Ananta Vasudeva Temple

In 1656, the Mughal emperor appointed Raghab Dattaroy of Patuli as the zamindar of an area that includes the present-day Bansberia. Legend has it that Raghab’s son Rameshwar cleared a bamboo grove to build a fort, inspiring the name Bansberia.

The Ananta Basudeba temple was constructed by Rameshwar Datta, an ardent follower of Vaishnavism, in 1679. Three sides of the one-storeyed temple are decorated with richly carved terracotta panels. The turret also contains terracotta carvings. Its decorative scheme is similar to that of the terracotta temples, situated in Bishnupur. Bansberia’s importance in pre-Muslim Bengal was religious, owing to its location at the Tribeni or confluence of three rivers (Ganga, Jamuna, and Saraswati). After Muslim occupation in the late 13th century, it continued to be an important city under the Tughlaks, as a military base, mint-town and port. After the Mughal conquest of Bengal in the mid-16th century, the city started to decline due to the loss of royal patronage, but some areas such as Bansberia continued to prosper up to the 19th century.

Ananta Vasudeva temple is another famous temple of Bansberia that represents traditional ‘Ekaratna’ style of architecture. The temple has curved cornices, triple arched entrance and an octagonal tower. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Krishna. Intricate terracotta carving on the walls of the temple showcases scenes of love, war, everyday life and Gods. Built in 1649, it is located in the premises of Hangeshwari temple. It was constructed by Raja Rameshwar Datta who was a strong follower of Vaishnavism. The architecture and artistry of the temple have a stark resemblance with the terracotta temples of Bishnupur. Besides the temple, the remains of Dattaroy Palace are also located here. Fragments of arches and broken walls of the palace are still found around Ananta Vasudeva temple.