According to the foundation plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1643 by King
Raghunath Singha of
Mallabhum. The Temple is built in the
Pancha-ratna temple architecture, which belongs to the
ratna style developed in medieval Bengal. The roof of this temple is square and curved, with curved edges and five
chura or
shikhar (tower). The temple is known for its ornamentation, which adorns the exterior and interior of the walls surrounding this temple. The ornaments are primarily placed on terracotta plaques set into the walls. The walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful floral designs, scenes of Krishna-
lila, episodes from
Puranic literature, designs of geometric and floral patterns, and scenes of the
Ramayana and the
Mahabharata. Currently, it is preserved as one of the archaeological monuments by the
Archaeological Survey of India. Since 1998, the Shyam Ray temple is on the
UNESCO World Heritage Site's Tentative list. ==Gallery==