Jor Bangla Temple, Bishnupur

Jor Bangla Temple (Keshta Raya Temple) at Bishnupur, built in 1655 CE by King Raghunath Singha Dev, is perhaps the most photographed of all the Bishnupur temples and gave its name to an entire architectural style. The Jor Bangla ("paired hut") style imitates two traditional Bengali thatched-roof huts placed side by side, creating a distinctive double-curved cornice (chala) roofline.

Every surface of this compact temple is covered with extraordinary terracotta panels narrating stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Krishnalila, and scenes of everyday Mughal-period life — soldiers, elephants, hunting scenes, and European ships. These panels are considered the finest and most narrative terracotta work in all of Bishnupur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna as Keshta Raya.