# Chala Style > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chala_Style > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chala_Style.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chala_Style > Source revision: 1352744153 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Style of a Hindu temple *Char-chala* Rudreshwar Charchala temple at Matiari in Nadia district, West Bengal ***Chala Style*** (Bengali: চালা শিল্পরীতি) is a style of [Bengal temple architecture](/source/Bengal_temple_architecture), that originated in Bengal from the 15th centuries.[1] Originating as a regional style in [Hindu temple architecture](/source/Hindu_temple_architecture). The main features of this style are curved tops and cornices. *Chala-style* temples in [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal) were made of mud walls and thatched roofs. But, in East Bengal (now [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh)) it was built with bamboo structures and thatched roofs.[2] *Chala-style* temples were built all over Bengal. But most of the temples are found in the [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal). In the present day, the temples are now located in two separate national territories: the Indian state of [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal) and [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh). ## History The presence of *Chala-style* is observed in the [Mauryan period](/source/Maurya_Empire). Mauryan granaries are similar to *Charchala*, one of the types of *Chala style*. The stone temple at Garui in [Paschim Bardhaman](/source/Paschim_Bardhaman_district) district of West Bengal, built in the 14th century, has a *Chala-style* or Bengal hut shaped roof. The oldest *Chala-style* temple is Singhabahini temple at Ghatal. However, the [Kiriteswari temple](/source/Kiriteswari_Temple) is considered to be the oldest Chala style temple. The original Kiriteswari temple was destroyed in 1405.[2][3] ## Types There are different types of temples in *Chala-style*. These types are specified by number of Chala. Mainly 4 types of *Chala-style* temples are observed. The four most common temple types under *Chala-style* are *Do-chala*, *Char-chala*, *At-chala* and *Baro-Chala*. ### Do-chala The Nandadulal Jiu Mandir, [Chandannagar](/source/Chandannagar), [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal), India. The word "Do" used in [Bengali](/source/Bengali_language) language means two. Temples built in this Chala style have two Chalas (roof) and gable eands. Temples of this style consist of two sloping roofs in front and back. The floor of the temples is [rectangular](/source/Rectangle). Most of the temples built in the *Do-chala* style have three arches on their fronts. Do-chala temples have one or three entrances. In temples with a single entrance, the entrance is built at the front. Narayana Temple at Bhanga in Faridpur is a single entrance temple. Some do-chala temples are built with three entrances, entrances are made on the front, left and right sides of the temples. The Panchamukhi Shiva temple built in *Do-chala* style at [Baranagar](/source/Baranagar%2C_Murshidabad) in [Murshidabad](/source/Murshidabad_district) district has three entrances.[2] *Jor-bangla* Siddheshwari Kali Temple at [Kalna City](/source/Kalna_City) in [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal). Jor-Bangla Temple (c. 1655), [Bishnupur](/source/Bishnupur%2C_Bankura), West Bengal, India. [Jor Bangla Temple](/source/Gopinath_Temple%2C_Pabna), Pabna, [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh). To further strengthen the structure of the temple, two *Do-chala* temples are paired side by side, popularly known as *Jor-bangla* style. Apart from the tower; a few prominent *Jor-bangla* style temples are the Siddheswari Kali Temple at [Kalna City](/source/Kalna_City), the Gopinath Temple at Pabna and the Radha-Krishna Temple at [Birnagar](/source/Birnagar). In many cases, a char-chala roof is constructed between the two do-chalas of the *Jor-Bengali* style temples. [Jor Bangla Temple](/source/Jor_Bangla_Temple) (also called Keshta Rai temple) at [Bishnupur](/source/Bishnupur%2C_Bankura) was built in this style.[4] According to [David McCutchion](/source/David_McCutchion), *Jor Bangla* style temples are mostly observed in the area from Purulia to Faridpur (i.e. south of the [Ganges](/source/Ganges) and west of the [Padma](/source/Padma_River)). ### Char-chala Charchala temple at Palpara in Nadia district. In *Char-chala* style, the temple's roof consists of four "Chalas" (sloping roof). Sloping chalas meet at the mid-point of the roof. Generally *Char-chala* temple is built on a square base; but, some temples are built on elongated base. Most of the temples built in the *Char-chala* style have one arche on their front. The terracotta temple at [Palpara](/source/Palpara) and Raghabeswar temple at [Diknagar](/source/Dignagar) are *Char-chala* style temple with a single entrance and elongated base.[5] ### At-chala *At-chala* Radhagobind Temple, Antpur, West Bengal. In *At-chala* style, the temple's roof consists of eight "Chalas" (sloping roof). These 8 chalas form 2 *Char-chala*, one of which large and the other is small. The large *char-chala* is placed leaning on the 4 walls of the main chamber of the temple. After the large chalas reach the required height above the center of the temple chamber, they form the pedestal for supporting walls of the smaller Char-chala. In many cases, temples of this style have a *Char-chala* structure attached to the central chamber to provide structural strength and create a corridor.[5] Kolkata's famous [Kalighat Kali Temple](/source/Kalighat_Kali_Temple) is built in *At-chala* style. Among the very large *At-chala* temples are Bindavanchandra Temple at [Guptipara](/source/Guptipara) and Radhagobind Temple at Antpur, both temples are located in [Hooghly](/source/Hooghly_district) district. The Shiva temple built in 1725 at Sahaganj in [Hooghly](/source/Hooghly_district) district and the Nandakisora temple built in 1741 at [Halisahar](/source/Halisahar) in [North 24 Parganas](/source/North_24_Parganas_district) district are small-scale *At-chala* style temples.[2] ## Influence During the [Mughal period](/source/Mughal_Empire) the *do-chala* roof was to be adopted by the Muslims and even exported to other parts of India, where it became a prominent feature of seventeenth-century architecture in [Delhi](/source/Delhi), [Lahore](/source/Lahore), Gulberg, etc. In the eighteenth century, from Delhi, Lahore or Gulberg it moved to the palace balconies and garden pavilions of [Rajasthan](/source/Rajasthan).[5] The [Naulakha Pavilion](/source/Naulakha_Pavilion), located next to the Sheesh Mahal courtyard in the northern part of the Lahore Fort, is built in the *do-chala* style, white marble used in its construction.[6] ## See also - [Bengal temple architecture](/source/Bengal_temple_architecture) - [Hindu temple architecture](/source/Hindu_temple_architecture) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Akhter, Nasreen. ["Temple architecture"](https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Temple_Architecture). Banglapedia. Retrieved 8 June 2023. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_2-3) McCutchion, David J., *Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal*, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pp. 1–14, 19–22. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-93-81574-65-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-93-81574-65-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-amitguha_3-0)** Guha, Amit. ["Bengal Temple Architecture"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180904091003/https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/). Amit Guha. Archived from [the original](https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/) on 2018-09-04. Retrieved 8 Jun 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-isical_4-0)** ["Jor-bangla temple - BHID: Bishnupur Heritage Image Database"](https://www.isical.ac.in/~bsnpr/jorbangla.php). *www.isical.ac.in*. Retrieved 9 June 2023. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Temples-of-Bengal_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Temples-of-Bengal_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Temples-of-Bengal_5-2) Mangaonkar, Priyanka (1 March 2013). ["Temples of Bengal: Material Style and Technological Evolution"](https://chitrolekha.com/temples-of-bengal-material-style-and-technological-evolution/). *Chitrolekha*. Retrieved 10 June 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-archnet_6-0)** [Lahore Fort Complex: Naulakha Pavilion](http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3992) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101214014242/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3992) 14 December 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) at [Archnet](http://archnet.org/lobby/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080502142136/http://archnet.org/lobby/) 2 May 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Retrieved 9 Jun 2023. v t e Architecture of India Types Ancient Indian Assam Bengal Chala Ratna Buddhist Dzong Harappan Hindu-northern Nagara Kalinga Māru-Gurjara Shikhara Bhumija Latina Sekhari Hemadpanti Meitei Nilachal Rock-cut Hindu-southern Dravidian Badami Chalukya Chalukya Hoysala Kadamba Thantra-Samuchayam/Shilparatnam Vijayanagara Indo-Islamic Mughal Akbari Sharqi Qutb Shahi Indo-Saracenic Jain Sikh By state Bengal Gujarat Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra Odisha Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Telangana By city Bhubaneswar Chennai Delhi Hyderabad Jaipur Lucknow Mumbai Category:Architecture in India --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chala Style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chala_Style) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chala_Style?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.