Site Name: Bankura.
Site Type: Temples.
Location: Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. Bankura is located
at 23.25°N 87.07°E.
Nearest Airport: Kolkata (180 km) is the nearest airport to Bankura.
How to Reach: By
bus, road or train from Kolkata.
Well
connected to Durgapur (45km) by road. Private and state transport buses are
most convenient.
From
Howrah (Kolkata), trains like Rajdhani Express (Bhubaneswar Rajdhani), Rupasi
Bangla, Purulia Express, Chakradharpur Passenger, Samarsata Express (Howrah to
LTT)-(Bi-weekly) are available. Puri Express( Puri-New Delhi), BaidyanathDham
Express (Patna-Puri), Guwahati-Puri Express also run via Bankura. Passenger
trains like Tatanagar-Kharagpur, Asansol-Kharagpur connect Bankura with major
railheads in this region.
Buses
run between Kolkata and Bankura. Regular bus services are also available for
Malda, Siliguri, Purulia, Medinipur, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Ranchi etc.
Hotel:
History:
In
the Mahabharata, Bankura was described as Suhmobhumi. The word Larh or Rarh (in
nagari: rāḍh) was
introduced after 6th century A.D. It comes from the old Austric word ráŕhá or
ráŕho which means “land of red soil”; it is worth noting that in ancient times
"China called Ráŕh by the name of “Láti”". In Santali, lar means
thread, rarh means tune and larh means snake. Perhaps the Jain and Greek
scholars used this original Austric word Larh to indicate this dry forest
region which was very difficult to access that time. The popularity of Manasa
Puja, the worship of Snake-Goddess Manasa, proves this opinion might have some
relevance. According to Nilkantha, a famous commentator of the Mahabharata,
both the words Suhmo[bhumi] (sanskrit: suhma-bhūmi) and Rarh, are synonymous.
Scholars
differs in their opinion about the etymology of the name Bankura. In the words
of the Kol-Mundas, orah or rah means habitation. Many places of Rarh are named
with the an added rah at the end of the name. One of the most influential God
of the district Dharmathakur is called Bankura Roy. The name of the district
may come from his name. Linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterjee thinks that the name
came from the word Banka (zig-zag), and its word-corruption Banku, which means
extremely beautiful, and he who must be worshiped. In 1979, the word
“Bancoorah” was found in the map of Renal. In 1863, Gastrel referred this
region as Bancoonda.
Look:
Tourism in Bankura
Bankura has
gained much popularity among the tourists hailing from different places in
India. The place has a rich cultural and traditional heritage. It is famous for
its paintings, music and other forms of arts. It has gained lot of popularity
among the tourists from all over India due to the beautiful locations and some
historical destinations. The place has contributed great deal towards modern
Bengal art and architecture. You can see the beautiful terracotta art and
architecture in Bankura. The tourist spots of Bankura can mainly divided into
four zones.
Eastern Zone
Jor Mandir
Bishnupur is one of the important tourist spot of Bankura district.
It is 152 kilometer away from Kolkata and 34 kilometer away from Bankura Town.
This place has an historical impotence as it was the capital of Mallabhum. It
is very famous for terracotta temples and Baluchari sarees. It is also popular
for classical music dalmadal and painting. There are approximately 16
temples,most of which are made in the decade of Mallaraja. Important temples of
Bishnupur are Jor Mandir, Rasmancha, Radhamadhab Temple, Kalachand Temple,
Madan Mohan Temple, Radha-Gobinda Temple and Shyam Ray Temple.
Joyrambati,another tourist spot of Bankura is 98 kilometer
away from Kolkata. It is a holy place as it was the Birthplace of Sree Sree Maa
Sarada Devi. Temple of Singha Bahani Devi and Mayerepukur are also visiting
sites.
Western Zone
Susunia Hill
Susunia Hill is
another very important tourist spot of Bankura District. It is 50[9] kilometer
away from Bisnupur and 21 kilometer away from Bankura town. It is famous for
natural Spring and Silalipi. Susunia hill is quite popular as trekking spot
both inside & out side of Bankura district. It is also an important tourist
spot for the people who visit the place to see "Dhara" (Natural
Spring) & SilialipiBeharinath Hill
Beharinath Hill,
the tallest hill(448 Meter)[7] of Bankura District. It is situated in the
north-western edge of Bankura District. It is 57 kilometer away from Bankura
Town. It was an ancient center of Jainism. This place is Famous for its natural
Beauty. Biharinath offers hills, dense forest,water bodies, river Damodar,
Renowned temple of Lord Shiva,Green unpolluted nature with salubrious
atmosphere.Now Biharinath can boast for its advancement in tourism with a
proper accommodation having A.C rooms and other modern amenities for today's
tourist. Biharinath Hill is on the north of Saltora Block, tallest in the
district (448 metre) stands guard on the north-western edge, a famous place of
tourism and at the foot of the hill a small tank mesuring 0.50 ha. can be
accommodated with a anglins facilities for recreation of the touring people
near by a temple.
South Zone
Mukutmonipur Dam
Mukutmonipur is another important tourist spot of Bankura
District. It is 55[9] kilometer away from Bankura District Headquarter. It is
the Second biggest earther dam of India.[7] This place is very famous for its
natural beauty and bluish tract of water.
Mukutmonipur - The second biggest
earther Dam of India, Mukutmonipur is 55Km away from Bankura District Head
Quarter and situated in the confluence of river Kangsabati and Kumari. Green
forest surround the vast bluish tract of water, Hillocks are essentially a
dream come here. The place is very much famous for its superb natural beauty.
The undulating terrain along the southern edge of the Kangsabati Water
Reservoir spreads as a three-dimensional necklace of green and Terracotta
colour. The stand-till water of the reservoir look like a large blue tinted
glass mirror reflecting the vast expanse of sky over it. The vastness of the
lake stretches as far your eye can reach. The view of the sunset with the lake
on the four ground is breath taking . You must also experience the moonlit
night around the reservoir . The surface of the static water turns into a shiny
silvery plate gifted by God.Jhilimili
Jhilimili is
another tourist spot,70 kilometer away from Bankura Town.The Beauty of this
place is lies in its dense natural forest. Jhilimili is situated 70 Km away from Bankura Town of us beauty of an
undisturbed dense natural forest. A travel from Ranibund to Jhilimili offers a
wonderful exposure to spectacular forest of varying heights on both sides on the
route, and finally reaching Jhilimili mounted on the top of a hillock. The
sparkle of micaceous soil adds to the beauty of the environment.
Northern Zone
Durgapur Barrage (Gandoa
Dam)
Make:
Mukutmonipur- Jhilimili circuit has become the most
attractive tourist site in Bankura District. Another great historical place
Betur is situated here. Here Betaitola (which is 1200 years old) and
Dhamsadanga (King Asoka had erected a stupa here; later the stupa was removed
to a unknown place) is situated here. One can travel from Bardhaman to
rasulpure more, can reach Betur by local rickshaw, it is only 5 km. Otherwise
across the Bankura-Rainagar BDR raiway track one can find Betur as a station. Betur
is also known as a hiding place for independence activists. A number of
Swadeshi followers were arrested from Betur village.
Shop:
Bankura is terracota country. Not are there artictically
designed terracota panels on temple walls, some depicting Ramayana and Mahabharata
themes, but simple terracota items as wall plates and ash trays are readily
available. The famous Bankura horse, now the symbol of Indian handicrafts, is
available in various sizes, ranging from less than a feet to around three feet tall. With mounting tourist demand wood-carved versions are also available.
Bishnupur baluchari saris are wonderfully handcrafted.
Food:
Bankura has its own sweetmeat speciality - mecha sandesh
which is available better at Beliator.
Another popular sweet PERA,which is available at Chatna.
There are a few but good resturants like Hotel
Saptarshi(Lalbazar), Saptaparna (Chandmaridanga), Temptation (Katjuridanga)
where all kinds food are available at a cheap price.
The most popular drink is Mahua which is available in plenty
in the hilly area of bankura , speciafically on th ewestern side of Bankura .
Drink:
Hard drinks are generally available in the hotels.
Directions kolkata to Bankura 137km in Google Satellite
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