In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Amarkanan
Amarkanan is a half-day stop for the reservoir and hills, not a base. One night if you want the forest bungalow calm; otherwise pass through on the Bankura–Durgapur road.
Amarkanan is a small town in Bankura district, West Bengal, known for its reservoir and low hills. It works as a quiet stop between Bankura (22 km) and Durgapur (39 km) — enough for a picnic, a short walk and a meal. Most travellers use it as a lunch break or a single night at the forest bungalow.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, leeches on trails)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Bankura–Amarkanan, one way | ₹40–60 |
| Tea at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple meal (rice, dal, sabji) | ₹80–150 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
- About 3.5 h by road; the nearest major airport.
Typical fares
- Bus Bankura–Amarkanan
- about ₹50, 30 min
- Auto-rickshaw Amarkanan–Biharinath
- about ₹400 for the group (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or hire a local auto-rickshaw. The town is small enough to cover on foot.
See and do
Known for
- Amarkanan reservoir
- Forest bungalow stay
- Hills and walking trails
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Biharinath | Local bus or hired car, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Baranti | Local bus or hired car, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Susunia | Local bus or hired car, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Bankura | SBSTC bus or private minibus, about 30 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Near the reservoir
- Forest bungalow and Sri Ramkrishna Seva Dal Ashram Guest House; basic, quiet.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Goodbye | নমস্কারnomoshkar |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much? | কত?koto |
| Where is the bus stop? | বাস স্টপ কোথায়?bas stop kothay |
| I need a room | আমার একটা ঘর দরকারamar ekta ghor darkar |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs in Amarkanan; carry cash from Bankura or Durgapur.
- Monsoon leeches on the trails: wear long socks and closed shoes.
- Forest bungalow booking requires advance contact with the District Forest Officer, Bankura.
Amarkanan is safe for tourists. The main risks are leeches in the monsoon and the lack of cash machines.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Amarkanan yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Amarkanan reservoir
- Forest bungalow stay
- Hills and walking trails
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Amarkanan, revision 5109745 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5109745
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/amarkanan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.