On the Architecture of the Shyam Rai Temple in Bishnupur in Bankura District of Bengal

Shyam Rai Temple is one of the most ornate of the Bishnupur Temples in Bankura District of Bengal. Built in 1643, the temple is dedicated to Bhagvan Sri Krishna. It is one of the oldest surviving temples built in the Pancharatna architectural style in Bengal.

The Hindu writes about the temple

Built entirely of brick, the only building material abundantly available in the region at the time, the Shyam Rai temple stands on a low square plinth with a char chala roof surmounted by ratnas or gems at each corner. While the towers in the corners are square-shaped, the central tower is octagonal in shape and they rest on a sloping roof in ‘Pida’ order. Each of the four sides of the temple greets us with triple multicusped arched gateways, leading to the sanctum around which runs a well paved circumambulatory path. The curved cornice and eaves, derived from the thatched bamboo hut, so characteristic of Bengal, are special features of the temple, as of the others in Bishnupur. This style, directly descended from the bamboo framework of the huts, was originally bent into this shape to drain off rain water during frequent and intense downpours.

The Shyam Rai temple, with its superior figurines and floral motifs, was the first of its kind in Bengal. Its exterior and interior walls and ceiling are emblazoned with a profusion of stunning terracotta sculptures portraying Krishna Leela, episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and the socio-economic and political life of the people of the times.