Tripureshwari Mandir

Tripureshwari Mandir, located in the Boral area of Kolkata, lies in one of the few pockets of the city still pre-modern in its layout. Still considered a village by some, Boral dates back to when the AdiGanga and Bhagirathi flowed through these areas. Records of habitation in this area begin in the 16th-17th century. The book "বৃহত্তর গড়িয়া ইতিবৃত্ত" dedicates the establishment of society in Boral to Jagadish Bose, who later excavated the mandir hidden by jungle and ruin and revived religious ceremonies at the site. The mandir was first built around the 13th century by some king or lord of the Sen dynasty. Official excavations in 1940 also found two idols of Vishnu dating to 7th-8th c AD, which remain protected at the renovated temple grounds today. In 1954, an idol of the goddess Kali made of red sandstone was also excavated from the area and instated in the temple. Documents of the temple's operations also note the involvement of Barisha's Sabarna Chaudhuri family and the royal family of Bhukailash in ceremonial proceedings. However, before the arrival of Brahmin and Kayastha groups in this area, people of fishermen, tailor and dom castes were known to have lived in the area, especially through discovery of their worship of deities such as Kawkai Chandi, Makalthakur, Olabibi, and other non Brahmanic deities.