Banda Deul | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Jainism/ Hinduism |
Location | |
Location | Banda Purulia district |
State | West Bengal |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 23°36′27″N 86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E |
Architecture | |
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. [1]
Banda is located at 23°36′27″N 86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E.
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.
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]