Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/by8fe5Eljdw
References:
https://kinjalbose.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/rajrajeshwar-temple-north-chandannagar/
https://kinjalbose.com/2021/01/31/nanda-nandan-temple-chandannagar/
https://kinjalbose.com/2018/11/21/nilkantheshwari-temple-gondalpara-chandannagar/
Chandannagar, a
former French colony in West Bengal, houses several 18th-century terracotta
temples, most notably the Rajrajeshwar
Temple in North Chandannagar, known for its intricate,
well-preserved Navaratna (nine-pinnacled) structure. Other prominent examples
include the historical Nandadulal
Temple (1740) and the now-dilapidated Buroshibtala Temple,
both featuring traditional Bengal architecture.
Rajarajeshwar Mandir
Close to Buroshibtala post office, this beautiful nabaratna or nine pinnacled
Rajarajeshwar mandir, a terracotta mandir which was built possibly in the
second half of the eighteenth century and has survived the taste of time.
Though the temple has undergone restoration work, but still most of the
terracotta works are visible and one can witness the exquisite and intricate
terracotta panels. This temple has rigged turrets with triple entrance. The
temple has doors on eastern and southern sides and this two sides contain
terracotta works. The temple is placed on a slightly higher pedastal. Of the
triple arched entrance, the middle one is accesible while the other two on both
the sides are false. The central ratna is
pretty high. Some of the terracotta panels depict stories from The Ramayana and
The Mahabharata while others show floral motifs and designs and Rasmandal. The
principal deity of the temple is Lord Shiva made of kasti pathar or touch stone.
The Shiva Lingam is pretty high.
The temple is situated in a corner of the road.
Nilkantheswari
Mandir, Gondalpara, Chandannagar
A beautiful pancharatna temple at
Rabindra Nath Road, Chandannagar built by Late Sibnath Mukhopadhyay and her
wife Saratkumari Debi on 10th July, 1913 (26 Ashar, 1320 Bangabda,
Sukla Saptami tithi) belong to Devi
Nilkantheshwari. The lower part of the temple has got a fresh coat
of yellow colour while the ratnas
at the top of the temple still bears the original colour. The temple stands on
a raised platform and a flight of stairs will lead you to the temple. The
stairs also got a fresh coat of paint. Located close to the Ganges, this temple
is south facing. The temple is situated within an enclosed courtyard and there
are number of rooms on two sides. The temple can be spotted from outside by
seeing the ratnas or
pinnacles. The temple also houses a Shivalinga named Baneswar. Inside the temple
sanctum there is a throne in which Devi Nilkantheshwari is
standing. Nilkantheshwari is
Goddess Kali made from kasthipathar. The
temple took nearly three to four years to complete and an amount of ninety
thousand rupees was spent for that. The remaining part of the temple was built
by Prakash Chandra Bandopadhyay who is the eldest son of Anadi Nath
Bandopadhyay. Prakash Chandra was termed as the temple’s nabarupakar. Anadi Nath
Bandopadhyay is the nephew of Sibnath Mukhopadyay (who built the temple on
instructions of goddess in his dream).
Nanda Nandan Temple, Chandannagar
Nanda Nandan
temple is a do-chala (double
sloped roof) temple, at Durga Charan Rakshit Road built by Indra Narayan
Chowdhury in 1739 Nanda Nandan Temple (founded in 1523) was built 23 years
after the Bishalakshi Temple
The presiding deity of
this do-chala temple
is Lord Shiva. The temple has a single entrance in the middle with two
windows on both the sides.