Banda Deul Explained

Banda Deul
Native Name:An ASI Listed Monument
Religious Affiliation:Jainism/Hinduism
Map Type:India West Bengal # India
Coordinates:23.6074°N 86.5587°W
Location:Banda
Purulia district
State:West Bengal
Country:India
Year Completed:11th 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.

Geography

Location

Banda is located at 23.6074°N 86.5587°W.

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

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. The temple is richly decorated, the themes being creepers, scroll work and stylised chaitya window.The temple is datable to c. 11th century AD.[2]

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. Internally the cella is square with a rectangular Mukhamandapa. The temple consists of a single cell and it once had a mandapa.[3] 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.[1]

According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal the old temple at Banda is an ASI listed monument.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: District Census Handbook, Puruliya, Series 20, Part XII A. 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 . 23 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Old temple at Banda (locally known as deul). ASI, Kolkata Circle . 23 January 2020.
  3. Web site: Report of a Tour through the Bengal Provinces .
  4. Web site: List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India. ASI. Item no. 134. 25 January 2020.