Rasmancha, Bishnupur

Rasmancha at Bishnupur, built in 1600 CE by King Hambir Malla Dev, is the oldest brick temple in Bishnupur and one of the most architecturally unique structures in Bengal. Built in the Eka-Ratna style, its most striking feature is a squat, pyramidal tower surrounded by 108 arched bays on all three floors — giving it an almost amphitheatre-like appearance unlike any other temple in India.

It was built to serve as the venue for the annual Ras Mela — a festival during which idols from all the temples of Bishnupur were brought here for a grand display. The temple is built entirely of locally made terracotta brick (stone was scarce in the Bengal plains). The surrounding moat, the massive plinth, and the recessed arches all show the ingenuity of Malla dynasty architecture. It is a protected ASI monument.