I’ve recently made a trip to Bishnupur with a friend of mine. The journey both ways was by train and we had an adventurous yet exciting time throughout the tour. Bishnupur (or Vishnupur) in the Bankura district is like a breath of fresh air after Kolkata’s heat and dust. The verdant fields you traverse to get to this town, just 151 km away, serve as a harbinger of the surprise that is Bishnupur. This town of terracotta temples and man-made lakes echoes with the history of the Malla rulers who made it their 16th century capital.

Since Bishnupur had no stone for construction, the Malla kings built terracotta temples to celebrate their love for Krishna, the Blue God. These temples have elaborate architecture that merges hybrid styles. Filigreed terracotta tiles carve out stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The original name of Bishnupur was Lumlangdong (now Lamangdong) . History recorded the facts of its origin. As soon as Kyamba ascended throne of Manipur in 1467 A.D he conquered Kyang, which was a Shan kingdom in the Kabow Valley. Then he assumed the name of Kyamba which means the conquerer of Kyang. There always had been a good relation between the Pongs and the Meities.

Besides temples, Bishnupur is known for its pottery, especially the lovable terracotta horse called Bankura who is the mascot of Bankura handicraft. Baluchari and Tussar Silk sarees, bell metal and shell handicraft and the quaint circular playing cards called ganijifa, are other specialties of Bishnupur that you might want to shop for. We also visited a small town called Chhatna on our way to Susunia Hills. Susunia is one of the famous hills of southern West Bengal. It is famous for its holy spring, its natural beauty, its rich flora and the rock faces on which many of the famous mountaineers of this region started their journey. It is one of the rich reserve of medicinal plants too. Susunia is situated at the North-Western part of Bankura district.

We’ve taken lots of lovely shots with my friend’s Digicam and my very own Mobilecam. I’ll be uploading some of those pictures in my Picture Gallery shortly. Just keep an eye on it and I’ll be back with some more exciting information soon.