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.
Attractions
Here are some of the major attractions that have successfully catered its guests.
Bankura is the headquarters of Bankura district. Tourism wise, the district is divided in four zones- Eastern zone where Bishnupur, Jayrambati and Kamarpukur is located, in southern zone has Mukutmanipur and Jhilimili, western zone where Shusunia Hills and Biharinath Hill are located and in northern zone has Durgapur barrage and Koro Hills. Major local attractions of Bankura include Ramkrishna Sebadal Ashram, Amarkanan, Botanical Garden, Chechuria Eco Park and Bankura Beliator. Don’t miss the tussar silk and handmade artefacts of this region which is a treat to the eyes.
Bishnupur
When discussing the district of Bankura, Bishnupur deserves the first mention. It has made a prominent place in world map of tourism for its exquisite terracotta temples and world class saree called baluchari, well known for its sophistication. The temples scattered in Bishnupur and its nearby villages loudly speak of the place’s history of last three to four centuries. Main temples are Madanmohan Temple built in 1694. Continue Reading →
Jairambati and Kamarpukur
Jairambati is located in the Bishnupur subdivision of Bankura district. While Jairambati is the birthplace of Holy Mother Sarada Devi, wife and spiritual consort of the Great Swan Sri Ramkrishna, Kamarpukur, located three miles east of Jairambati is the birthplace of the great sage Ramkrishna Deva himself. Geographically it is in Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district. Continue Reading →
Mukutmanipur
When you want a peaceful getaway from maddening crowd and urban life, Come to Mukutmanipur. Standing close to neighboring state Jharkhand, it is located on the confluence of two rivers Kumari and Kangshabati. Together with Jhilimili, Mukutmanipur attracts and caters more than a lakh of tourists every year. There is a dam made of earth in Mukutmanipur which is the second largest in the country. Continue Reading →
Ranibandh
Ranibandh remains a “natural” spectacle spreading across a good 7100 hectares, covered by around a dozen of hills and trees or vegetation like Palash, Arjun, Amlaki, Bahera, Piyashal and others. It is also home to several tribal groups including “Mundaa”, “Orao”, “Bhumij”, and “Shantaals”. You can view the God of these tribal groups perched on the peak of the hill/mountain. Continue Reading →
Sutan a tribal village
Do check out the Sutan Lake and enjoy a boating trip here. The steps to this lake descend directly from the bungalow. You can secure the expansive view of the moonlit forest from the tower, placed on the banks of the lake. Continue Reading →
Jhilimili
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. Continue Reading →
Shusunia Hills
If you are rock climber and at the same time, love historical sites, Shusunia Hills is the right place for you to explore. Archeological Department of West Bengal had found many stone-age tools like scrapers, hand axes, ovates etc from the foothills. These tools belonged to early, middle and the late stone-ages. It is a popular site among the anthropologists. Shusinia Hills are only 20 kms from Bankura and nearest railway station is thus same. Continue Reading →
Biharinath Hill
Biharinath Hill is a famous attraction in Bankura district of West Bengal. It is located in the northwestern side of the district and stands tall at a height of 448 meters being the highest in Bankura. It is a part of the Chotanagpur Plateau and was deemed to be the center of Jainism in ancient times. The area is known for its natural beauty and diversity. The lush green and dense forests are covered by blossoms of shimul, palash and kaash flowers spreading the beautiful fragrance to the surrounding. Biharinath Hill is flanked by River Damodar on one side and by Purulia district on the other. Continue Reading →
Durgapur Barrage
Durgapur Barrage is situated across the Damodar River in Durgapur. It is located in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. It is a major part of the Damodar Valley Project creating hydroelectricity from Damodar and its tributary Barakar River. Durgapur Barrage constructed downstream is controlled by the government of West Bengal. The dam’s control along with the canal network was handed over to the West Bengal Government in the year 1964. Continue Reading →
Koro Hills
Koro Hill is quite a popular tourist attraction in Bankura. The hill is 400 feet high with a hamlet called Amarkanan at its foothills. This scenic location is only 19 kilometers away from Bankura and is a favored picnic and trekking spot for tourists and locals alike. Do avoid the months of May, June and July if you wish to trek the mountain due to heavy rainfall. Visit during the other 9 months and enjoy the surroundings and the village. Continue Reading →
Ramkrishna Sebadal Ashram
The Ramkrishna Sebadal Asram is located in the vicinity of Amarkanan and is one of the various tourist destinations that you will see in the wonderful district of Bankura in West Bengal. The Asram was built in order to commemorate Amar Chattapadhyay, who happened to be a freedom fighter. Continue Reading →
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. Continue Reading →
Botanical Garden
The Bankura Botanical Garden is situated 21 kilometers away from Beliator, the census town of Bankura. There is an amazing feeling of opting for a night stay at the Bon Bungalow, nearby, situated at Churamanipur which can be reached by turning right from the Makra Road. Continue Reading →
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. Continue Reading →
Bankura Beliator
Beliator is the census town of Bankura, in West Bengal. It remains well-known for being the birthplace of Jamini Roy. Situated by the river Shali, this place has an average elevation of 259 feet or 79 metres. For those visiting Beliatore, Channder Graam remains a must-visit as it’s the birthplace of Jamini Roy, the famous India painter awarded with Padma Bhushan in the year 1955. Continue Reading →
Chhander Gram
The court poets and artists of the Malla kings used to live here. It is believed that the village “Chhanda” derives its name from these “Chhandakars” (meaning poets or artists in Bengali). However, there are conflicting views regarding the origin of the name as well. Some opine that the name is taken from “Chandrahaar”. Continue Reading →
Sonamukhi
Sonamukhi gets its name from the local deity Swarnamukhi Devi and is a busy municipality in Bankura district in West Bengal. It is situated at a distance of 34 kilometers from Bishnupur and falls enroute to Hadal Narayanpur from Bishnupur. Visitors can reach Sonamukhi by road on bus and also by train. Apart from the temples located in Sonamukhi, it is also famous as the birthplace of KusumKumari Devi and Haranath who are deemed to be the reincarnations of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of Vaishnav sect. Continue Reading →
Handmade Artefacts
The handmade artifacts of Bishnupur in Bankura are quite famous all over the world. Terracotta is the raw material with which the highly skilled craftsmen of Bishnupur create various artifacts which are magnificent in design and flawless in their shape. Continue Reading →
Best time to visit Bankura
The ideal time to visit Bankura and its nearby places is from October to March. Winter is very pleasant in this region. Scorching summer or downpours of monsoon can ruin your travel plans. Visit Bankura at the onset of cold season and enjoy your tour to the fullest.