HERITAGE OF ADRA

ADRA Division having reach heritage.Adra division is called the land of heritage as a majority of the places in the division are associated with historical importance.Temples of Bishnupur and the palace of Kashipur, are renowned architectures.Tourists visit these places and relish the fine art of ancient times.

Some of these magnificient places on Adra Division are depicted below:

Bishnupur Temples Bishnupur
Kashipur Palace Kashipur
Jairam Bati Bishnupur
Chhau Dance Purulia
Terra-Cotta Art Bankura

Ancient Malla Kingdom Bishnupur

BISHNUPUR TEMPLES

Photo Gallery of TerraCota & Vishnupur


RASMANCH	SHYAMRAI TEMPLE

Bishnupur is also famous for its rich heritage with a series of ancient temples, representing nearly all varieties of structural forms of medieval Bengali temple architecture. Though many of the temples were once in a state of decay, continuous undertaking of preservation carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India, most of these have been rehabilitated and proper arrangements have been made for illumination of the monuments making them great tourist attraction. Walking along the banks of the large tanks known as bandhs, the visitors get a view of the magnificence of temples, some of which have beautiful carvings on their walls offering a glitters of the terra-cotta art of Bengal.

Of these structures, particular mention may be made of the pyramidal Rasamancha, a structure unique in its kind. Of the temples, the Syama-Raya built in the massive 'Pancha-ratna' style is regarded as the most outstanding. Among all the areas near the fort, stand several other temples such as the Jor-Bangla, Radha-Syama, Lalji, Krishna-Balarama, Nikunjabihari and Kesara-raya. Kalachand, Radha-Madhava, Radha-Govinda and Jor-Mandir Nandala are ensconced on the south and south-west banks of the big tank called Lal-bandh. There are several other places of interest linked with the memory of noted musicians like Jadu Bhatta and Sanskrit scholars .

Some interesting monuments are situated closer to Bishnupur, such as the large 'Brick Temple' of Siddheswara Mahadeva at Bahulara, an abandoned brick temple at Sonatopal, the stone built shrines of Sadesvara and Bailesvara or Dihar and the big stone temple of Ektesvara on way to Bankura, provide examples of traditional temple-architecture that was existing in Bengal during the medieval period.


JORBANGLA TERRACOTA	JORBANGLA

JAIRAM BATI

Bishnupur,situated 85 kilometers from Kharagpur and 200 kilometers from Howrah on midnapur-Adra section, is the most important cultural heritage of Adra Division.It is famous for birth place of Sri Ramkrishna Pramhans, ancient brick temples, ancient Malla kingdom, world famous 'Balucheri Saree'. Bishnupur 'Gharana' classical music etc.

Ramkrishna Pramhans was born in a Kamarpukur village situated at about 35 kilometers by road from Bishnupur. The place has been developed into as beautiful Ashram by Ram Krishna Mission. His wife, Ma Sarda, was born in Jairambati situated 5 kilometers from Kamarpukur. This has also been developed into a beautiful Ashram, which has also contributed to the development of nearby villages.

KASHIPUR


RAJBARI-FRONT VIEW	RAJBARI-SIDE VIEW

Kashipur is situated seven kilometers from Adra. The famous story told is about migration of people from UP to Kashipur on request of the Maharajas of Kashipur. It is said that Kashipur had a thin population. Since the soil was not fertile, the population was thin and so the Maharaja of Kashipur gave lucrative incentives like Zamindari etc, to the people of UP to migrate and settle at Kashipur.
Maharaja Neelmoni Singh Deo was the first ruler of Kashipur (now as small block of Purulia district) who was abandoned child of some nearby kingdom and was brought up by local tribals. Later on, he acquired a lot of fame and created his own kingdom which mainly confined to Purulia district and extended up to Ramgarh and Bishnupur. It is said that Maharaja Neelmoni Singh Deo fought with Britishers and made Panchkoot area free from Britishers. Later, he was arrested and put in Alipore Central Jail at Calcutta. He had built a huge palace which was reconstructed by his grandson, Maharaja Jyoti Prasad Singdeo. The last ruler was Maharaja Bhuvaneswari Prasad Singhdeo.

TERRA COTA ART(BANKURA)

Bankura, situated at about 60 kilometres by rail/road from Adra, is another district headquarters of West Bengal, has rich tradition of terra-cotta art. Artists are well recognized world over for their traditional art in masking unique designs of animals like horses, elephants and fighting bulls etc. Bankura horses as such are famous world over.Besides terra-cotta, the artists are master in woodcarving also and similar figures are made in different quality of wood. 'Dogra' art has been developed to make decorative pieces like statues, ash tray etc. The materials used are a mixture of brass, bronze and white metal and gives an ancient look. A place called "Sonamukhi", situated at about 30 kilometres from Bankura, is an important centre of silk developed by Khadi Udyog where silk thread is prepared and sent for weaving to Bishnupur, Raghunathpur and other nearby places.

Besides its terra-cotta, Bankura has also beautiful tourist spots. Nearly 23 kilometres from Bankura, there is a famous rock inscription of 'Chanaverman' at a beautiful hill called Susunia hills. Similarly, about 52 kilometres from Bankura is another tourist spot called Mukutmanipur , famous for its lake with boating facility and beautiful garden.

MALLA KINGDOM

In the days of its glory Bishnupur was the capital of a large territory known as 'Mallabhum' which comprised the entire districts of Bankura and entire area in the districts of Midnapur and Barddhaman. Further, there are a few cannons to be found at Bishnupur which are witness to the military powers of the Malla kings of bygone days. Of these, the largest one is known as the Dalmadal, which is placed on a high base and offers a grand view.
This region still retains a wide reputation of a living centre of folk crafts in terra cotta and metal and silk and cotton weaving and preserve of local style of classical music known as Bishnupur Gharana.

Bishnupur is also famous for silk weaving and is one of the important handloom silk weaving centres developed by Khadi Udyog. Baluchari Sarees are famous world over in which weavers are projecting themes of Mahabharat and Ramayana on 'pallu' as well as borders.