logo

Places of Interest In Bankura And Purulia

Ajodhya Hills (Purulia- 250 km. from kolkata)

Ajodhya Hills

Ajodhya Hills is a hill located in the Purulia district of the state West Bengal, India. It is a part of the Dalma Hills and extended part of Eastern Ghats range. Highest peak of Ajodhya Hills is Gorgaburu. The nearby populated town area is Bagmundi.

It is a popular place for young mountaineers to learn the basic course in rock climbing. There are two routes available to reach Ajodhya Hills. One is via Jhalda and the other one is via Sirkabad. There is a Forest Rest House here. Gorgaburu (855 m), Mayuri etc. are of the some of the peaks of Ajodhya hills range.

The area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills. The area around Bagmundi or Ajodhya Hill is an extended plateau. Gorshabru, the highest peak of the Ajodhya Hills is situated at a magnificent 2850 feet.

Ajodhya Hills

Nearby attractions: A trip to the Mayur Hill will provide a spectacular panoramic view of the entire range of Ajodhya Hills. You can also visit the Murra Buru Hill (Pakhi Pahar), which has some beautiful rock paintings of birds. Incidentally, Pakhi Pahar is a great spot for birdwatching and is the natural habitat of peacocks. Heavily forested, these hill tracts are home to leopards, deers, wild boars and numerous birds. You can make a visit to Charida Village to see the artisans working on the beautiful Chow Masks or visit the tribal village of Dowri Kahal to see the tribal mud houses decked with colourful wall paintings. If you have a few days to spare, then you can make a day visit to Muruguma Dam, Rajrappa or Dalma Pahar.

Best visit time: During September to March Ajodhya Hills get a chill in the wind and clear skies. Specially, February and March puts a vibrant show of Palash flowers and early October gives a show of Kash phool.

Biharinath (Bankura- 249 km. from kolkata)

Biharinath

Biharinath is the tallest hill of Bankura District, in the Indian state of West Bengal., and one of the dense forest areas of the district. It is a part of the Eastern Ghats. It is 451 metres (1,480 ft) high. It is situated about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north-west of Bankura town and 14 kilometres (9 mi) north-east of Saltora town.

Biharinath is known as the Araku Valley of West Bengal. The base of hill is a popular tourist spot. A small tank measuring 0.50 ha provides facilities for angling. There is an old Shiva temple of Biharinath nearby.

Biharinath offers a pollution-free green surroundings where water is panacea. This place has hills, dense forests with abundant flora and fauna, spring, water bodies, Damodar River, and a renowned Shiva temple. Susunia hill, Joychandi Pahar, Garh Panchkot, Baranti, Panchet Dam, and Maithon Dam are all located at short distances.Government of West Bengal has already taken a 150 crore mega tourism project for Biharinath. Another popular attraction Biharinath dham and a small tank located at the foothill.

biharinath

Nearby attractions: Ureshwari Temple located to the West of the Biharinath Hill. The Binodpur Dam and Joychandi Hill (where Satyajit Ray's Hirak Rajar Deshey was shot) is also located nearby. Boranti Lake is located just 15 kms from Biharinath.

Best visit time: There is no definite time of visiting this destination, as the place attracts tourists throughout the year. If you love palash flower then February/March should be the ideal season.

Bishnupur (Bankura- 151 km. from kolkata)

Bishnupur

Bishnupur is a town and a municipality in Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. It is famous for its terracotta temples and the balucheri sarees.

Bishnupur was ruled under the Gupta period by local Hindu kings who paid tribute to Samudra Gupta[citation needed]. Following a long period of obscurity, where the land oscillated between being a minor independent principality and a vassal state. The land is also called Mallabhum after the Malla rulers of this place. The Malla rulers were Vaishnavites and built the famous terracotta temples during the 17th and 18th century at this place. The terracotta temples here are the best specimen of the classical style of Bengal architecture. The legends of Bipodtarini Devi are associated with Malla Kings of Bishnupur.

Bishnupur (the distance from Kolkata is 132 km), now the headquarters of the subdivision of the same name in Bankura district, is a seat of crafts and culture.

For almost a thousand years it was the capital of the Malla kings of Mallabhum, of which Bankura was a part, till their power waned during the times when Mughal Empire weakened under the last monarchs of the dynasty.

The patronage of Malla king Veer Hambir and his successors Raja Raghunath Singha Dev and Bir Singha Dev made Bishnupur one of the principal centres of culture in Bengal.Most of the exquisite terracotta temples for which town is justly famous were built during this period.

Mrinmoyee tample of kings is treated as a valuable historic place.

Apart from the unique architecture of the period, Bishnupur is also famous for its terracotta craft and its own Baluchari sarees made of tussar silk.

Royal patronage also gave rise to Bishnupur Gharana (school) of Hindustani classical music in late 18th-century and the Bishnupur school of painting.

Detail of terracotta relief from the Rasmancha

Terracotta plate found in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India

Terracotta temple found in Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal, India Since 1997, the temples of Bishnupur is on UNESCO World Heritage Site's Tentative list.

Bishnupur

Nearby attractions: You can visit Siddheswar Siva temple at Bahulara (25 kms from Bishnupur), the 900 year old Saileswar temple (8 kms from Bishnupur), the Panchmurah Village (10 kms from Bishnupur) where the famous terracotta statues are made and the riverside resort of Mukutmanipur (82 kms from Bishnupur). Bishnupur is also famous for Baluchari saris, so look for some shops that sell good baluchari saris. Traditional version of these saris is woven with Ramayana and Mahabharata images. If you are willing to buy some terracotta stuffs then visit the shops or visit Bankura for the famous terracotta horses.

Best visit time: Usually throughout the year but if you want to attend the Bishnupur fair, then you must go sometime between 23rd and 27th of December. Snake festival takes place in August, which is also very popular here. So, it is suggested to enjoy this place during winters.

Baranti (Purulia- 265 km. from kolkata)

Baranti

Boranti or Baranti is a beautiful village surrounded by hills and lakes just 265 kms away from Kolkata. Baranti is a small, quiet and scenic place. There is a 2 km long irrigation project dam, located between two small hillocks, Muradi Hill and Baranti Hill. Baranti is in the vicinity of Ramchandrapur Irrigation Project. One gets a grand view of the reservoir from Baranti.

It is a place where one can take a break from drudgery and daily monotony and simply rejuvenate one's mind and soul. It is part of the wonderful Rarh countryside.

The meandering village roads lead to nearby a forest, which is home to trees like teak and mahua. Boranti is the best place to shed off your stress. You can take nature walks along the Murardi Lake or through the forests and see the sun going down over the hills and lake. Nature is abundant in Boranti.

Baranti

Nearby attractions: You can also visit the famous Joychandi Hills just 21 kms away – this is the site where Satyajit Ray's 'Hirok Rajar Deshe' was shot. Other nearby attractions include Maithon Dam (39 kms) Kalyaneshwari Mandir (40 kms) and Susunia Hills (42 kms) from Boranti.

Best visit time: The rains in the forests of Baranti is beautiful and so are the winters when migratory birds visit Baranti. The blooming of Palash flowers in February is also a spectacle in Baranti.

Chechuria (Bankura- 170 km. from kolkata)

Chechuria

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.

The eco-sanctuary itself is a great place to see so many natural aspects.

You can enjoy some get together or a picnic in the picnic spot of the eco sanctuary. Plus, you can opt for boating in the huge water body or take a stroll inside the sanctuary and enjoy the unspoiled beauty of nature as well as fresh, pollution-free air.

chechuria

Nearby attractions: If you want you can take a trip to the town of Bishnupur and enjoy some great attractions there.

Best visit time: Throughout the year.

Duarsini (Purulia - 393 km. from kolkata)

Duarsini

Grab the opportunity to blend with nature in Duarsini, where you will find small hilltops covered with forests. Here you see a variety of trees like Shal, Teak, Mahua, Pial, Kusum, and Bahera. The beauty of the mountain river Satgudum leading to the tribal villages will enchant you. The adventure waiting for you in the forest will definitely make your weekend worth spending in Duarsini.

In Duarsini, you can travel to the various tribal houses in their villages, of course guided by some local. In the jungle you can even spot some wild animals. In the evening you can also sit in your bungalow and enjoy the sound of drums coming from the tribal villages.

The major attraction of this place is the villages of tribals like Santhal, Munda, Shabaradh, and Kheriya. Then the jungle is another interesting place to visit, where you see wild animals like bears, wild pig, and herds of elephants, hyena, and wolf, along with some known and unknown birds that can be seen here.

Duarsini

Nearby attractions: Galudi is a place that can be visited from Durasini, and from Galudi you can further travel to its nearby destinations. Another place is Bhalo Hills, which is some 3 km from Duarsini. Here you can see remnants of the culture of some past civilization.

Best visit time: The jungles are safe throughout the year except the rainy season.

Garpanchakot (Purulia - 256 km. from kolkata)

Garpanchakot

Garpanchkot features a number of sites having historical values. You can visit the remains of ancient palaces of kings, who used to rule the region. The site also houses the Temple of Pancharatna, the very name from which the name of the place has been derived. Lake of Murarodi also offers some spectacular views of the surrounding.








Garhpanchakot

Nearby attractions: The Panchet Dam one of the largest earthen dams with concrete spillway is a couple of kilometers from the resort. The beautiful 4,232 square mile lake formed due to the dam is a splendid place for a boat ride. Another popular touristic area is the Maithon Dam just 22 kms. from Garpanchkot. This 25 square mile reservoir has also been created by a 4700 m long and 50 m high dam on Barakar River. Few other interesting and scenic nearby destinations are the Joychandi Hills, Murardi lake.

Best visit time: You can visit the place any time of the year. However, rainy season makes it lush green.

Joypur Forest (Bankura - 140 km. from kolkata)

Joypur Forest

Joypur (community development block) (also spelled Jaypur, Jaipur) is an administrative division in Bishnupur subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Joypur police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Joypur.

This is a dense forest of 120 square kilometers with a watch tower to catch a glimpse of the greenery and the spotted deer – Cheethals. You would also find a good population of birds here – especially parrots. The forest vegetation mainly comprises Sal and Teak with few other trees like Amla and Bahera. Occasionally, during winters, you would also find wild elephants crossing the forest area.




Joypur Forest

Nearby attractions: The major attraction near Joypur Forest is the temple town of Bishnupur in Bankura District. Located just 14 kms ahead of Joypur Forest, this 17th century town of Bishnupur is dotted with terracotta temples and historical buildings all around. Some of the famous temples of Bishnupur are the Rasmancha, which is the oldest brick temple built by the legendary king Beer Humbeer in 1600 AD, the Pancha Ratna Temple built in 1643 AD built by King Raghunath Singha, the Jor Bangla temple built in 1655 AD by King Raghunath Singha Dev II, the Madanmohan Temple built in 1694 AD, the Lalji Temple built in 1658 AD and Nandalal Temple built in 17th century. All these temples built by Malla Kings were dedicated to Lord Krishna. However, the show stealer is the famous 3.8 meter long Dalmadal Cannon with a muzzle diameter of nearly 30 cms. which is said to have been used by the Malla Kings against the Marathas. You can also visit some of the temple ruins located around Bishnupur like the infamous Gumghar (torture chamber) of Malla Kings, the Lal Bandh lake, the Pathar Darwaja (main gateway of the town) and the Nutan Mahal.

Best visit time: You can visit Joypur Forest throughout the year. Here, winters are best for birdwatching and the rainy season covers the entire jungle in a lush greenery.

Muruguma (Purulia - 375 km. from kolkata)

Muruguma

Muruguma is a tribal village. It is situated on the boundary of Purulia and Jharkhand.

You can explore the nearby forest and catch a glimpse of the resident foxes. You can while away your time in the tents by chatting with people. You can also enjoy the campfire in the resort premises and the traditional dance performed by the tribal villagers for entertaining the tourists.








Muruguma

Nearby attractions: Kenkechi Hill is the nearby attraction of this tribal village. You need to cross a small mound and then walk along a village road to reach the hill. On your left side, you will find a beautiful lake known as Muruguma Lake.

Best visit time: The winter season is ideal for those who want to enjoy chilly nights. When you visit this place during the winter season, make sure you bring sufficient warm clothes as the temperature after sunset hovers around 5 to 6 degree Celsius and at night, it drops down to 3 degree Celsius.

Mukutmanipur (Bankura - 335 km. from kolkata)

Mukutmanipur

An escape to serenity is what describes Mukutmanipur perfectly. A weekend in this beautiful place is full of ultimate relaxation. With hills and forests surrounding a huge water body that changes its color in different seasons, Mukutmanipur is the right place for those who are looking for some adventure along with relaxation. Nestling at the confluence of two beautiful rivers, Kumari and Kangsabati, Mukutmanipur is located in Bankura district of West Bengal, India. It is located at the confluence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers close to the Jharkhand border.

This picturesque town of Mukutmanipur is a perfect place to leisure around. A small boat ride in the river is an excellent idea to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the surrounding. Moreover, a visit to the Bonpukuria Deer Park can help you see some rarest of seasonal bird species. Savor the local Bengali cuisines served at many eateries of the place. Enjoy drinking the authentic date juice, if you are visiting Mukutmanipur in winter.

Sabuj Bon

Nearby attractions: Among some nearby places of attraction are the palace of King Raicharan, Parshwanath Tila and the Statue of Pareshnath. Pareshnath Hills have quite a number of stone statues on top of it. Another very important landmark near Mukutmanipur is Ambikanagar which is a very old centre of Jain culture. You can make a trip to Jhilimili from Mukutmanipur, another attractive tourist spot. Cradled in nature's bounty, the natural beauty of Jhili mili offer feast for the eyes. The place attracts hoards of tourists every year.

Best visit time: You can visit Mukutmanipur during anytime of a year. During the monsoon (July and August) the lock gates of the dam generally remain open.

Susunia (Bankura - 203 km. from kolkata)

Susunia

Susunia is a hill of southern West Bengal, India. It is known for its holy spring, its natural beauty, its rich flora and the rock faces on which many of the famous mountaineers of this region started their journey. It is one of the rich reserves of medicinal plants. Susunia is a part of the Eastern Ghats and is situated at the north-western part of Bankura District.

The main attraction of Susunia hills is a stone edict that belongs to the period of Raja Chandra Varma. It is believed that Susunia hills once had the fort of the Raja. Moreover, the Gandheswari River flowing down the hill is another great place to watch out for. The mighty Susunia hill boasting a height of about 1500 feet is a wonderful site of historical inscriptions, by Raja Chandravama. The hill is also a renowned archeological site, yielding Stone Age tools. Susunia Hill is also a noteworthy site for tourists, who visit the destination to see "Dhara" (Natural Spring) & Silislipi.

You can also visit the other notable temples of Bankura, while touring Susunia, which include Gokul Chand Temple, Saileswar Temple, Temple of Radha Damodar Jew, Temple of Ratneswar and Temple of Shyam Sunder.

Susunia

Nearby attractions: The other major tourist attractions of Bankura District like the terracotta temples of Bishnupur and the Kansabati Dam at Mukumanipur can be visited from Susunia. Biharinath Hill, which lies on the north of Saltora Block is also nearby. Another notable nearby sightseeing destination is Jhilimili, located 70 km away from Bankura Town.

Best visit time: Throughout the year.

Garh Darwaja (Bankura)

Garh Darwaja

Garh Darwaja is a terracotta gateway situated in Bankura near Bishnupur, a destination famous for its terracotta masonry. Built during the rule of the Malla Kings, this gateway is also known as the Chota Patthar Darwaja or Small Gateway of Bishnupur.

Found overlooking the famous Radhakrishna Lalji Temple, Garh Darwaja is an arched terracotta structure with a plain exterior. At a short distance from this gateway lies another gateway which is larger in size and is known as the Bara Patthar Darwaja or Main Gateway of Bishnupur. Currently this gateway is not protected by the ASI and is thus not well maintained. Tourists can also do shopping for terracotta pottery, artefacts, jewellery and Balucheri saris close to this site.



Garh Darwaja

Nearby attractions: While visiting Garh Darwaja, one can also visit Gum Garh Execution Site, Bada Pathar Darwaja and Radhakrishna Lalji Temple, which are located nearby.

Best visit time: The best time to visit is during the annual four day Bishnupur Mela held around the last week of December.

Krishna-Balaram Temple (Bankura)

Krishna-Balaram Temple

Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple in the holy city of Vrindavan. It is one of the main ISKCON temples in India and internationally. Spiritual seekers and particularly devotees of Krishna from all over the world are seen here year-round, adding new color and life to this ancient holy city.

Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir was built in 1975 on the orders of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Even today, it is regarded as one of the most popular temples in Vrindavan.





Krishna-Balaram Temple

Nearby attractions: Radha Syamasundar at the temple on Radhastami and Samadhi Mandir, Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON, Vrindavan.

Best visit time: You can visit any time of the year.

Amarkanan And Koro Hill (Bankura)

Amarkanan and Koro Hill

Koro hill with a height of 400 feet is a popular tourist spot, located at a distance of 19 km from Bankura. There is also a temple of Savitri Devi on the top of the hill. Amarkanan is a village, developing into a semi-town, located at the foot of Koro Hill.









Amarkanan And Koro Hill

Nearby attractions: Attraction of Amarkanan is Sri Ram Krishna Seva Dal Ashram.Established by Sri Gobinda Prasad Singha, a zamindar and a GAndhian freedom fighter, this Ashrama was vsited by famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Kazi Nazrul Islam,Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Satish Dasgupta etc.

Best visit time: You can always be visited throughout the year.

Siddheswar Temple (Bankura)

Siddheswar TempleSiddheswar Temple

Siddheshwar or Siddarameswar also known as Siddhram was one among the five acharya of Lingayat (Veerashaivism). Siddheshwar was a great contributor to Lingayatism religion. He was a great mystic and a Kannada poet who was a part of Basavanna's Veerashaiva revolution during the 12th century. His philosophy was one of service to mankind, the path of karmayoga. Siddarama was instrumental in saving the vachana literature from destruction.

Siddharama (c.1150) claimed to have written 68,000 vachanas out of which only 1379 are available. Along with Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Devara Dasimayya and Channabasava, Siddharama is regarded as the most acknowledged and respected poets. Vachanakaras wrote in the genre of Veerashaivas, under Kannada literature from the mystic period. He shares the world view of other vachana poets in his rejection of blind conventions of caste and sex discrimination and emphasis on realization through personal experience. He too borrows Metaphors from diverse spheres of everyday life. Apart from vachanas,he has written several devotional works in tripadi. writing three-line verse, used from the 7th century.

Siddheswar Temple

Nearby attractions: You can visit the Shri.Siddheshwar Temple (Lake view) And Temple In Side View.

Best visit time: Throughout the year.

Joychandi Pahar (Purulia)

Joychandi Pahar

Joychandi Pahar is a hill which is a popular tourist attraction in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is three kilometres from the subdivisional town of Raghunathpur, Purulia district. It is on the Purulia – Barakar road, is a popular tourist centre and major attraction for rock climbing. Joychandi Pahar railway station is on the Asansol – Adra section of South Eastern Railway, in the state capital of Kolkata. The other rock climbing centre nearby is at Susunia Pahar.








Joychandi Temple

Nearby attractions: Joychandi pahar, Inside view of the Joychandi Pahar Railway's station, Joychandi Matar Mandir, Hanuman Mandir in the Joychandi Mountain.

Best visit time: You can always be visited throughout the year.

Deulghat (Purulia)

Deulghat

Deulghat, keeping up to its name, is the place where there are sanctuaries. The spot is home to around 15 sanctuaries close to the Kansai River. The cunningness striking construction modeling of the sanctuary, combined with elegant carvings, is one of the prime reasons why Deulghat is one of the most loved spots to visit in Purulia. The sanctuary mirrors the customary society of the contemporary individuals. Despite the fact that there is only demolishes left in the sanctuary, Deulghat still keeps on being a vital visitor focus. Deulghat is considered as a place where there are sanctuaries. The spot is home to give or take 15 sanctuaries that are near to the Kansai River. This district is known for the structural planning and the many-sided nature in carvings and enhancements in its sanctuaries.

Saheb Bandh (Purulia)

Saheb Bandh

A 50-section of Land Lake, Saheb Bandh acts like one of the perplexing areas in Purulia. Discussing the historical backdrop of the spot, it is accepted to have been fabricated amid the mid-19th century. It is accepted that convicts, at the impelling of Colonel Tikley, burrowed this water body. They began the procedure in the year 1843. It took five years for the water body to be built. Today a wonderful and mesmeric area, Saheb Bandh additionally goes about as a provisional home for transient feathered creatures. Amid the transitory season, feathered creatures fly from Baluchistan, Siberia and different places in Europe, to the spot. In this way, for birdwatchers, Saheb Bandh is a perfect retreat.

Cheliama (Purulia)

Cheliama

One of the well known visitor spots in Purulia, Cheliama is a heaven for students of history and archeologists, because of its rich history. The town has leftovers of the contemporary progress of the 17th century. The terracotta dolls and selective carvings around the sanctuaries of the locale vouch for the way that the town had been a vital point of interest amid the yesteryears. Aside from this, the surely understood Radha-Govinda Temple in Cheliama pulls in mass of travelers and is a central spot, delineating the Bengali society pervasive in the contemporary period.