Hat Tala Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple Ilambazar, West Bengal
From Surul we left for Ilambazar which too had some old terracotta temples. The Hat Tala Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple Ilambazar being the most famous. Having read about these crumbling temples, my main motive was to capture them in bytes before time can complete its ruining effect on them.
Distance of Ilambazar from Surul is 15 km approx. Reaching Ilambazar was easy but the real task was finding out the hidden temples. Hat Tala Temple is also called by the names Hath Tala, Hathtala Mandir, Temple in the Bazar.
Ilambazar was once a very prosperous town dealing various businesses like indigo, brass, lac work. Its strategic location in the banks of River Ajoy made it both prosperous and populous. That is history!
Today it looks like a neglected little town, with no signs of high rise buildings which is to an extent sign of prosperity of any town. The roads look deserted; locals stared at us with questioning looks: what are you people doing here?
Hath Tala Temple Ilambazar
Hat Tala Temple Ilambazar
Driving past the outskirts of Surul town we realized our GPS wasn’t working. We had to interrupt some jolly good school students on their cycles to enquire about the route. After asking many locals, after crossing many lanes and by lanes, some of them twice, we arrived at the Hat Tala Temple.
A hexagonal structure it was built only to a height of 6 ft. 2 in. with no roof (either the roof got destroyed or it was not built at all). It is shielded by a tin roof and 3 ft. tall meshed barricade! That is all that remains of the famous terracotta temple! Thanks to the meshed barricade at least the wall panels aren’t destroyed!
The terracotta plaques are beautiful, each different from the other. It looked as if the artists took care not to repeat patterns and designs. The panels here have a different shade compared to other terracotta temples because the clay used is brownish in color.
Clay is the most abundantly and easily available material for the local artists, all sourced from the banks of river Ganges. The clay is mixed with fine sand and bits of laterite and mashed jute for better binding. Else the panels would not hold any ornamentation and break off with time.
The Kala Chakra with twelve spokes dominates the entrance of one side.
Inside there were the idols of Gauranga Mahaprabhu (Chaitanya Dev) and Nitai. Hat Tala means the raised hand, hence the name Hath Tala Mandir.
Some of the panels had traditional motifs, geometric patterns and stories from the Puranas, Ramayana and other Hindu scriptures. It seemed as if the artists of that era tried to tell stories, incidents, episodes and myths from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Lord Krishna’s life. Some of the panels even depicted common man.
Hat Tala Temple Ilambazar Ramayana scene
Ilambazar has 7 temples of which 3 are terracotta temples. These three temples are located close to each other within walking distance. If you set to search for the temples, after reaching Ilambazar ask for directions to ‘Hat Tala Mandir’, it is easy to reach the other two from here.
Here is the link of my tour of Ilambazar – Terracotta Temples of Ilambazar
Pin and save this to plan a trip later…
What a beautiful temple! I love finding things that are off the beaten tourist track. Great find!
I love how each of the panels are unique and glad that there is at least a little bit of protection. It must have felt very rewarding to have finally found the structure. Hopefully it will continue to be protected so that future generations will be able to visit it as well.
How did you know those were out there? It’s too bad they are not being kept up. It’s a shame to see great things like that start to crumble.
Wow, had never seen a tarracotta building before, these photos are remarkable. The artistry in these temples are truly beautiful. So much history here and love learning about this.
That’s incredible than an entire temple is made of terracotta. It’s beautiful and looks very well preserved.
Your shots are amazing as how fantastic the Terracotta temples are. I would love to see them soon! Cheers! xx
I love places where the locals give you that ‘why on earth’ look. It means you are off the beaten track. The Hat Tala temple is really stunning – such a shame that only parts of it remain
Beautiful temples! Love the terracotta looks and details.
My god…you are such a traveler
Nice temple with beautiful works.
wonderfull temple.
I'm amazed the terra cotta is still in such good shape.
Great Post as usual, Indrani!
Love the Nitai-Gour idols!
Kudos to you for your pursuit of such beauties and sharing it.
Lovely temple. Nice to get hooked with these terracotta temples.
Beautiful artwork! I hardly knew about it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Ohhh ….have been to kolkatta so many times but have never heard about this place …will surly visit in my next visit …
Beautiful captures of a beautiful temple 🙂
beautiful temple !
Awesome Temple. Beautiful discovery.
Amazing Terracotta temples.
Awesome shots…beautiful and intricate carvings.
I love a look into a foreign country. And your photography is beautiful.
Beautiful architecture of temple! and design of wall looking wonderful..
such remarkable tour. thanks for sharing, Indrani!
it is beautiful.
It is always more interesting to visit places such as this off the beaten tourist track, thankyou for sharing.
Beautiful! Seriously how did you hear about this place… It's amazing how much there is around to uncover.
nice pics!!
Extraordinary work! Photography is excellent, without which, we would have not able to enjoy the architecture!
So how do you go about this, do you go out searching for such beautiful temples or do they find you? Amazing, terracotta pots and little figurines is all that I have seen and I love it but this an entire temple, I am at a loss of words, WOW.
i always learn about new places in your blog. great clicks 🙂
Terracotta temples, they look so beautiful and such intricate work too. Thanks for sharing!
The idols are very interesting. They look like dolls!
That's a beautiful temple. The carvings are incredible.
I am in awe of your determination to find these hidden gems. It is a wonder in its own right with all that intricate work. Pleased to see it is still used as a temple today.
Brilliant pictures of a temple, lovely carvings in the stone works.
How beautiful.
What amazing structures – so beautiful.
Glad you persevered with all the stares you got. A very special place indeed and I adore the smiling figure in the first plaque.
another beautiful architecture. the opening of that one seems very small.
Wonderful post and great photos.Thanks for sharning.
Such exquisite artistry Indrani… we are so blessed to see the world through your camera.
What intricate carvings.. Nice pics too.. Thanks
India is really amazing..Look at this age old temples..Lot of stories within them..
it is beautiful. i like the rounded shape. 🙂 like my house.
I'm glad you were able to capture this temple before it crumbled any further. Hopefully it can still be saved.
Very nice pictures with lovely details….. well done Indrani.
The terracotta temples are awesome, Indrani, and your captures are superb as always!! Your posts/photos are the next best thing to being there!! Thank you, as always, for sharing your world!! Have a great week!
Such beautiful terracotta temple, and all those figurines had such wonderful details!
Welcome Indrani!
Great post …
I am delighted to be very excellent architecture.
Your photos are very beautiful.
I greet you with a far-Polish.
Lucia