By bus - Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC) and South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) buses ply regularly between Dharmatala/ Esplanade bus stand of Kolkata and Bishnupur. It takes about 4-5 hours to reach Bishnupur.The road distance is shorter than the rail distance, it is about 150 km.
By road - From Kolkata travel to Dankuni, take the Durgapur Expressway, at Ratanpur crossing turn left and take the Sheoraphuli-Tarakeswar road, go straight through to Arambagh and Bishnupur.
By train - It takes about 3:30 to 4:15 hours from Kolkata, distance 201 km. Convenient connections - Rupashi Bangla Express departing Howrah at 6 am, Purulia Express departing Howrah at 4.45 pm and Aranyak Express departing Shalimar at 7.45 am. To come by Aranyak Express from Howrah to Bishnupur,1st one has to come at Santragachi by local train & then by Aranyak Express.All these trains are via Kharagpur,Midnapur. You can also opt for Howrah-Chakradharpur passenger which leaves Howrah at 23:05 hrs. This train has sleeper class provision.
Other option, come at Kharagpur/Midnapur/Bardhman/Durgapur by train form Howrah.Then by bus.
One can also take a bus to Midnapore or Arambag and then change over to another local bus to Bishnupur which are more or less frequently available every 30 - 45 minutes. Arambag is about 3 hours and Midnapore about 3 1/2 hours by bus from Bishnupur.
By cycle rickshaw because it is a small place. Many of the temples are near each other. Most are within walking distance of one another. Cars and auto-rickshaw are also available on hire.
Bishnupur being a temple town, the focus is on temples, all built of terracota during the reign of the Malla kings, who ruled over the area prior to the arrival of the British. Please note that Archaeological Survay of India (ASI) maintains most of the sites of Bishnupur. So it levies a minimum entry fee for the sites. The amountis Rs 5 for Indian citizens and Rs 100 (Probably) for foreigners. It also levies a fee for video photography (still photography is free). The good thing is that with a single ticket, one can visit all the sites of Bishnupur maintained by ASI. The counter is located near the entrance of Rash Mancha. So it is better to start from Rash Mancha. The sights other than temples are also listed below:
Jorbangla Temple of Keshta Rai - Built by King Raghunath Singha Dev II in the 17th century. The ornate terracotta carvings are set off by the roof in the classic chala style of Bengal architecture.
Shyamrai Temple
Nandalal Temple
Radhamadhab Temple
Kalachand Temple
Radhagovinda Temple
Sarbamangala
Shyamrai Temple or Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Rai - Built in 1643 by King Raghunath Singha. The walls are richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring aspects of Lord Krishna’s life. It is one of the largest temples.
Krishna-Balaram Temple
Mrinmoyee Temple
Radhashyam Temple
Madanmohan Temple- King Durjana Singh Deva built the temple in 1694 AD in the ekaratna style, a square flat-roofed building with carved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle. Impressive carvings on the walls depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas.
Rasmancha - Oldest brick structure. Built in 1587 by Bir Hambir is a pyramidal structure in the centre of the town, where the deities from the other temples are brought in a procession on the occasion of the Rasa Festival. There are some cannons of the Malla kings in the area.
Rasmancha
Dalmadal Caman - supposed to have protected Bishnupur when the Bargis (Maratha warriors) attacked from the west.
Lalbandh
Gumgarh - the place of no return.
Pathar Darja (Main Gateway of Bishnupur)
Garh Darja (Small Gateway of Bishnupur)
Stone Chariot
Nutan Mahal
The memorial of Shreenibas Acharya
Most of these awe inspiring and wonderful work of art in terracota have been lost out of sheer neglect, antique theft and vagaries of the weather over centuries. Some are protected and cared for now and protected as noticed. It is best to hire a rickshaw and go about visiting them as nearly all are within a diameter of 4 kms. Takes about 3 hours to see most of them. Ideal time to visit would be during the cooler climes as generally Bishnupur is a hot place and was pretty uncomfortable during a visit Aug '12 though there was moderately good rainfall.
Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal 2, Brabourne Road Kolkata - 700 001 Phone: +91-33-2225-4565/8183/4723-25 Fax:+91-33-2225-4565 E-mail: dtwbtour@vsnl.net
Tourism Centre, 3/2 B.B.D. Bag (East) Kolkata - 700 001 Phone: +91-33-2248 8271/5168 2210-3199, 2243-7260 Fax: +91-33-2248 5168
Tourism Centre, M-4 Building, Hill Cart Road Siliguri, Dist: Darjeeling Ph: +91-353-2511974, 2511979, Telefax: +91-353-2517561
It is also a great centre for music - the Bishnupur gharana is well known in classical music. Look out for opportunities, check where you stay, if you are an Indian classical music fan.
Bankura Horse- now the symbol of Indian handicrafts - available both in the terracota and wood versions.
Baluchari Saris- another famous Bishnupur product. Traditionall woven with Ramayana and Mahabharata symbols but modern versions are also available.
Conch shell beads and items.
'"New Krishna Cloth Store'" Chawk Bazar Bishnupur, Collection Of Baluchari Sarees
There are plenty of shops you can walk into, but in case you are unable to locate one, here is a short guide: 1) Terracota Crafts, Dalmadal Road. 2) Shri Hari Sankha Bhandar, Shankharipara. 3) Maa Durga Sankha Bhandar, Shankharipara, 4) Silk Khadi Seva Mandlal in the Baltala area sells silks.
Bishnupur is a small town. One can find various small eateries in and around the temples as well as near the main bus stand. However, one should try Posto-r Bora, if you visit Bishnupur
You may also try various fried food like Chicken Chops & pakodas, several other "chops" made from potato, brinjal etc., chicken rolls, chow mein etc. which is good, filling and tasty as snacks in a small shop (of about 100 sq. ft/10 sq. mtr) on the right hand side, between Hotel Laxmi Park and SBI which is a 50 metre strip, just after you cross Hotel Monalisa keeping it to your left, near a crossing with traffic lights 30 metres off Jadubhatta Mancha (or auditorium); the quality of cooking medium used is good. Also promise you never forget the taste of Sweets Near Sibdas Girls school prepared from pure Ghee.
If you want a simple bengali lunch with posto bora, Hotel Monalisa is the place to go.
Hotel Laxmi Park with AC & Non AC Rooms (39 Room) @ 200,300,450,700,800,900,1100,1300,1800 as single, Double, three and four bed with a restaurant food as indian, chainess, tandur, with room service. ICICI Bank and SBI ATM available (3244) 256353/256377, +91 9474930666. Although the hotel has good infrastructure, the behavior of the staff leaves much to be desired.
Bishnupur Lodge (Tourist Lodge) of West Bengal Tourism (near rash mancha). Double bed,4 bed and dormitories available here.Rooms Rs. 600 and AC-1400, 2000. Dormitory Rs. 100. Contact +91 (3244) 252 013, +91(3244) 253 561, +91 9732100950.
Tourist Lodge
Monalisa Lodge Rs 250-500.+91 98310 31895. This is at a walking distance from the bus stand and roughly opposite SBI off Jadubhatta Mancha crossing.
Hotel Bishnupur Rs. 200-500. Telephone +91 (3244) 252 243
Udayan Lodge College Road, Rs. 250-600 (3244) 252243. This is just beside the Government Tourist Lodge and is PROBABLY also known as Hotel Bishnupur if one is not mistaken
Dev & Dev Lodge Balipara (Rabindra Statue) Contact - +919434392072
Mallabhum Lodge Rasikgang(Near Bus Stand) Contact - +919434224896, Ph:-03244-252765
Some new lodges and hotels have come up/ are coming up near (about 150 metres away and towards the station on the main road from) the Government Tourist Lodge as seen in August 2012 and they are in the range of Rs. 200 - Rs. 500. The "Lodges" off the bus stand are usually economic staying places used mainly by touring professionals/sales representatives and may not always be suitable for families or a couple. One such lodge is Mallabhum Lodge, beside Meghamallar Lodge. They have no in house food kitchen system currently (Aug'12).
From the railway station the Government Tourist Lodge is about 3.5 kms (Rs. 35 - 40 rickshaw fare) and the bus stop is about 2 kms (Rs. 20 - 25 by rickshaw) as found in VIII/12.
Bahulara - 25 km. from Bishnupur, it is famous for the Siddheswar Siva temple.
Dihar – 8 km from Bishnupur, it is famous for the Saileswar temple, about nine hundred years old.
Panchmura – about 10 km from Bishnupur, the village where they make the famous terracotta horses.
Jairambati and Kamarpukur - 43 km. from Vishnupur are Jairambati and Kamarpukur, birthplaces of Sri Ma Saradamoui and Sri Ramakrishna Pramahansa. Near Kamarpukur is the historic Garh Mandaran, made famous by Bankim Chandra chatterjee.
Mukutmanipur - about 83 km from Bishnupur, by the side of the river Kangsabati. The main attraction is the dam across the river and the hilly landscape. Places of stay: Tourist Lodge and a Youth Hostel and a private hotel. Hotel Amravati and Shonajhuri are two more hotels there.
Bankura - 30 km from Vishnupur, the district headquarters town.
Susunia Pahar - one of the important hills in the district, rising abruptly from the neighbouring plains to a height of 44 metres. Stone inscriptions of Chandravarma, a 4th century king, have been discovered here. From Bankura on the Bankura-Purulia road, one has to alight at Chhatna on the 13th km. Susunia is 7 km. north of Chhatna.
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
