Bishnupur
বিষ্ণুপুর
Bankura district · Tagore Country & Rarh
Terracotta temples of the Malla kings.
About Bishnupur
Bishnupur was the capital of the Malla kings, who built a remarkable group of brick and laterite temples decorated with terracotta panels between the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also known for Baluchari saris, Dokra metalwork, terracotta horses and its classical music tradition (the Bishnupur gharana).
Highlights
- Rasmancha, Jor Bangla and Shyamrai temples
- Terracotta panels depicting epics and daily life
- Baluchari sari weaving
- Dokra and terracotta crafts
Plan your trip
- Best time
- October to March. The Bishnupur Mela is held in December.
- How to reach
- Bishnupur railway station; roughly 3 to 4 hours from Howrah by train, about 130 km from Kolkata by road via Bankura route.
- Suggested stay
- 1 to 2 days
- Distance from Kolkata
- About 140 km by road
- Travel time
- 3.5 to 4 hours
- Nearest railway station
- Bishnupur
- Budget
- Budget
- Food
- Posto dishes and Bishnupur’s motichur laddu.
- Culture
- Baluchari weaving, dokra and the Bishnupur gharana of classical music.
A suggested plan
- Day 1: Rasmancha, Jor Bangla and Shyamrai temples
- Day 2: Madan Mohan temple, the weavers and the terracotta horse makers of Panchmura
Nearby and related destinations
- Susunia & Bikna: A forested hill, an ancient inscription and a dokra village. (about 220 km from Kolkata, nearest station Chhatna or Bankura)
- Gongoni: A red-earth gorge on the Shilabati. (about 170 km from Kolkata, nearest station Garbeta)
- Kamarpukur & Jayrambati: The birthplaces of Sri Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi. (about 100 km from Kolkata, nearest station Goghat or Tarakeswar, then by bus)
- Shantiniketan: Rabindranath Tagore's university town. (about 160 km from Kolkata, nearest station Bolpur Shantiniketan)
Part of these guides
Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.