Mrinmoyee Temple

Mrinmoyee Temple is the oldest temple in Bishnupur, Bankura District, West Bengal, located in the historic temple town of Bishnupur. Dedicated to Goddess Mrinmoyee, a form of Durga, it was established in 997 CE by King Jagat Malla of the Malla dynasty. Revered as the place where Durga Puja was first celebrated in Bengal, the temple features a simple laterite structure and holds central religious importance during the annual Durga Puja festival.

Visitors can expect a small, historic laterite temple complex in the heart of Bishnupur town, dedicated to Goddess Durga as Mrinmoyee. The temple has a simple sanctum with the deity image, an open courtyard, and traditional Bengali temple architecture. The surroundings are quiet outside festival periods, with local shops and other terracotta temples nearby. Visitors can observe daily worship, explore the temple precinct, and experience its significance as the origin site of Durga Puja in Bengal.

Mrinmoyee Temple is regarded as the oldest temple in Bishnupur, traditionally dated to 997 CE and attributed to King Jagat Malla, the founder of the Malla dynasty. It marks the beginning of temple architecture in Bishnupur, which later developed into the renowned terracotta temple style under subsequent Malla rulers. The temple is historically noted as the site where Durga Puja was first performed in Bengal, initiated by the Malla king.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mrinmoyee, worshipped as a form of Durga, and is the principal Shakti shrine of the former Malla kingdom. It holds deep religious importance for devotees, especially during Durga Puja when rituals follow centuries-old traditions. The temple remains an active place of worship and a central cultural landmark of Bishnupur's heritage town identity.