A Legacy Molded in Clay

Nestled about 20–40 km from Bishnupur in Bankura district, Panchmura is celebrated worldwide as the birthplace of the iconic Bankura horse—a terracotta masterpiece revered for its elegant form and cultural resonance Wikipedia+1Outlook Traveller.
Originating from ritual traditions and once offered in shrines, these horses now adorn homes globally, symbolizing Bengal’s rich folk art legacy Outlook TravellerThe Heritage Guruprod.incredibleindia.gov.in.
Their unique style—long neck, minimal abstraction, horse parts assembled like art—has made them so iconic that they’re the emblem for both the All India Handicrafts and Central Cottage Industries Emporium Outlook TravellerWikipediaThe Heritage Guru.

Crafting Tradition: The Kumbhakar Artisans

The art is preserved and passed down through roughly 60–70 families of hereditary potters, locally known as the Kumbhakars chitrolekha.comasiainch.org.
Every piece is shaped by hand using the locally sourced Etel mati clay—a careful process of refining, molding, sun-drying, and wood-fired kilns (using eucalyptus) for that classic reddish finish bekaarstreet.comtoureast.inOutlook Traveller.

More Than Horses: Diverse Terracotta Artistry

Beyond the horse, Panchmura artisans craft a range of forms—Manasa chali (the snake-goddess idols), elephants, tribal musical motifs, decorative panels, ornaments, and deity figurines, celebrating mythology, nature, and local ways of life bekaarstreet.comCulture and HeritageWikipedia+1.
The Manasa chali, with its iconic fan of serpent hoods, is another GI-registered masterpiece from this craft hub Wikipedia.

Cultural Hub & Sustainability Efforts

Panchmura is not just a craft production center—it’s a living heritage site. The Rural Craft Hub, initiated by the Government of West Bengal in collaboration with UNESCO, showcases terracotta products, hosts workshops, and promotes artisan-led tourism prod.incredibleindia.gov.intoureast.in.