Bankura, a quaint sleepy district in western part of the West Bengal, is best known for its terracotta temples standing since ancient times. Apart from that, it also seems to be Mother Nature’s special child which has been handpicked and is blessed with mountains, dense forests, streams and what not. Unfortunately, it had failed to attract tourists from far flung areas though it always seemed to be thronged with local and nearby tourists. But thanks to expansion of tourism sector, from the past two decades Bankura has rose to prominence.
Category: Picnic Spots in West Bengal
Picnic spots in west bengal
Tarakeswar is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims
Tarakeswar is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims. Tarakeswar is a small town in Hooghly district in West Bengal. Principal attraction of this town is the temple of Taraknath where in Lord Siva is worshiped. This temple is founded by Mukunda Ghosh in 1729. Not only devotees from West Bangal visit this place, it attracts people from all over India.
Ranibandh, Bankura
Ranibandh is a community development block in Bankura district’s Khatra subdivision. This administrative division of Khatra in Bankura in West Bengal is served by the Ranibandh police station with its headquarters at Ranibandh. If you are traversing the distance from Bankura to Jhilimili (a tourists attraction in Khatra subdivision of Bankura perched on the hill top—primarily known for its picturesque natural beauty featuring dense forests), Ranibandh will be found exactly at 40 kilometers and Mukutmanipur at 18 kilometers. Continue reading
Susunia, Bankura
A hill, situated in the southern portion of West Bengal (on the north western part of the district of Bankura), Susunia is your archetypal idyllic gateway to unparalleled calmness. Situated 13 kilometers from Bankura is Chhatna. Susunia is situated 10 kilometers away from Chhatna. Its rich flora and fauna, holy spring and the rock faces are its highlights. This place is a centre for rock climbing and a place of archeological interest. In fact, many trekkers are believed to have started their journey from here. It’s a 440 metres hill that dates back before Himalayas. Continue reading
Jhilimili Bankura- Explore Nature’s Beauty at its best
Jhilimili is a noted tourist destination, located in the Khatra subdivision of the district of Bankura. It is precisely located at the border of Purulia, Bankura and Midnapur. Situated just 70 kilometers away from the Bankura town, the Jhilmili district is an area of dense and imperturbable natural beauty. The place is perched on a hillock and on your way from Ranibund to Jhilimili you can catch a glimpse of a range of unique sights adorned by dense forests of varying heights. These forests can be seen on both sides of the road. Continue reading
Bankura Chechuria Eco Park
The Chechuria Eco Park is located at a distance of 170 km from Kolkata and 26 kilometers away from Bishnupur, which is the prime tourist location in Bankura. It has a large water body and has lots of area where small children can play to their hearts’ content. It has arrangements for boating as well. The forest department has built this wonderful tourist destination of late. In short, the Chechuria Eco Park can be described as a fantastic getaway spot for people tired with their daily lives. When one walks in the midst of the park one will hear the pleasant chirping of birds and lots of trees, something they are not accustomed to in the big cities. Continue reading
Bankura Amarkanan
Amarkanan is a tourist destination located at a certain distance from Bankura. It is basically a small village that is now growing to become a town of sorts with the introduction of centers of education such as a school and a college. It is located right at the foothills of Koro Hill. Koro Hill is a 400 feet tall hill and is fairly popular among the people who keep visiting Bankura every now and then. It is situated 19 km from Bankura. There is also a temple that is located on the hilltop. This temple has been dedicated to a deity who is known as Savitri Devi. The best time to visit Amarkanan and Koro Hill is during the months of October, November and December. Now a days Amarkanan has become a famous picnic spot in Bankura.
Both Amarkanan and Koro Hill are really exquisite tourist spots that offer a welcome break from the mundane city life and drudgery of everyday work like targets and ambitions etc. The Sri Ram Krishna Seva Dal Ashram, which is located at a short distance from Amarkanan, is also a major tourist attraction of the said area. The Ashram was set up by Sri Gobinda Prasad Singha who was a freedom fighter in the Gandhian school and a zamindar as well.
Over the years a number of well known personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Satish Dasgupta have visited the ashram. When Kazi Nazrul stayed at Amarkanan he had written a poem named ‘Amarkanan moder Amarkanan’. The beauty of this location lies in the red soil as well as the beautiful hill that lies nearby, thus lending it an eerie charm especially during the night. The buildings, most of them constructed several years ago, present an old world charm that one will not see in most other places in West Bengal.
How to reach
In a direct root SBSTC and private mini Buses are available via Amarkanan from Durgapur (39km) and Bankura (22km).
Other than that Amarkanan is easily accessible from Bankura rail station and Bishunupur.
Where to stay at Amarkanan, Bankura
For people willing to enjoy a night’s stay or two at the Ramkrishna Sebadal Asram in Bankura there are plenty of options. The temple authority has in fact constructed a guest house for that purpose. It is known as the Ramkrishna Sebadal Ashram Guest House and Mandir Guest House. In addition, there is a forest bungalow as well for the ones willing to take that route.
In order to book the bungalow you can contact or get in touch with the DFO of the northern Division. Here are the details:
DFO- North Division
Bankura
PC- 722101
Bishnupur in Bankura
Located in the Bankura district in West Bengal, Bishnupur is also known as Vishnupur. This town is situated in what was previously known as Rarh and is well known for its terracotta temples and a culinary delight named postor bora.
Tourist Locations at Bishnupur
Jorbangla Temple: Jorebangla Temple of Keshto Rai was erected during the 17th century by Raghunath Singha Dev II, who happened to be a local monarch. The roof of this temple is built in the chala style, which is a classical and eminently identifiable tradition of Bengali architecture. The temple also features terracotta carvings that can be described as elaborate.
Shyamrai Temple: Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Rai was also built by King Raghunath Singha during 1643. The walls in this temple also have the usual terracotta carvings and depict various incidents from the life of Krishna. This is also one of the bigger temples in Bishnupur. Continue reading
Purulia Lake
Purulia district in West Bengal is an abode of natural beauty. Some of best tourist destinations of Bengal are located here. These are great places to unwind for the weekend. The crimson red soil and the varied landscape have much to offer to the tourists. Beautiful water bodies, dense green forests with colorful blooms, historical sites all these things make it the most sought after weekend destination for nearby cities.
Purulia has many water bodies. Purulia Lake is the biggest and most famous among them. It is also known as Saheb Bandh. The huge water body spanning an area of almost 83 acres adds to the aesthetic beauty of the district. Visitors and locals enjoy fishing and boating in this lake. This beautiful lake is located 1 kilometer from the main town. Continue reading
Bamni Falls in Purulia
Spreading over an area of 6,259 sq km, the Purulia district in West Bengal remains the westernmost region of the state. Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Bokaro, Bardhaman, Ranchi are some of the places with which the place shares its boundaries. Continue reading