Maharajah Curly Toes

 Maharajah Curly Toes

 Takes you on 'PILGRIMAGE' to a consecrated kingdom................. 

 

BISHNUPUR

 WEST-BENGAL

Bishnupur, formerly known as Mallabhum, is an ex-principality in the Bankura region of West Bengal. Once the seat of great power & patronage for the Malla kings (7th-18th century), their 1,000-year rule coupled with a fervent devotion to Vaishnavism (a branch of Hinduism that sees Lord Vishnu as its primary subject of veneration) reached its apogee through the creation & building of exquisitely decorative terracotta temples. 

These temples demonstrate not only the unique & ever so charming, Eka-Ratna & Chala styles of Bengali architecture of that period, but also the intricacy of terracotta bas-relief and sculpture in general. They also help elucidate the beliefs, legends and social mores of the Mallabhuri people. Carvings depict popular rituals and the interplay between subjects & their gods & goddesses, most notably Bipodtarini Devi, an avatar of West Bengal's most beloved goddess, Durga. The divine worship of Lord Vishnu and the goddess Bipodtarini (amongst other deities) makes Bishnupur a stage for significant religious festivals and thus an important cultural center. Add to this a history of majestic (rural) artisanship (famous for pottery/terracotta tiles and hand-painted, imperial saris), staggering temple structures, sacred elements and serene rural setting, and you have yourself a place of true pilgrim's providence and peaceful allure.

 Once a walled imperial city, ancient

 remnants remain, forming part of the vast temple enclosure

Temple edifices of an earlier era 

are looked upon by fading facades of the fifties

Curvaceous, compact & richly decorated with 1,000's

of individually carved terracotta tiles - 

 Jor-Bangla Temple (c.1655)

Ornate octagonal collumns 

supporting the arches

A sumptuous section of wall

Close-up/detail of one of the tiled

deities adorning the temple exterior 

Another temple of carved terracotta, stucco

& oxidised chatris (domed roofs)

Blue doors & baskets for Vishnu

 Rasmancha (c.1600) -

A perfectly-proportioned pyramid temple

Bipodtarini Devi & Narasimha (avatar of Vishnu)

 

Rasmancha - a maze of low, tiled arches 

& smooth domes upon a raised plinth

Richly woven Bishnupur baluchari sari with depictions

of mythological scenes. Pieces like this were patronised by the Mala kings, 

responsible for the temple building, & mirrored the same artistic inspirations.

Airy, cool & cavernous contours

Pretty Pancha-Ratna Temple (c.1643) - with its

ambulatory pathways, arches & doll-house-like dimensions

 Smaller shrines, for personal

adoration, lie outside the temple enclosure

 Elegant Radhamadhab Temple (c. 1737)

 Many fixtures & figures of the deities have 

long been removed from inside the temples

 Locals mingle in the village centre

surrounded by history, relics & red earth

 The 'Rasa Mandala'- A veritable wheel of deities.

Highly detailed bas-relief from Shyam-Rai Temple

Towering Lal-Ji Temple (c.1658)

A resplendent Howdah of Hindustan (Carrier)

Frontal view of Jor-Bangla Temple.

Every square inch, a consummation of carving 

Priceless, painted, silk baluchari saris. 

Months in the handloom mastery & making  

 A zoom-in on the elaborate craftsmanship
of Pancha-RatnaTemple

THANKS LOVELY PILGRIMS FOR WALKING WITH ME! 
(There are more sights to see below)

Top image of 'Maharajah Dalip Singh' from a post-card, gifted to me.

#All writing & photography by Rani.Cee

#These are just some of the temples in the Bankura/Bishnupur region.

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Maharajah Curly Toes

Takes you on a 'TEMPLE' Walk.................. 

KALNA

 WEST-BENGAL

The town of Ambika Kalna is located in the Bardhaman district of West Bengal. A rarely visited agricultural area & once prominent port-town - its name derives from the worship of the powerful deity 'Kali' or 'Maa Ambika'.  Most notable is the 'Rajbari' temple-complex of 108 Shiva-Lingas, built in the 18th Century by Maharajah Tej Chandra Bahadur to celebrate the acquisition of a new Imperial centre. Comprising two concentric circles of 74 outer & 34 inner temples which house the cosmic representations of Lord Shiva. (The 'Lingam' sees the regenerative energies of male & female combined in a universal, phallic formation) The beautiful, well-formed temples showcase the distinctive Bengali 'Ath-Challa' style of Architecture, which incorporate slanted/domed roofs, shapely rotundas & delicate use of clay/terracotta tiles.

The Gods are smiling brightly

A 'Fixed' abode for 'Shiva'

Imperial etching rests on a lintel

An intimate space of calm & serenity

Beautiful, though modest 

ornamentation by Indian standards

Pilgrims & pundits

A consecrated courtyard

One-on-one, with Shiva

White lingam is said to be reserved 

for the most pious/serious worship

The temples welcome a well-tended garden...
& a wheelie-bin!

Where there are flowers....

there's fervour & festivity

Blazing burnt orange against 
a brilliant blue sky

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Bengali domed roofs were devised 

to manage/direct the monsoon rains

Outer-temples house a combination 

of white & black lingams

Pretty palanquins used for deity devotion

THANKS FOR ACCOMPANYING ME TO THE TEMPLES.

 
Top image of 'Maharajah Dalip Singh' from a post-card, gifted to Rani.

#Writing & photography by Rani.Cee

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Maharajah Curly Toes

Takes you on a PALACE Walk..................

BUNDI

 RAJASTHAN

A remote, enchanted, walled city, south of the state, famous for its exquisite paintings, water-wells & extensive underground tunnels. Home to centuries of proud Rajput warriors as well as notable author Rudyard kipling, who's 'Jungle-book' was inspired & written in this charming town.

A section of the decadent but decaying 

edifice of Bundi's 'Taragarh (Star) Fort'  

(C. 1354)

Original, intricate frescoes 

depicting some Rajput revelry

Majestic Stone silhouettes

The 'Bundi school' of 

Painted palace facades

Solid stairway to Palace heaven

A Vista fit for a king

The power of a fierce mono-brow!

Maharaja Raghubir Singh Bahadur of 
Bundi (1888) Fancy & formidable**

Triumphant Arches, pillars, 

lattice-work & carving

Endearing elephant eaves

Magnificent Moghul murals

Turbaned & bejewelled 

Prince or Princess?

Sloping ramparts & a turret with a view

Sublime salmon-colored sandstone

Bundi surrounded by the lush Aravalli hills

Jali screens of heart-piercing beauty

Palace on high

Serene sari-scenes below

HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR PALACE WALK

 
(**) Is courtesy of  'The unforgettable Maharajas' - Roli Books. (Personal Copy)
Top image of 'Maharajah Dalip Singh' from a post-card, gifted to Rani.

#All writing & photography by Rani.Cee

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Maharajah Curly Toes

Takes you on a PALACE Walk..................

UDAIPUR

RAJASTHAN   

Located on the east bank of Lake Pichola & considered the Largest Royal Complex in Rajasthan, the City-Palace stands as a symbol of mighty Mewar Rule, flamboyancy & romance. A long history of Majestic kings, whimsical art & sculpture, with the current Maharajah, Arvind Singh still in occupancy. Startlingly beautiful & often referred to as the 'Venice of the East', Udaipur will leave you simply breathless.

The Wondrous City Palace (C.1559)

 I need to ask my daddy first!!

  

 

Rajasthani - Mughal, Magnificence.

 A Turret of love

Elegantly crafted marble & stainglass

A 'real deal' bonafide, Palace interior.

  

  

Back to the drawing-room 

The Pleasure-principle

Enamel & mirror panelling

All the king's horses.

  

A warm elephant welcome.

The 3 trunk salute!

 

Floating 'Monsoon Palace'
in the background
Tranquility in the foreground.

#All writing & photography by Rani.C (Char)

Top image of 'Maharajah Dalip Singh' from a post-card, gifted to Rani.