Gokulchand Temple
Gokulchand Temple

A ruined temple in Bankura District, India.

Making offerings
Making offerings

A Hindu holy man places offerings at a shrine.

Hindu Shrine
Hindu Shrine

Goats explore a shrine in Gharbeta, Bankura district, India.

Offerings
Offerings

Offerings at a guard shrine in Garhbeta, Bankura District, India.

Karnagah Entrance
Karnagah Entrance

The entrance to the ancient Karnagah Temple, Bankura District, India. This medieval temple is still in use today.

Idols
Idols

Idols at Karnagah temple, Bankura District.

Prayer Scarves
Prayer Scarves

Prayer Scarves in Karnagah Temple, Bankura District, India.

A Potter at Work
A Potter at Work

A potter at work in Panchmura, making the idols which will be offered up at shrines. Terracotta idols are a speciality of Panchmura.

Newly Baked Idols
Newly Baked Idols

Terracotta idols, recently baked.

Clay Idols
Clay Idols

Clay idols, ready to be baked.

Terracotta Horse
Terracotta Horse

A terracotta horse idol, left at a shrine by the Siddhesvara temple.

Patobagra Temples
Patobagra Temples

A man in front of a row of ruined temples in Patobagra village, Bankura district.

Ruins
Ruins

Ruins of a temple in Patobagra.

Rasmancha
Rasmancha

A view down the arches of Rasmancha temple in the centre of the city of Bishnupur, Bankura District, India.

Shyam Rai Temple
Shyam Rai Temple

This temple is one of the best preserved examples of the carved terracotta temples of the medieval kingdom of Bishnupur. All four sides feature hundreds of carvings telling stories of Hindu mythology.

Shiviratri Festival
Shiviratri Festival

Women and girls give offerings to Shiva at Sailesvara and Saresvara temples in hopes of finding a husband as part of the festival of Shiviratri.

After the Offering
After the Offering

Women wait having placed offerings as part of the festival of Shiviratri.

Water Tower
Water Tower

Women drink at a water tower during the festival of Shiviratri.

Cow and Temple
Cow and Temple

Cows roam the streets in Bishnupur, passing in front off a ruined temple.

From Radheshyam to Jor Bangla
From Radheshyam to Jor Bangla

In the gardens of Radheshyam temple in central Bishnupur, looking toward Jor Bangla temple.

Lizard
Lizard

A lizard on a wall outside Radheshyam temple.

Ancient Idols
Ancient Idols

Thousand year old idols in the still active medieval Mrinmoyee temple at the heart of the city of Bishnupur. 

Krishnabandh
Krishnabandh

The manmade, medieval Krishnabandh lake. Build for defensive and irrigation reasons to protect the kingdom of Bishnupur. Legend has it the lake was once stocked with crocodiles!

Washer woman
Washer woman

A woman washes clothes on the banks of Krishnabandh, Bishnupur.

Joypur Forest
Joypur Forest

Joypur forest through which runs the road into Bishnupur.

Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver

A rickshaw driver drives past the ponds in Bishnupur.

Weaver
Weaver

A weaver hand weaving Sari's using a large, mechanical loam in central Bishnupur.

Weaving Machine
Weaving Machine

The large mechanical loom used to weave saris reading the pattern from punch cards.

Fisher Boy
Fisher Boy

A young boy displays his catch having been fishing in a mud pool.