Ambika Kalna in West Bengal flourished as a prosperous port town in medieval times, and reached its zenith during the late 18th century under the patronage of the Maharaja Tej Chand Rai (b.1764 – d.1832) who constructed numerous temples here.
The highest concentration of temples can be found inside the Rajbari temple complex, an enclosed area within the old palace compound right in the heart of the city. Having entered the Rajbari complex and viewed the Pratapeswar Temple on your left-hand side, a short distance further on is the Rasmancha, also on your left.
This distinctive structure boasts a dome-shaped pinnacle divided into two sections. The outer section features 24 gateways, while the inner section has 8 gateways. Over time, the roof has been entirely destroyed. In the days of Burdwan kings, the autumn Ras festival saw the deities (or ‘Jiu’) of Lalji jiu and Madan Gopal Jiu taken from Gopalbari and brought here to be viewed from all sides. The Rasmancha’s architecture acts as a theatrical stage, in much the same way as the far earlier Rasmancha that can be visited in Bishnupur.
Unfortunately, there is no foundation inscription, nor could I find any document that attributes this Rasmancha to an invididual or specific timeframe.
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