| Banda Deul | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Location | |
| Location | Banda Purulia district |
| State | West Bengal |
| Country | India |
  Shown within West Bengal Show map of West Bengal Banda Deul (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates | 23°36′27″N86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E /23.6074; 86.5587 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Rekha deul |
| Completed | 11th century |
Banda Deul is an 11th-century temple in Banda village (also calledDeulghera) in theRaghunathpur IICD block in theRaghunathpur subdivision of thePurulia district in theIndian state ofWest Bengal.[1]
Banda is located at23°36′27″N86°33′31″E / 23.6074°N 86.5587°E /23.6074; 86.5587.
Banda is 1 km fromCheliyama, which contains the Radha Vinod temple with the most richly decorated terracotta carvings.[2]
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
There is a temple at Banda, which is described by the Archaeological Survey of India as arekha deul of triratha variety in sandstone.[3] The temple is richly decorated, the themes being creepers, scroll work and stylisedchaitya window.[3] The temple is datable to c. 11th century CE.[3]
In 1872, the archaeologist J.D.Beglar came across this temple, then covered with deep vegetation in a forest. The area around the deul was cleared and it started attracting attention. It is not clear whether it was a Hindu or a Jain temple. The ground plan is star shpaed.[3] Internally the cella is squarewith a rectangular Mukhamandapa.[3] The temple consists of a single cell and it once had a mandapa.[4]
The temple had amandapa which has largely collapsed, However, eight pillars are still there supporting the cross beams. The temple has a water outlet with amakara (crocodile) head.[2]
According to theList of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal the old temple at Banda is an ASI listed monument.[1]
