Hanseswari Temple

The Hanseswari Temple in Bansberia is an architectural anomaly in Bengal. Built in 1814, it blends traditional Bengali architecture with Russian/European influences, featuring 13 soaring, lotus-bud shaped spires (ratnas) that resemble the onion domes of Moscow.

The temple is built according to Tantric principles, mapping human anatomy (six chakras) to its physical structure. The presiding deity is a form of Goddess Kali made of neem wood, and the architecture represents a fascinating colonial-era synthesis of global designs and esoteric Hindu concepts.