Ilcchhoba, located about five kilometres from Khanyan railway station in Howrah Barddhaman main line houses a number of temples including two pancharatna , a few aatchala and a barochala (twelve roofed) temple.
Chala or sloping roof temple can be divided into charchala, aatchala and barochala. Among them aatchala temples are very common and widely seen in different parts of Bengal. Charchala temple is less seen compared to aatchala but barochala structure is rarely seen. Barochala are of two types – “low-towered” and “high-towered”.
I have come across a few such structures of which Shiva temple of Ilchhoba deserves attention. Mention may be made of Damodar Temple – another barochala temple at Rautara in Amta II block of Howrah district dedicated to Damodar Jiu (salagram sila) built in 1762. This temple has a triple arched entrance with terracotta decorations in the front. This temple falls under “high-towered” barochala type. A close look at the above picture will reveal the gap in between the first roof and the second roof and the second roof and third roof are more or less equal and the size of the chalas decrease in size from the bottom to the top.
This temple belonging to Bandopadhyay family is on a slightly raised platform. It has undergone renovation specially at the base. It is assumed that the temple might have been built in the eighteenth century but the exact date cannot be ascertained as there is no pratisthalipi. Only the front portion has very little decorations including floral motifs and lotus medallions.
It can be assumed that previously this temple has terracotta decorations but due to renovation the same may have been lost. The temple is devoid of any decorations on the other three sides. The upper front part of the temple shows an image of a running ox.
A close look at the barochala Shiva Temple will reveal the very little gap or space in between the “roof sections”. This is an example of “low towered” barochala type. The rear portion of the temple is not in good shape. Apart from the barochala temple there are two aatchala Shiva temples in the same complex.
Going there: Board a train of Howrah – Barddhaman main line and get down at Khanyan station. Board an auto going to Ilchhoba and reach the temple complex.
References:
- Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal – David J. McCutchion
- Brick Temples of Bengal – David McCutchion.
Date of posting: 6th July, 2026.
Blog of Kinjal Bose 