Beauty of The Shyam Rai Temple
- Ranu Das
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
Bishnupur is abundant in terracotta temples, and a famous one among them is the Shyam Rai Temple. It is a great example of Bishnupur’s art and beauty. The walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful terracotta designs that show the skill of old Bengali artists. The calm, holy, and beautiful surroundings make Bishnupur look even more charming.
The Shyam Rai Temple, built in 1643, is one of the oldest temples in Bishnupur. It was made by King Raghunath Singha of the Malla dynasty and is a beautiful example of old Bengali art and design. The temple is built with clay bricks and decorated with lovely terracotta tiles. The roof has a flat curved shape, which is special in Bengali architecture. On top of the roof are five small towers, which give it the name Pancha Ratna Temple. The temple is near the Jor Bangla Temple and is one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in Bishnupur.
The Shyam Rai Temple is famous for its rich ornamental terracotta decorations, which cover almost every part of the structure. These beautiful designs can be seen both inside and outside the four walls. Even the towers on the roof are covered with detailed terracotta tiles, so fine that they are difficult to see clearly without a camera or binoculars. The carvings show scenes from Krishna Leela, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, along with elegant floral and geometric patterns. The temple’s curved ceiling, inspired by Islamic architecture, adds a unique touch, making the Shyam Rai Temple one of the most special and artistic monuments in Bishnupur.
It is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as an important historical monument. Since 1998, the Shyam Rai Temple has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List. To see some of the best terracotta artwork, you must visit Shyam Rai Temple. Visitors can buy entry tickets for all the Bishnupur temples, including this one, from the Rasmancha Online tickets are also available at (link) . In the evening the temple is beautifully decorated with coloured lights, adding to its charm. While its interior is no longer open to the public, the exterior offers a wondrous spectacle of craftsmanship.
