Sri Samiran Chandra Banik is an independent heritage researcher, documentation enthusiast, and cultural explorer with a lifelong passion for Bengal’s architectural and historical legacy. From an early age, he has been deeply drawn to ancient zamindar houses, royal palaces, and historic built environments—spaces that embody the lived histories of Bengal. This fascination gradually evolved into a serious pursuit of understanding the social, cultural, and historical narratives embedded within these structures.
Over the years, his interests expanded to include Bengal’s temple architecture, with particular emphasis on terracotta temples, which he regards as vital bearers of Bengal’s artistic and cultural traditions. Alongside this, he has devoted sustained attention to exploring Kolkata’s urban history, identifying and documenting the city’s lesser-known historical landmarks.
Following his retirement from a Central Government office in 2021, Sri Banik has dedicated his time fully to traveling across rural and urban Bengal. He systematically visits abandoned and ruined zamindar houses, palaces, ancient temples, and other historic structures, seeking to uncover and interpret their often-overlooked or forgotten histories.
Through regular, well-researched narrative documentation shared on social media, he has built meaningful engagement with a wide audience interested in heritage and history. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving, understanding, and disseminating Bengal’s rich historical and cultural heritage.