Bankura: Temples, Nature and Travel Ideas

Bankura offers travelers several distinct points of interest: historic temples, hills and rock formations, forest and birdwatching, as well as religious pilgrimage sites.

Terracotta and Culture in Bishnupur

Rasmancha in Bishnupur is the city’s oldest brick temple and was built in 1600 AD. The Shyam Rai Temple, also called the Pancharatna Temple, was built in 1643 as a five-spired brick temple and features elaborate terracotta ornamentation. The Jorbangla Temple was built in 1655 and is considered an exceptional example of West Bengal’s terracotta art. The years 1600, 1643 and 1655 place the three structures in chronological context and give you a concrete point of comparison for your visit.

Bishnupur Mela is an annual festival organized by the city of Bishnupur, featuring classical dance and music performances. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates before you travel. Joyrambati is the birthplace of Sarada Devi and a sacred pilgrimage site. Alongside temple architecture, this offers a distinct religious point of interest to consider when planning your trip.

Hills and Outdoor Activities

At 1,449 feet, Biharinath Hill is the highest hill in Bankura district and is considered an attractive destination for trekking and rock climbing. Susunia Hill is also suitable for mountaineering and rock climbing. Rock climbing is an activity common to both hills; Biharinath also offers trekking, while Susunia is suitable for mountaineering. Check local conditions before attempting to climb Biharinath Hill.

Forests, Birds and Water

The Kangsabati Dam is 11 kilometers long. Mukutmanipur is known for its great variety of waterbirds and grassland birds; boating on Mukutmanipur Dam is one of the tourist experiences on offer. The forest around Sutan Lake is rich in various animal species, unusual flowers and seasonal birds. In Jhilimili, the watchtower offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Joypur Forest is considered a suitable place for a picnic. The area offers a range of nature experiences, including birdwatching, forests, scenic views and time outdoors.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Bankura is accessible by regular train services from other major cities in West Bengal. By road, Bankura is well connected to Kolkata and nearby places such as Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan and Panagarh. From Bankura, you can reach Mukutmanipur by taxi or bus. For planning purposes, you can think of this in two parts: getting to Bankura by train or road, and traveling from Bankura to Mukutmanipur by taxi or bus.

Whether you want to focus on temple history, a festival, a pilgrimage site or outdoor activities, the destinations mentioned here give you specific themes to shape your trip to Bankura around.

Discover more destinations: Aulia, Bhandarya, Bankura, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Murshidabad, Haora, Jalpaiguri

For the main travel overview: West Bengal.