Historical PlaceHindu temple

Malleswar Temple, Bishnupur

Shiva temple of 1622 in Bishnupur, built by King Bir Singha of Mallabhum in the deul style

Photo: SuvadipSanyal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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01 — The story

The Malleswar, or Mallesvara, Temple in Bishnupur, West Bengal, is dedicated to Shiva. According to an inscribed plaque, the Mallabhum ruler Bir Singha founded it in 1622. It is built in the deul style on a square plan 6.9 m to a side and stands 10.7 m tall. Its original curved rekha shikhara was later replaced by an octagonal tower.

Three other temples of the same style, the Krishna-Balarama, Kesara-Raya and Nikunjabihar temples, once stood in Bishnupur but are now ruined. The Malleswar Temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

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02 — About

Coming soon

We’re still writing about Malleswar Temple, Bishnupur: its history, what’s there and why it’s worth the trip.