Jor Mandir

Bishnupur has a rich history and those who are fond of traveling find the place intriguing enough to visit it yet again. Bishnupur town is situated in the famous Bankura district of West Bengal. If you happen to travel from West Bengal’s capital Kolkata to Bishnupur, it will take you 160 km to reach Bishnupur. The place has gained massive popularity for the 17 and 18th-century Terracotta temples and Balucheri sarees. Many people who travel to Bishnupur make it a point to purchase the highly renowned sarees of the place. Bishnupur has three clusters of magnificent and exquisite temples popularly known as Jor Mandir that will leave you in awe of them.

In the earlier days, the place around Bishnupur was popularly known as the Mallabhum region. You will love to explore the rich history of the place that will leave you smitten with it.

Every year a large number of travelers visit Bishnupur to get a glimpse of Jor Mandir which is an eye-catchy group of three laterite temples. All these temples are built as per the Ek Ratna architecture style. It is worth noting that all three temples are built on an elevated platform and they happened to be square on plan.

The temples have a slanted roof surmounted by one shikhara thus making them popular as Ek Ratna. The three clusters of temples have allegiance and dedication to Lord Krishna. However, none of these temples have even a single deity as of now. The middle temple is beautifully adorned with stucco pictures that highlight the scenes of Krishna Lila and Ramayan. Meanwhile, the rest of the two temples have a plain exterior.

History of Jor Mandir

The cluster of three temples located on the campus has left many travelers breathless. The place is far from the hustle and bustle of the city’s life. The temples are constructed on a raised plinth with conventional Bishnupur style and Terracotta art. The region was popular by the other name, i.e. the Bishnupur Kingdom. The Malla dynasty had ruled it for a significantly longer period that stretched to many centuries. When the Muslim invasion occurred, many regions came into its influence. However, Bishnupur was one of the rare places that did not get affected by Muslim incursion much. It was Adi Malla who had discovered the dynasty.

Bishnupur rose into eminence during the rule of King Bir Hambir. It was King Bir Hambir who launched the worship of Madan Mohan also known as Lord Krishna. During the regime of King Bir Hambir as well as another King Bir Singha’s rule, a large number of extraordinary temples with stunning bricks were constructed in the region.

Architecture of Jor Mandir

Since stones were scarce in Bengal, it introduced yet another alternative in the name of magnificently adorned terracotta temples. Malla King constructed several terracotta temples in the 17th and 18th century period in Bishnupur and they gained huge fame over the years.

When it comes to the temples’ layout and architecture, you will come across 7 Ek Ratna or single-pinnacled temples situated in Bishnupur. Among these temples, the Nandlal temple has emerged as the first and foremost Ek Ratna temple. Nandlal temple is located close to Dalmadal Canon. Just opposite the Nandlal temple, you will witness the elegant cluster of three temples known as Jor Mandir. In the olden days, these well-designed laterite temples had been covered with stucco pictures. As time passed, a huge portion of the beautiful stucco work washed away.

The figurines on the popular temple walls highlight the period from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and various other significant holy Hindu scriptures. You may also witness many other vital paintings and sculptures that may include musicians, royal hunting sights, and dancers. Bishnupur Jor temple attracts a large number of devotees apart from students and archaeologists, who have shown great interest in the intriguing architecture of the temple.