Temples In India

West Bengal Ananta Basudeba Temple Bansberia

Bansberia is a very historical and beautiful place. It is under Mogra / Chinsurah police stations in Chinsurah subdivision. It is famous for the temples of Ananta Vasudeva and Hangseshwari.

Ananta Basudeba temple, small, elegant and crowned by an octagonal turret, is no less interesting. The terracotta works depict stories from the great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

History

In 1656, the Mughal emperor appointed Raghab Dattaroy of Patuli as the zamindar of an area that includes the present-day Bansberia. Legend has it that Raghab’s son Rameshwar cleared a bamboo grove to build a fort, inspiring the name Bansberia.

The Ananta Basudeba temple was constructed by Rameshwar Datta, an ardent follower of Vaishnavism, in 1679. Three sides of the one-storeyed temple are decorated with richly carved terracotta panels. The turret also contains terracotta carvings. Its decorative scheme is similar to that of the terracotta temples, situated in Bishnupur. Bansberia’s importance in pre-Muslim Bengal was religious, owing to its location at the Tribeni or confluence of three rivers (Ganga, Jamuna, and Saraswati). After Muslim occupation in the late 13th century, it continued to be an important city under the Tughlaks, as a military base, mint-town and port. After the Mughal conquest of Bengal in the mid-16th century, the city started to decline due to the loss of royal patronage, but some areas such as Bansberia continued to prosper upto the 19th century.

Architecture

Bengal’s temple architecture can be classified under three broad heads.

• deul /nagara .
• chala
• Ratna (tower/ pinnacle) style.

Sometimes there is an amalgamation of two styles to form a single temple. Ananta Basudeb - Terracotta temple of Bansberia is one such type.

The Vasudeva temple is constructed in the traditional ekaratna style with curved cornices and an octagonal tower. Three sides of the one-storeyed temple are decorated with richly carved terracotta panels. The turret also contains terracotta carvings. The Ananta Basudeba Temple is also very beautiful with terracotta intricate works on its outside walls.

How to Reach

Trains run on the Howrah-Katwa rail line. Trains also ply on the Sealdah-Katwa rail line. You can avail cycle-rickshaws in order to reach the temple complex, which houses 2 unique pieces of temple architecture. You can take NH 2 to reach Bansberia by road from Kolkata. There are evening trains back to the city.

Important Shrines

• The ruins of Dattaroy Palace are situated next to the temple.
• The Hangseshwari temple is well known for their intricate terracotta works and unique architectural style.
• The Swanbhaba Kali temple. This temple is smaller in size but Maa Kali is worshipped with equal devotion.
•  Bandel Church is a testament to the engineering skills of the Portuguese

Significance of The Temple

Ananta Basudeba temple, a temple of Lord Krishna in the Hangseshwari temple complex in Bansberia. This temple is noted for the exquisite terra cotta works on its walls. It is built in the traditional ekaratna style, with curved cornices. The tower on top of the temple is octagonal. The terracotta works depict stories from the great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as from Lilas of Krishna.

Attractions

Next to the temple are the remains of the Dattaroy palace. Fragments of arches and broken walls are all that can be seen. An arched gateway leads to Hangseshwari temple sanctum sanctorum, where an idol is placed on a lotus. . The panels depict gods and goddess, love and war scenes and glimpses of everyday life. One can visit the temple and admire the beautiful terracotta pieces of art and can also wander along the Hooghly to Ishwar Gupta Bridge.

Timings and Other Important Information

Bansberia temple complex is ideal for spending a Sunday away from home but not too far away.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Kolkata has a tropic wet and dry climate and the best time to visit Bansberia is from October to March.

Accomodation

As Bansberia is ideal for spending a Sunday so accommodation can be easily arranged at Kolkata.

Tips for Devotees

• Devotees can have leisurely walk along the river side.
• Must see the traditional ekaratna style, with curved cornices, terracotta intricate works on its outside walls.

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