Ananta Basudeba Temple, Hooghly, West Bengal
Ananta Basudeba temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in the Hangseshwari temple complex in Banshberia. This is in the Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. Raja Rameswar Datta built this temple in 1679.
This temple is noted for the exquisite terracotta works on its walls. It is built in the traditional eka-ratna 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.
Ananta Basudeba Temple Hooghly
Terracotta panels on walls and pillars
History of Ananta Basudeba Temple Hooghly
Raja Rameswar Roy was a zamindar (landlord) of those days. Raja Rameshwar Roy left Patuli (a village in Bardhaman district) in 1673 and settled in Bansberia. History records mention that he received a huge piece of land, 401 acres from Aurangzeb as gift. This was for his loyal service of procuring tax from other zamindars. He built this Ananta Basudeba Temple Hooghly in 1679 in this land.
The temple architecture style is the char chala ek ratna style of Bengal architecture. He was deeply devoted to Lord Vishnu and so the temple was dedicated to Lord Krishna, another avtaar of Vishnu. With passage of time the place and temple lost its significance.
Rameshwar Roy’s grandson Raja Nrisinhadeb Rai believed more in Tantrik (occult) powers and he built the Hansehswari Temple just beside this Basudev Temple in 1799. More about that temple in my next post.
Arch over door of Ananta Basudeba Temple
Seeking His blessings
Terracotta Panels on built this Ananta Basudeba Temple Hooghly
The terracotta wall motifs depict tales from Mahabharata, Krishnaleela and Ramayana. The art work exist in reasonably good form even today, but I did see some graffiti work on the wall of the temple there.
Hari OM
what a beauty this is – Love the shots through the walkway…well all of the really! YAM xx
nice place to visit…I guess I've to stop taking leaves from office as of now and have to start visiting such places once I have them in sufficient number…
Amazing. I remember — the first time I heard of Terracotta architecture, I was so amazed.
I'm wondering — is it only in West Bengal that you find Terracotta temples?
What treasures we have all over India! Beautiful pictures, as always.
Lovely 2 learn about this Indrani.
There is an Ananta Basudev Temple at Bhubaneswar too 🙂
I feel sad to see the negligence we show for these exquisite monuments. These should have been taken utmost care as a heritage. I liked the photography plus the historical story you shared through this post.
Such beautiful terracotta work! Thanks for sharing!
I love the earth tones of this temple and the art blows me away.
Always intrigued by the rich color and the sculpted figures.
I love the angle of the picture through the entrance. Such amazing architecture. Indrani you always find something in the temple to make it different from the others, though most of them are pretty same. You sure have eyes that are really sharp.
i am a big sucker for all the temples and the carvings in the temple. love them.
I always enjoy seeing the architecture from different parts of the world. Really beautiful!
Beautiful temple and awesome carvings and your captures are superb as always, Indrani! I do love the detail you capture!! Hope you have a great week!!
Fantastic. Cheers Indrani.
as always, very beautiful.
Real sharp corners inside, but the terra cota work is superb.