Bishnupur at a glance:

Coordinates:23.0679° N, 87.3165° E

Things to do in Bishnupur

A small town in West Bengal famous for its terracotta temples, Bishnupur is famous among tourists especially for its rich culture including architecture music and handicraft. Housing temples of great cultural importance and some amazing places to visit for retreat, Bishnupur is proving to be a great weekend getaway. The distance from Kolkata to Bishnupur is 202 km and is a perfect place to visit with a lot of things to do over a weekend trip.

How to reach Bishnupur:

By Air: There are no regular flights from other major cities of the country to Bishnupur. The nearest airport to Bishnupur is Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport.

By Rail: Bishnupur is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains.

By Road: Instead of Bishnupur, you can get a bus to Panagarh on a regular basis.

Places to Visit in and around Bishnupur

Biharinath Hill

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The tallest hill in this region, Biharinath hill is situated 97 km away from Bishnupur town. This hill is a place to visit as it is an ancient centre of Jainism and the place is known for its beautiful surroundings. People from many regions flock here to relax.

Hadal-Narayanpur

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Located on the banks of the Bodai River, the twin-villages of Hadal-Narayanpur is famous for the Mandal family terracotta temples that comprise of Barataraf, Mejotaraf and the Chhototaraf temples. At a distance of 50kms from the main centre of Bishnupur, this place is a must visit with its many fascinating featurettes in temples and old constructions.

Jhilimili

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Located around 97 km from Bishnupur, this place is famous for its dense forests and natural beauty. There is a watchtower here which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The river Kangsabati flows through this forest area and the banks of this river are an ideal place to visit for a picnic spot.

Jorebangla Temple

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Built by Malla King Raghunath Singh in 1655 AD, this temple made of laterite bricks has an appearance of two thatched huts joined together and surmounted by a single tower. Some of the carved designs of the Royal lifestyles, stories depicting the epics, historical scenes from the battles, etc. are found on the walls and on the roof of the temple.

Joyrambati

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A tourist village located in Bankura district, Joyrambati is a famous place to visit as it was the birthplace of Sree Sarada Devi who is worshipped as the Holy Mother by the followers of Sri Ramakrishna.

Lalji Temple

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This laterite Eka-Ratna temple was built in 1658 by Bir Singha II of Malla dynasty on a square raised plinth which consists of ornamental stucco decorations on low relief carvings. In front of the Lalji temple is a Natmandir or dancing hall. It is dedicated to Sri Radhika and Sri Krishna.

Mukutmanipur

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Another important tourist village in this area, Mukutmonipur is a famous place to visit for its earthen dam which is the 2nd largest such dam in India. This place is located about 70 km from Bishnupur. This is a famous spot in the region.

Other Important Temples

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There are a total of 16 Terracotta temples of this period. Apart from the above mentioned temples, some of the other important places to visit are Chhinnamasta Temple, Kalachand Temple, Krishna-Balaram Temple, Mrinmayee Temple, Pancha Ratna Temple, Patpur Temple and Sarbamangala.

Radha Shyam Temple

Pic.Credit:Chitrolekha

Built by King Chaitanya Singha in 1758, the temple has a dome shaped sikhara with stucco motifs that depicts floral, geometric and life of puranas. This temple is known for its terracotta style of architecture and is dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Rasmancha

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The oldest brick temple, Rasmancha was commissioned by Malla King Bir Hambir in 1600 CE. The temple has one inner chamber housing the idols of Radha-Krishna.

Susunia Hill

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Located 63 km away from Bankura town, this is a very important tourist spot here. This hill is famous for its natural Spring and Shilalipi. One can do a lot of things which includes trek around this place.

What to Eat in Bishnupur

Local Food and Cuisine

Bishnupur is famous for its local sweet Mecha Sandesh, Pera and Postor Bora that you must savor, while in town. Other than this one can relish the delicious Chicken chops and Pakoras made from potato, onion, brinjal etc. Among drinks, Mahua is a local drink which is popular and widespread. There are no fancy restaurants here, but there are a number of eating joints which would serve you decent North Indian and Bengali food. Most of the hotels also have their own eateries and provide good food and even hard drinks are available.