How do you picture a holiday trip? If it’s more about nature and serenity, and less about the hustle and bustle of city, Mukutmanipur can turn out to be a great travel destination for you. Situated at Bankura district in West Bengal, the place has greenery, rivers and hills, making it an amazing place for nature lovers to spend a weekend. It’s a small yet serene place that you can cover in two days.
Visiting Mukutmanipur is a welcome change from the humdrum of city life.
You can reach Mukutmanipur by rail as well as road. If you choose a train journey, you have to get down at Bankura station.When I visited the place as a family tour, we chose a road trip to Mukutmanipur  from Kolkata and came across beautiful landscapes on the way comprising lush green rice fields, forests, lakes and villages. If you choose to reach the place by road, your vehicle will prove to be quite helpful when you are in Mukutmanipur as some areas there don’t have many options for local commutation.Roads connecting Kolkata to Mukutmanipur are quite well-maintained and smooth. It takes 4-5 hours from Kolkata to reach there via road.
Places to Visit at Mukutmanipur
Although the place doesn’t offer you a lot of places to visit, however, the few places in this small town are tranquil and rejuvenating to see. Here are the four places wevisited during our trip:
1. Ambikanagar Temple
Ambikanagar Temple is situated in the Ambikanagar village, which is at a distance of about 5 km from Mukutmanipur. Maa Ambika is one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is worshiped as Maa Ambika in the village of Ambikanagar. It is considered that Maa Ambika is worshipped here from the last 700 years. According to the local inhabitants, Maa Ambika is an ‘alive’ Goddess.
2. Kangsabati Dam
The second largest earth dam of India, the Kangsabati Dam was built over the Kangsabati River in 1956. Here you can see a huge, spectacular water body surrounded by forests and hills. The river is extremely picturesque and awe-inspiring.
From here, you can take a boat trip to visit the Pareshnath Shiv Mandir and Bonpukuria Deer Park. The temple and the park are situated at different locations along the bank of Kangsabati River, which means you need to take three boat trips –from the dam to Pareshnath Shiv Mandir, from Pareshnath Shiv Mandir to Bonpukuria Deer Park, and from Bonpukuria Deer Park to the dam again (where you started).
Travelling in the boat surrounded by the vast expanse of water, is a breathtaking experience. Far along the river bank, you can see hills and forests, adding to the scenic beauty. The cool breeze, tranquility, and stillness that’s interrupted by the motor running in the boat, makes the journey peaceful and relaxing.
3. Pareshnath Shiv Mandir
Situated on a hill, the Pareshnath Shiv Mandir is a peaceful temple dating back to the ancient times. The temple is abode of Lord Shiva deity.A local shopkeeper told us that the temple was established by the king of Ambikanagar. The view of the place from the temple is incredible.
4. Bonpukuria Deer Park
The Bonpukuria Deer Park is set amidst a forest like environment. To reach the Deer Park, you have to hire a motor driven van. With trees on both sides, the way to the park would be loved by any ardent nature lover. The fresh air carries the smell of wildflowers or plants, which is quite alien to city dwellers like us. And the colorful butterflies flying here and there are a delight to watch!
On reaching the park entrance, a group of village kids came to us requesting to buy bunches of tree leaves from them to feed the deers in the park. We bought a few bunches and headed to the park to find the beautiful deers. The deers seemed quite friendly and feeding them leaves is indeed an amazing experience.
In a nutshell, Mukutmanipur is a place that lets you tune into nature. It relaxes and invigorates you. So, if the chaos of the city has left you drained out and you’re looking for a short trip to unwind and enjoy some moments of tranquility amidst nature, head for Mukutmanipur. You’ll surely enjoy. Happy journey!
Note: All Images are taken by the Author.
