 Temple and building architecture with their varied styles, decorative designs and graceful terracotta works occupy an important part of the art of Bengal. Though no traces of temples of ancient Bengal are available, mention may be made to the ruins of a big temple of Gupta times at Chandraketugarh, Berachampa, in the North 24 Parganas district. The ruins manifest the massive character of the temple. From the excavated remains, the evidence of miniature replicas or representation of images emerge, where ancient architectural types are described in relief or drawings.
It is clear that Bengal offered a varied architectural designs such as:Rekha or Sikhara type, Bhadra or tiered type, hut type and Ratha, pinnacled or ratna type.
Shyamray Temple
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Jorbangla Temple
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In the Rekha or Sikhara type, predominant is the tall, gradually diminishing curvilinear over the high square sanctum, garbhagriha, surmounted by kalasha. The brick temple of Deuliya, Bardhaman (9th century A.D.) is one of the earliest extant rekha temples of Bengal. Siddhewara temple of Bankura (10th century A. D.) is a curvilinear Shikhara temple fully covered with ornamentation, carefully cut in brick.
Equally common in ancient Bengal was the Bhadra type. The temples are with horizontal tiered pyramidal towers. The tiers gradually diminish as they move upwards. The Nandi pavilion of Ekteshwar in the Bankura district is the only extant structural example of the Bhadra type.
Top The hut type appeared as a new style in Bengal temple architecture. The hut type is based on the imitation of the common village house of Bengal. The brick temples in the hut type forms are very common in the province especially favoured for Radha-Krishna temples. Influence of hut style is easily traceable in the architectural specimens of Sher Shah’s time.
The Pinnacled or Ratna type has the same lower structure as the chala series, a rectangular box with curved cornice but roof is more or less flat. It is surmounted by or or more pinnacles called ratna. Some important specimens of this type are Chitpur temple, Calcutta, Brahmamayee Devi temple, Mahanad, Hooghly and the Kali temple of Dakshinneshwar near Calcutta.
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