Bengal temple town gets a makeover

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Bishnupur: Durga Nandi sings of the divine outside Bishnupur's Shyam Rai temple. He also sells postcards there.

Bishnupur is Bengal's own Khajuraho, a temple town, where the temples speak of Radha's love for Krishna through its unique terracotta panels and tiles.

"I have been doing this for the last 35 years," he says.

If he likes you he will act as your guide, culling out the stories from the terracotta tiles.

He will also tell you how things have changed in the last three decades.

"Earlier, it was a dump. And there was no care," says Durga.

Not just Durga Nandi, but even the Shyam Rai Temple for which he has a been like a sentinel for the last 35 years has also seen changes. Thanks to governmental and NGO help, the temple is seeing a much better today.

And there's hope for tomorrow as well. The temple continues to well-kept and there's now a garden around it. It's lit up at night.

The state government is also building a new tourist hotel, as Bishnupur is once again drawing tourists.

This town is on the government's radar today and after many years these temples are being looked after by the state authorities.

"Now, we get upto 500 visitors a day," says Paresh Nath Mondal, the guard.

On his part, Durga is doing what he's done for the last three decades: Convincing you to buy postcards from him. And he hopes to sing a sweeter song tomorrow.

This isn't just the story of Shyam Rai temple. All major temples in this temple town have seen a makeover.