Sat Deul, Purba Bardhaman

Located east of Durgapur Expressway, Sat Deul can be reached by road and rail. It can be reached from either Memari station in Howrah-Barddhaman section or from Masagram station in Howrah-Barddhaman chord line. I went there by hiring a toto from Masagram railway station.

The term Sat Deul literally means that there are a total of seven temples but at present only one remains. A protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Kolkata Circle, this brick-built deul dated back roughly to 10th century A.D. It is exceptional as far as its “corbelled-arch at the entrance” is concerned.

I took a toto and reach the deul. It took less than twenty minutes to reach there from Masagram railway station. I could spot it from a distance. It is remarkable. The day of my visit was a Sunday morning in this year’s March and the sky was partly overcast. But thanks, it didn’t rain.

In this context I would also like to mention about Jatar Deul, another ASI protected monument in South 24 Parganas district. The Sat Deul compound is well maintained with flower-beds and paved pathways. On entering the Sat Deul complex one will see the three signboards of ASI declaring it as a monument of “national importance”.

These structures dates back to pre-Islamic period and at present only a few remains like Sat Deul, Temple of Ichai Ghosh (in Paschim Bardhaman), Bahulara and Sonatapal (in Bankura) and Deulghat (in Purulia). Each and every structure is remarkable and artistically exceptional in its craftsmanship.

Sat Deul is built in the rekha deul style of architecture following the Orissan form. It is a towering structure with a curvilinear tower. The sanctum is empty. The exterior walls of this deul has brilliant decorations ranging from geometric figures to floral motifs. The entrance to the deul looks like an inverted “V”. One can spot decorations on all sides and specially on the top.

Going there: It can be reached either from Memari railway station or from Masagram station. If you are going from Masagram, the distance is roughly 6.3 kilometres while it will take another 1.5 kilometres more from Memari station. It can also be reached by road also.

Date of posting: 9th October, 2023.