Maluti Temple Village

Maluti Temple Village is a historic temple cluster in Maluti village, Shikaripara block, Dumka district, Jharkhand, near the West Bengal border. Known as Gupta Kashi, it comprises 72 surviving terracotta temples out of 108 originally built between the 17th and 19th centuries by the Baj Basanta dynasty. Noted for Bengal chala-style architecture and intricate terracotta panels depicting Hindu epics, it is an important heritage and pilgrimage site.

Visitors can explore a compact rural village setting with 72 terracotta temples grouped in clusters, built in Bengal chala style with sloping roofs and richly decorated facades. Temples are dedicated primarily to Shiva with others to Durga, Kali and Vishnu, featuring detailed terracotta carvings of Ramayana, Mahabharata and daily life scenes. The site is open-air, walkable on village lanes, with the prominent Maulakshi Temple as the main shrine. Expect a quiet heritage walk, photography of terracotta art, and interaction with the small village community.

Maluti temples were built between the 17th and 19th centuries under the Baj Basanta dynasty, the rulers of Maluti who were vassals of the Nagas and later the British. Originally 108 temples were constructed, of which 72 survive. Built in the Bengal chala architectural style using brick and terracotta, the temples reflect the regional terracotta art tradition. The site is documented by the Archaeological Survey of India and Jharkhand tourism as a significant heritage cluster.

The village is revered as Gupta Kashi, a sacred Shaiva centre with temples dedicated to Shiva, Durga, Kali and Vishnu. The Maulakshi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Maulakshi, is the presiding deity and centre of local worship. The terracotta panels illustrate Hindu epics and folk life, representing the cultural synthesis of Jharkhand and Bengal. The site remains an active pilgrimage and cultural landmark for the region.