Irshad. gori: made new place w/ sources - done

2026-02-19T16:33:26Z

made new place w/ sources - done

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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Gokulnagar, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Gokulchand temple
| native_name= '''An [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal|Listed Monument]]'''
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| image = Gokulchand Temple Gokulnagar Bankura.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gokulchand temple
| map_type = India West Bengal # India
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|23.0412|N|87.4617|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = Gokulnagar Bankura district
| state = [[West Bengal]]
| country = {{flag|India}}

| architecture_type = [[Bengal temple architecture]]
| architecture_style = [[Architecture of Bengal#Hindu and Jain|Pancharatna]] style
| founded_by = [[Raghunath Singha Dev|Raghunath Singha]]
| creator =
| established = {{Start date and age|1643}}
| groundbreaking =
| date_demolished =

| facade_direction =
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| nrhp =
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| embedded =
| designation1 = Monument of National Importance (India)
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_offname = Gokul Chand temple
| designation1_criteria =
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| delisted1_date =
| designation1_parent =
| designation1_number = N-WB-31
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}}
'''Gokulchand temple''' is a 17th-century stone built ''[[Pancharatna (architecture)|pancharatna]]'' temple in [[Gokulnagar, Bankura|Gokulnagar]] village in the [[Joypur, Bankura (community development block)|Joypur]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Bishnupur subdivision]] of the [[Bankura district]] in the state of [[West Bengal]], [[India]].

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=360| height=370| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|23|7|30|N|87|30|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places in Bishnupur subdivision in Bankura district''' M: Municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, T: ancient/ temple centre Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|23|10|25|N|87|23|15|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Bhara| numbered1=R| mark-title1= [[Bhara]] (R)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle| shape-color1=#C42222|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|1|12|N|87|30|55|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2=Chatra| numbered2=R| mark-title2= [[Chatra, Bankura]] (R)
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|9|0|N|87|37|55|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3=Indas| numbered3=R| mark-title3= [[Indas]] (R)
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|3|10|N|87|26|48|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4=Joypur| numbered4=R| mark-title4= [[Joypur, Bankura]] (R)
|mark-coord5={{coord|22|55|22|N|87|36|36|E}} | label-pos5=right|label5=Jayrambati| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Jayrambati]] (R)
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|12|16|N|87|31|50|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6=Patrasayer| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Patrasayer]] (R)
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|10|10|N|87|19|25|E}} | label-pos7=top|label7=Radhanagar| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Radhanagar, Bankura]] (R)
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|9|15|N|87|16|45|E}} | label-pos8=right|label8=Ajodhya| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Ajodhya, Bankura]] (R)
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|0|15|N|87|40|21|E}} | label-pos9=bottom|label9=Laugram| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Laugram]] (R)
|mark-coord10={{coord|23|6|40|N|87|18|51|E}} | label-pos10=bottom|label10=Joykrishnapur| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Joykrishnapur]] (R)
|mark-coord11={{coord|23|3|50|N|87|19|12|E}}| label-pos11=right |label11=Bishnupur| numbered11=M| mark-title11 =[[Bishnupur, Bankura]] (M)| shape-color11=#800000
|mark-coord12={{coord|23|18|0|N|87|25|12|E}}| label-pos12=left |label12=Sonamukhi| numbered12=M| mark-title12 =[[Sonamukhi]] (M)| shape-color12=#800000
|mark-coord13={{coord|23|1|10|N|87|35|37|E}}| label-pos13=right |label13=Kotulpur| numbered13=CT| mark-title13 =[[Kotulpur]] (CT)| shape-color13=#A40000
|mark-coord14={{coord|23|8|14|N|87|17|57|E}} | label-pos14=right|label14=Dharapat| numbered14=T| mark-title14= [[Dharapat]] (T) |shape-color14=#AA6666
|mark-coord15={{coord|23|7|25|N|87|21|18|E}} | label-pos15=bottom|label15=Dihar| numbered15=T| mark-title15= [[Dihar]] (T) |shape-color15=#AA6666
|mark-coord16={{coord|23|6|14|N|87|43|20|E}} | label-pos16=left|label16=Akui| numbered16=T| mark-title16= [[Akui]] (T) |shape-color16=#AA6666
|mark-coord17={{coord|22|57|48|N|87|29|51|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17=Baital| numbered17=T| mark-title17= [[Baital, Bankura]] (T) |shape-color17=#AA6666
|mark-coord18={{coord|23|9|50|N|87|33|6|E}} | label-pos18=left|label18=Balsi|labela18= Purbapara| numbered18=T| mark-title18= [[Balsi Purbapara]] (T) |shape-color18=#AA6666
|mark-coord19={{coord|23|3|10|N|87|16|20|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19=Dwadashbari| numbered19=T| mark-title19= [[Dwadashbari]] (T) |shape-color19=#AA6666
|mark-coord20={{coord|23|2|15|N|87|27|42|E}} | label-pos20=right|label20=Gokulnagar| numbered20=T| mark-title20= [[Gokulnagar, Bankura]] (T) ||shape-color20=black| label-size20=13|label-color20=black 
|mark-coord21={{coord|23|7|36|N|87|23|0|E}} | label-pos21=right|label21=Gumut| numbered21=T| mark-title21= [[Gumut, Bankura]] (T) |shape-color21=#AA6666
|mark-coord22={{coord|23|16|28|N|87|31|26|E}} | label-pos22=left|label22=Hadal Narayanpur| numbered22=T| mark-title22= [[Hadal Narayanpur]] (T) |shape-color22=#AA6666
|mark-coord23={{coord|23|0|41|N|87|29|30|E}} | label-pos23=left|label23=Maynapur| numbered23=T| mark-title23= [[Maynapur]] (T) |shape-color23=#AA6666
|mark-coord24={{coord|23|10|36|N|87|34|18|E}} | label-pos24=right|label24=Patit Dommahal| numbered24=T| mark-title24= [[Patit Dommahal]] (T) |shape-color24=#AA6666
|mark-coord25={{coord|23|19|29|N|87|24|58|E}} | label-pos25=left|label25=Madanmohanpur| numbered25=T| mark-title25= [[Madanmohanpur]] (T) |shape-color25=#AA6666
|mark-coord26={{coord|23.2888|87.5548}}| label26=Damodar River| label-color26 = #77A1CB| label-angle26=50| label-pos26=top| label-size26=10| mark-size26=0| mark-title26 =none
|mark-coord27={{coord|23.0968|87.4558}}| label27=Dwarakeswar| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=-10| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27 =none
|mark-coord28={{coord|23.0982|87.5086}}| label28= River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=25| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28 =none}}

===Location===
Gokulnagar is located at {{coord|23.0412|N|87.4617|E|display=inline}}.

Gokulnagar is off the [[State Highway 2 (West Bengal)|State Highway 2]] at Salda.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web| url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/next-weekend-you-can-be-at-gokulnagar/cid/1273714 |title = Next week end you can be at Gokulnagar| first = Somen| last = Sengupta| publisher= The Telegraph, 16 January 2011 | access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref>

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

== History and architecture ==
[[David McCutchion|David J. McCutchion]] mentions the Gokulchand temple at Gokulnagar as one of the earliest ''[[Bengal temple architecture#Ratna temple|pancharatna]]'' temples of the [[History of Bankura district|Malla kings]]. It has turrets on four columns, a kind of ''[[chhatri]]'', instead of the corner wall sections. Along with the ''[[at-chala]]'', the ''pancharatna'' is the most popular type of temple in Bengal. With a 45 feet square base, it is built of [[laterite]] with [[stucco]] figures. According to the badly damaged temple plate it was built in 1639 (and that obviously goes with a question mark).<ref>McCutchion, David J., ''Late Mediaeval temples of Bengal'', first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 10, 11, 44, 45. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, {{ISBN| 978-93-81574-65-2}}</ref>

This ''pancharatna'' (five-pinnacled) temple at Gokulnagar is the largest stone temple in Bankura district. It is 64 ft. in height and the area of temple complex is 23,500 sq. ft. According to the ASI information board at the temple, it was built in 1643, during the reign of the Malla king, [[Raghunath Singha Dev|Raghunath Singha]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ASI, Kolkata Circle |url=https://www.asikolkata.in/bankura.aspx#Gokul |website=www.asikolkata.in |access-date=22 November 2024 |archive-date=27 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927160752/https://www.asikolkata.in/bankura.aspx#Gokul |url-status=dead }}</ref> The style of construction of the temple is similar to that of the Shaymaraya temple at Bishnupur. The wall decorations depict various ''avatars'' of ''[[Vishnu]]'' and ''raslila'' motifs and other mythological incidents.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://isharethese.com/laterite-temple-of-gokulnagar-west-bengal/ |title = Laterite temple of Gokulnagar, West Bengal | first= Indrani| last= Ghose|date = 3 February 2014 |publisher= I share | access-date = 1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://tripsaround.in/gokulnagar-a-small-village-in-bankura-district-of-bengal/|title = Gokulnagar, a small village in Bankura district of Bengal|publisher= Trips Around | access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref>

The temple was in a bad shape and plundered till it was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1996. The idol of Lord Krishna has long been removed to Bishnupur. The complex is abuzz with activity when the idol is brought back for 5 days during Holi and worshipped here.<ref name="telegraph"/>

According to the [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]] (serial no. N-WB-31) Gokulchand temple is an ASI listed monument.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140627005558/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 June 2014 |title = List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance| work= West Bengal|publisher= Archaeological Survey of India | access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref>

==Gokulchand temple picture gallery==
<gallery>
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district (14).jpg|Gokulchand temple
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (03).jpg|The central top structure
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (05).jpg|A corner structure
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (08).jpg|The central top structure doorway
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (15).jpg|Roof support
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district (19).jpg|Natmandir
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (74).jpg|Stone relief
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar (87).jpg|Stone relief
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district (04).jpg|Stone relief
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district (50).jpg|Stone relief
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district of West Bengal (39).jpg|Stone relief
File:Gokulchand temple of Gokulnagar in Bankura district of West Bengal (03).jpg| ASI board

</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gokulchand temple, Gokulnagar}}

{{Bankura topics}}
{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}

{{Mallabhum}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bankura district]]
[[Category:Mallabhum temples]]
[[Category:Temples in Bishnupur, Bankura]]

Gokulchand temple - Revision history

Irshad. gori: made new place w/ sources - done