion Architecture and Layout:

Ras Mancha, although technically not a temple, served as the venue for the annual Ras festival, where deities from all the temples of Bishnupur would be gathered for public darshan. This unique pavilion, devoid of any deity, boasts a design and layout unparalleled in Bengal or the entire country, earning it the title of 'The Pride of Bishnupur'.

The square-shaped pavilion rests on a raised laterite stone platform and is crowned with a stepped pyramidal superstructure, surrounded by smaller sloped roofed structures. The sanctum is enclosed by three successive circumambulatories adorned with arched openings and pillars, while the exterior remains plain except for a few bas-relief images and lotus motifs.

Despite its grandeur and historical significance, Ras Mancha remains relatively unknown outside West Bengal, making it a hidden gem awaiting discovery.

Happy travelling.


Location: Dalmadal Para, Bishnupur, West Bengal 722122, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimishamba temple located in Chennai. Nimishamba is anothe
Read more

A 17th century Dargah with healing power - Mount Road Dargah, Chennai, India

By -
Image
Mount Road or Anna Salai is one of the most happening places in  Chennai . There are two famous Islamic shrines on Mount Road – one is  Thousands Light mosque . The other one is Dargah-e-Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (Rahmatullah Alaihi), also known as Mount Road Dargah. It is the most popular Dargah across the city. It draws devotees of all faiths and all walks of life. Especially every Thursday, a large number of devotees gather to the Dargah. A lot of city-based celebrities regularly visit the site. This Dargah is the shrine of a Muslim Saint named Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi. He was also known as Rahmatullah Alaihi. Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi arrived from Baghdad in the middle of the 17th Century CE. He made Chennai his home and lived here. It is believed that he had healing powers. During his time, he had so many devotees regularly visiting him. After his demise, his family buried him next to his house, which is the current Dargah. You can easily lo
Read more