Chala Style (Bengali: চালা শিল্পরীতি) is a style ofBengal temple architecture, that originated in Bengal from the 15th centuries.[1] Originating as a regional style inHindu temple architecture. The main features of this style are curved tops and cornices.Chala-style temples inWest Bengal were made of mud walls and thatched roofs. But, in East Bengal (nowBangladesh) it was built with bamboo structures and thatched roofs.[2]
Chala-style temples were built all over Bengal. But most of the temples are found in theWest Bengal. In the present day, the temples are now located in two separate national territories: the Indian state ofWest Bengal andBangladesh.
The presence ofChala-style is observed in theMauryan period. Mauryan granaries are similar toCharchala, one of the types ofChala style. The stone temple at Garui inPaschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, built in the 14th century, has aChala-style or Bengal hut shaped roof. The oldestChala-style temple is Singhabahini temple at Ghatal. However, theKiriteswari temple is considered to be the oldest Chala style temple. The original Kiriteswari temple was destroyed in 1405.[2][3]
There are different types of temples inChala-style. These types are specified by number of Chala. Mainly 4 types ofChala-style temples are observed. The four most common temple types underChala-style areDo-chala,Char-chala,At-chala andBaro-Chala.
The word "Do" used inBengali language means two. Temples built in this Chala style have two Chalas (roof) and gable eands. Temples of this style consist of two sloping roofs in front and back. The floor of the temples isrectangular. Most of the temples built in theDo-chala style have three arches on their fronts. Do-chala temples have one or three entrances. In temples with a single entrance, the entrance is built at the front. Narayana Temple at Bhanga in Faridpur is a single entrance temple. Some do-chala temples are built with three entrances, entrances are made on the front, left and right sides of the temples. The Panchamukhi Shiva temple built inDo-chala style atBaranagar inMurshidabad district has three entrances.[2]
To further strengthen the structure of the temple, twoDo-chala temples are paired side by side, popularly known asJor-bangla style. Apart from the tower; a few prominentJor-bangla style temples are the Siddheswari Kali Temple atKalna City, the Gopinath Temple at Pabna and the Radha-Krishna Temple atBirnagar. In many cases, a char-chala roof is constructed between the two do-chalas of theJor-Bengali style temples.Jor Bangla Temple (also called Keshta Rai temple) atBishnupur was built in this style.[4] According toDavid McCutchion,Jor Bangla style temples are mostly observed in the area from Purulia to Faridpur (i.e. south of theGanges and west of thePadma).
InChar-chala style, the temple's roof consists of four "Chalas" (sloping roof). Sloping chalas meet at the mid-point of the roof. GenerallyChar-chala temple is built on a square base; but, some temples are built on elongated base. Most of the temples built in theChar-chala style have one arche on their front. The terracotta temple atPalpara and Raghabeswar temple atDiknagar areChar-chala style temple with a single entrance and elongated base.[5]
InAt-chala style, the temple's roof consists of eight "Chalas" (sloping roof). These 8 chalas form 2Char-chala, one of which large and the other is small. The largechar-chala is placed leaning on the 4 walls of the main chamber of the temple. After the large chalas reach the required height above the center of the temple chamber, they form the pedestal for supporting walls of the smaller Char-chala. In many cases, temples of this style have aChar-chala structure attached to the central chamber to provide structural strength and create a corridor.[5] Kolkata's famousKalighat Kali Temple is built inAt-chala style. Among the very largeAt-chala temples are Bindavanchandra Temple atGuptipara and Radhagobind Temple at Antpur, both temples are located inHooghly district. The Shiva temple built in 1725 at Sahaganj inHooghly district and the Nandakisora temple built in 1741 atHalisahar inNorth 24 Parganas district are small-scaleAt-chala style temples.[2]
During theMughal period thedo-chala roof was to be adopted by the Muslims and even exported to other parts of India, where it became a prominent feature of seventeenth-century architecture inDelhi,Lahore, Gulberg, etc. In the eighteenth century, from Delhi, Lahore or Gulberg it moved to the palace balconies and garden pavilions ofRajasthan.[5]
TheNaulakha Pavilion, located next to the Sheesh Mahal courtyard in the northern part of the Lahore Fort, is built in thedo-chala style, white marble used in its construction.[6]