Terracotta wonders of Bishnupur

Standing testament to their medieval past, the terracotta temples strewn around Bishnupur’s vast green landscape are excuse enough to undertake the short three-hour-long drive from Kolkata. Bishnupur, popularly referred to as the terracotta town, is a repository for some of the finest terracotta art in the world. The elaborately decorated 17th-century terracotta temples with unique curved Bangla roofs and intricately detailed carvings are considered architectural masterpieces. The temples were built by kings of the Malla dynasty—burnt clay was used due to a paucity of stones at the time. Don’t leave without picking up the town’s other claim to fame—a woven silk Baluchari sari.