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Kurumbera, A fortified Temple Complex
Kurumbera
A fortified Temple Complex
Also see: Weekend Family tour of West Midnapore
The fortified temple complex of Kurumbera lies in the village of Gaganeshwar, which is 4 km from Keshiari and 30 km from Kharagpur. The structure resembles the medieval architecture of Odisha, while also incorporating elements of later Mughal architecture.

Fortified complex of Kurumbera, West Midnapore
Kurumbera means stone wall (kurum = stone, bera = fence) and refers to the 12 feet high wall enclosing the complex. The wall complex measured 253 feet by 173 feet and has a gateway on the northern side.
Temple of Dakshin Rai, Dhapdhapi
Temple of Dakshin Rai
Dhapdhapi, 24 Parganas (South)
Dakshin Rai or Dakshin Ray, literally meaning the King of the South, is the local deity of Sundarban and rules over beast and daemons. He is worshiped by all those who enter the Sunderban forest, for subsistence, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion.

Idol of Dakshin Rai, Dakshineswar Temple, Dhapdhapi
There are lot of controversies regarding Dakshin Rai, although considered and worshiped as god by many but many other considered him as a demon with a uncanny curving for human flesh.
Jora Deul, Baidyapur, Kalna, Bardhaman
Jora Deul, Baidyapur
Kalna, Bardhaman
Stone has always been in short supply in the vast flood plains of Bengal. Hence the architects had to restore to other substitute. As clay was easily available the burnt clay bricks soon became a good substitute of stone.

Jore Deul (or two adjacent temple), Baidyapur
This gave rise to a new form of temple architecture and lead to the construction of elaborately decorated terracotta temples. Terracotta literally means baked earth in Italian but West Bengal has the distinction of housing some of the finest terracotta art in the world.
Sat Deul, Towering Brick Temple, Memari, Burdwan District, West Bengal
Sat Deul, Towering Brick Temple
Memari, Burdwan District, West Bengal
Stone has always been in short supply in the vast flood plains of Bengal. Hence the architects had to restore to other substitute. As clay was easily available the burnt clay bricks soon became a good substitute of stone.

Sat Deul, near Memari, Burdwan District
This gave rise to a new form of temple architecture and lead to the construction of elaborately decorated terracotta temples. Terracotta literally means baked earth in Italian but West Bengal has the distinction of housing some of the finest terracotta art in the world.
Krosjhuri, Purulia District, an amalgamation of old and new
Krosjhuri, Purulia District
An amalgamation of old and new
See also: Wiki Explores Purulia
Purulia District, located on the western edge of West Bengal, is known for its breath taking natural beauty. Places like Boronti, Murguma and Ayodha Hills have always been popular weekend gateways for tourist from Kolkata.

Siddheshwar Shiva Temple, Krosjhuri, Purulia District
But unknown to many Purulia has a rich history and heritage dating back to the 10th – 13th century CE. A flourishing Jain settlement flourished in the western part of West Bengal covering the present districts of Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram. During this period they have built numerous brick and stone temples, following the Oriya Duel style architecture.
Pakbirra, remains of a temple town in Purulia District
Pakbirra
Remains of a temple town in Purulia District
See also: Wiki Explores Purulia
Historical records suggest that during the 10th – 13th century a flourishing Jain settlement flourished in the western part of West Bengal covering the present districts of Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram. During this period they have built numerous brick and stone temples, following the Oriya Duel style architecture.

The giant Jain Tirthankara statue in Pakbirra, Purulia District
Purulia had the largest concentration of these Jain Temples although many of them have crumbled to dust but a hand full have survived the test of time and still towers above the rural landscape of Purulia district. These towering temples, built of both brick and stone, can still be seen in the villages of Para, Deulghata, Deuli and Banda.
Deulghata, Crumbling Temples of a village in Purulia
Deulghata
Crumbling Temples of a village in Purulia
See also: Wiki Explores Purulia
Early morning of 30 September 2002 the villagers of Deulghata, in Purulia District, were woken up by a thundering sound. They came out of their houses to found that the largest of the three towering brick temples of their village have collapsed.

First Brick Temple of Deulghata, Purulia District
But this was not the first time that a temple in Purulia have crumbled to dust. Historical records suggest that during the 10th – 13th century a flourishing Jain settlement flourished in the western part of West Bengal covering the present districts of Purulia, Bankura and the state of Jhargram. During this period they have built numerous brick and stone temples, following the Oriya Duel style architecture.