Banda Deul

Banda Deul
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
Location
LocationBanda
Purulia district
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Shown within West Bengal
Banda Deul (India)
Geographic coordinates23°36′27″N 86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E / 23.6074; 86.5587
Architecture
TypeRekha deul
Completed11th century

Banda Deul is an 11th-century temple in Banda village (also called Deulghera) in the Raghunathpur II CD block in the Raghunathpur subdivision of the Purulia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1]

Geography

8km
5miles
J
H
A
R
K
H
A
N
D
i
Damodar River
h
Panchet Dam
Reservoir
g
Panchet
Hill
R
Joychandi Pahar
R
Bero
R
Santuri
R
Ramchandrapur
R
Muraddi
R
Madhukunda
H
Kashipur
R
Kalloli
T
Baranti
M
Raghunathpur
CT
Lapara
CT
Adra
CT
Kantaranguri
CT
Arra
CT
Murulia
R
Ramkanali
H
Telkupi
H
Garh Panchkot
H
Banda Deul
R
Usir
R
Sarbari
H
Para
R
Nituria
R
Harmadih
H
Haraktor
R
Gobag
R
Cheliyama
R
Anara
H
Achkoda
CT
Parbelia
CT
Hijuli
CT
Saltore
CT
Nabagram
CT
Shankara
CT
Chapari
CT
Dubra
CT
Kanki
CT
Santaldih
Places in Raghunathpur subdivision in Purulia district
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre, T: tourist centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Banda is located at 23°36′27″N 86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E / 23.6074; 86.5587.

Banda is 1 km from Cheliyama, which contains the Radha Vinod temple with the most richly decorated terracotta carvings.[2]


Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Banda Deul

There is a temple at Banda, which is described by the Archaeological Survey of India as a rekha deul of triratha variety in sandstone.[3] The temple is richly decorated, the themes being creepers, scroll work and stylised chaitya window.[3]The temple is datable to c. 11th century AD.[3]

In 1872, the archaeologist J.D.Beglar came across this temple, then covered with deep vegetation in a forest. The area around the deul was cleared and it started attracting attention. It is not clear whether it was a Hindu or a Jain temple. The ground plan is star shpaed.[3] Internally the cella is square with a rectangular Mukhamandapa.[3] The temple consists of a single cell and it once had a mandapa.[4]

The temple had a mandapa which has largely collapsed, However, eight pillars are still there supporting the cross beams. The temple has a water outlet with a makara (crocodile) head.[2]

According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal the old temple at Banda is an ASI listed monument.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India". Item no. 134. ASI. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "District Census Handbook, Puruliya, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Banda - Page 101: Brief Description of Places of Religious, Historical or Archaeological Importance and Places of Tourist Importance of the District. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Old temple at Banda (locally known as deul)". ASI, Kolkata Circle. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Report of a Tour through the Bengal Provinces".