Jor Bangla Temple

Keshto Ray Temple
কেষ্ট রায় মন্দির
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictBankura
DeityKeshto Ray (a from of Krishna)
Location
LocationBishnupur
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates23°4′18.15125″N 87°19′36.44350″E / 23.0717086806°N 87.3267898611°E / 23.0717086806; 87.3267898611
Architecture
TypeBengal temple architecture
StyleChala style
FounderRaghunath Singha
Date established1655; 369 years ago (1655)
Specifications
Direction of façadeSouth
Length11.77 metres (38.6 ft)
Width11.7 metres (38 ft)
Height (max)10.7 metres (35 ft)
Official name: Jor Bangla Temple
TypeCultural
Reference no.IN-WB-11

Keshto Ray Temple,[1] also known as Jor-Bangla Temple,[1] is a Krishna temple at Bishnupur city of Medinipur Division. In the past, the Hindu god Krishna was worshiped as Keshto Ray in this temple.[2] According to the Inscriptional plaque, the temple was founded by 51st King of Mallabhum kingdom Raghunath Singha in 1655 (961 Mallabada).[3] The temple is a great example of Jor-Bangla temple architecture, which belong to the chala style.[3]

The temple is the largest surviving Jor-Bangla temple. It is perhaps the most well-known terracotta temple in Bengal.[4] Currently, it is preserved as one of the archaeological monuments of India by the Archaeological Survey of India.[1][3]

  1. ^ a b c Ray 2016, p. 88.
  2. ^ Ray 2016, p. 90.
  3. ^ a b c Ray 2016, p. 91.
  4. ^ Ray 2016, p. 92.