Bansberia Temples: One Family, Two Faiths

Approach the Bansberia temple complex a short drive from Kolkata and you are struck by the red spires of what appears to be a fairytale castle in the distance. Unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, there are 13 spires, conical and sitting atop a white structure, drawing you in to explore a fascinating page from the region’s history.

The Bansberia temple complex is the site of two temples belonging to two wholly dissimilar sects – the pacifist Vaishnavites and the Shakti-Tantric cult – but they have been coexisting peacefully alongside each other for more than a century. To explore them is not only a visual treat but introduces you to a Bengali zamindari family with a twist in the tale.