Bishnupur Travel Guide

Bishnupur: Overview

Vishnupur, A sub divisional heed quarters of Bankura distsict in West Bengal, is celebrated for a large number of beautiful

temples. Vishnupur was the capital of a large territory know as Mallabhum. The town of Vishnupur flourished during the reign of the Mallakings who ruled for more than 200years from the late 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century.Then known as Mallabhum, the kingdom embraced the whole of Banknra,Midnapore and Burdwan districs and beyond.

In the early 19th century when this estate was of its zenith if was during the time of Chaitanya Singh that much tribulations were suffered by the Mallafamily and the estate wassold out in 1805A.D by the East India company for arrears of land Revenue and the zamindars of Bardhaman Ocquired the estate through purchase to the Maharaja of Burdwan. Thus ended the history of a famous dynasty and an indepen-dent kingdom in West Bengal.

Among the later Hindu kings of Bengal, the Mallas of Vishnupur undoubtedly occupied a place of dis¬tinction not only for their militaty powers,but because of their patron¬age to the development of a dignitir style of art, architecture, sculpture and music. During the reigan of Brihambir and his successors raja Raghunath sing and Brisingh, Vishnupur became one of the prin¬ciple centres of culture of Bengal.

Though Vishnupur has lost its reknown as the seat of power ful family of Rulers. The great extent in the monumental temples which are magnificent in their architectural style and the terracotta decorations found upon the walls of most of these temples, preserlled in an excellent state.

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