Mukutmanipur (Bankura, West Bengal)

Mukutmanipur West Bengal’s own heaven lies in hilly region of Bankura District. In moonlit nights its enchanting beauty mesmorises people and make them to sit spell bound and watch till morning. A combination of small hills, fountains, eucalyptus as well as Kumari and Kangsabati Dam makes Mukutmanipur one of the few places in West Bengal where you can enjoy the serenity of Jungle, adventure of hilly landscape and soothing of vast water body. The 86 Square Kilometre water tank curved from Kangsabati by 11 Kilometre long and 38 Meter high Dam looks so vast that from places you would not be able to find the other side bank. The water tank looks beautiful in the time of sunset, it takes a crimson violet colour with the setting sun and as darkness is about to take reign of the dam, road lights along the dam creates a dreamy ambience.

Three Kilometres by the local muddy path and Six Kilometers following the dam top road one can visit a very ancient Lord Shiva Linga on a small hill top and Jain deity Parshanath Swami made out of Chlorite Stone. The most spectacular experience a tourist can enjoy is a boat ride in Kangsabati river. There is a deer park at Banpukuria a small island crossing the confluence of Kangsabati and Kumari river that might be of interest to a visitor to Mukutmanipur. Banpukuria can easily be reached by taking a boat ride from Mukutmanipur. Even if Deers are illusive the boat ride itself is enjoyable enough to consider and furthermore on the way to Banpukuria one can also see many birds either flying or floating on Kangsabati.

Well known Jain site Ambika Nagar is another place of heritage and culture located near Mukutmanipur. It’s four kilometres away from Gorabari. Apart from the temples of goddess Ambika and Sabitri, the castle of King Raicharan Dhabal might be of interest to a visitor to Ambika Nagar. However time took a toll on the castle and a little is left. There is a Durga Temple at Ambika Nagar which is considered to be over 1000 years old. One can also visit Susunia a seventy kilometre drive from Mukutmanipur and would consider himself enriched; credit goes to the explicit natural beauty of the place.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Mukutmanipur has many nearby worth to visit places like Jhilimili, Sutan, Ranibadh and Duarsini, however owing to Maoist disturbances these places are better to be avoided from your agenda while visiting Mukutmanipur. This is not a minor caution since local people as well as government officials feel the same.