Bankura
Introduction
Bankura is a city and municipality in West Bengal, India, and serves as the headquarters of the Bankura district. If your travels take you through this part of the state, the city is the administrative centre for the surrounding district.
Before you go
Bankura is a district town in West Bengal, and the practical information available for it is limited, so plan to confirm local arrangements on arrival rather than relying on a detailed guidebook.
Getting there
Bankura is most easily reached by bus, with both private and state transport services running to the town. Buses connect Kolkata with Bankura, and regular services also run from Malda, Siliguri, Purulia, Medinipur, Kharagpur, Tatanagar and Ranchi. The SBSTC Bus Stand and Garage is the main bus terminal.
By rail, Bankura Junction is a major station on the Kharagpur–Adra line and the western terminus of the Bankura Damodar Railway from Masagram. From Howrah you can take trains such as the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, Rupasi Bangla, Purulia Express, Chakradharpur Passenger or Samarsata Express, while the Puri Express, Baidyanath Dham Express and Guwahati–Puri Express also pass through Bankura. Passenger trains such as the Tatanagar–Kharagpur and Asansol–Kharagpur services link the town with other railheads in the region. By air, the nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Durgapur, though it has only a few flights; Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is the nearest airport for a smooth journey to Bankura.
Getting around
Bankura is a compact city, so getting around the centre is straightforward. Rickshaws are the standard option for local travel, and walking works well for short hops in the central area.
For longer journeys, Bankura Junction is the city's railhead, on the Adra–Kharagpur route and the western terminus of the Bankura Damodar Railway from Masagram, with computerized reservation facilities at the station. Buses are described as the most convenient way to reach the city, and the SBSTC Bus Stand and Garage is the main point of arrival and departure, with services to Kolkata and regional towns. Because the district's attractions are spread out, sightseeing generally means day trips by road, using the highway network that connects the outlying areas. Plan around the weather: the cool season is still very warm, the months from March to October are hot to sweltering, and the monsoon brings heavy rain.
Where to stay
Bankura's hotels are concentrated in the town centre and along the main approach roads, so you can pick a base within easy reach of the bus stands and the sights. Near Rastala Bus Stand on Noongola Road, Hotel Siddharth suits arrivals by bus who want to drop their bags quickly. In Chandmaridanga, Hotel Saptaparna sits on Avinash Sarani, while Hotel Saptarishi is in Lalbazar; both are run by the same hotel group, so you can expect a similar standard at either. Rajmahal Hotel is another central option.
Book ahead if you are travelling in a group or arriving late, and confirm your room directly with the hotel before you set out.
Food & drink
Bankura has its own sweet specialities worth seeking out. Mecha sandesh is the local favourite, with the Beliator version the more renowned, while pera is better known at Chatna; both can be found in Bankura city as well. If you have a sweet tooth, head to Bhairab Mishtanna Vandar.
For savoury meals, a few good restaurants serve all kinds of food at cheap prices, including Hotel Saptarshi in Lalbazar and Saptaparna and Classic, both in Chandmaridanga.
When to go
Bankura has a tropical savanna climate, and the most comfortable time to travel around the district is the cool season. Despite the name, conditions are still very warm rather than genuinely cool, but this is the mildest stretch of the year and the best window for being outdoors and moving between sights.
Outside that window, temperatures run hot to sweltering, peaking just before the rains arrive. The monsoon is concentrated from June through September, when the district's rainfall falls, bringing wet, humid days and possible disruption to your travel plans. If you visit during these months, build some flexibility into your itinerary.
Three days in Bankura
Day one: Arrive in Bankura, the district town in West Bengal, India. If you come by train, Bankura Junction connects you to Kolkata and onward to places such as Adra, Asansol and Purulia, while the Bankura Damodar Railway line serves the surrounding area. Buses from Kolkata, Malda, Siliguri, Purulia, Medinipur, Kharagpur, Tatanagar and Ranchi also reach the town, with the SBSTC Bus Stand and the Garage as your main arrival points. From Howrah, services such as the Rupasi Bangla, Purulia Express and Chakradharpur Passenger are among the trains you can take. Once in town, rickshaws are the easy way to get around, so settle in and spend the rest of the day getting your bearings.
Day two: Give the day to the town itself, moving between its markets and streets by rickshaw. Bankura is your base for the district, and the town's everyday life is the thing to take in at an unhurried pace. Keep the afternoon free for wandering, and plan your onward movements for the following day.
Day three: Use your last day to travel further afield within the region. Trains from Bankura Junction run towards Adra, Asansol and Purulia, and the Bankura Damodar Railway serves the local line. If you are flying out, Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Durgapur and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport are the nearest airports. Buses back towards Kolkata, Medinipur, Kharagpur and beyond leave from the SBSTC Bus Stand, so check your connection before you set off.