Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple

Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple is located at 22.7282°N 87.5103°E / 22.7282; 87.5103.

David J. McCutchion says, “the basic forms of Bengal hut style temples may go back to time immemorial… in construction all these char-chala and at-chala temples belong to a post-Muslim tradition.” The jor-bangla possibly developed from the ek-bangla, which along with the terracotta, was popular in the construction of mazars and darghas. Chandrakona has one of the earliest jor-bangla temples. McCutchion describes the Chandrakona Jorbangla temple as a standard jorbangla, laterite built, with extensive stucco, measuring 28’ 4” x 26’, built possibly in the 17th century.[1]

“The Jor Bangla temple style involves two structures that resemble the traditional village huts of Bengal, one that serves as a porch in front of the other, which serves as a shrine.” It is believed to have been built by the Bhan kings and has been renovated by the West Bengal State Archaeology department.[2]

Chandrakona Jorbangla temple is a state protected monument.[3]

See also - Other temples at Chandrakona: Shantinatha Shiva Temple, Malleswara Shiva Temple, Parvatinatha Temple

The pictures are a part of Wiki Explores Purba Medinipur programme, an initiative by West Bengal Wikimedians User Group

Note: Amitabha Gupta, who visited the temple for taking photographs, has remarked that although the temple has been restored and state protected, yet it lies in complete neglect. The contrasting fact is that despite worship taking place inside the temple, it is also a storehouse of fodder for animals and the locals put cow dung on its walls. A clothesline hinders in taking a decent photo of this temple.