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
Chandrakona
চন্দ্রকোণা
Half a day is enough to see the terracotta temples and old market; Chandrakona works best as a stop between Kharagpur and Ghatal, not a base.
Chandrakona is a small town in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, known for its 17th–19th century terracotta temples and a quiet bazaar. Most visitors come for a few hours on the way to Ghatal or Midnapore. There is no accommodation worth booking — stay in Kharagpur or Midnapore instead.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- চন্দ্রকোণা
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 ₹500–1,000 (day trip only) · Mid ₹1,000–2,000 (day trip only) · High ₹2,000+ (day trip only) (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 101 · Ambulance 102
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Cycle-rickshaw ride (town) | ₹30–50 |
| Auto-rickshaw to temples | ₹50–80 |
| Tea at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple meal (thali) | ₹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 (Kolkata)
- About 3 h by car via NH 14; nearest major airport.
Typical fares
- Kharagpur → Chandrakona (shared auto)
- about ₹80, 30–40 min (check)
- Chandrakona → Ghatal (bus)
- about ₹50, 30 min (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
Walkable town centre. For temples and the market, a cycle-rickshaw or auto-rickshaw costs ₹30–60 per ride. To reach Chandrakona Road junction, take a shared auto from the bus stand.
See and do
Known for
- Terracotta temples (Shyamrai, Malleshwar, Pancharatna)
- Old market street
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ghatal | Bus or car via NH 14, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Midnapore | Bus or car, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Kharagpur | Bus or car, about 30–40 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Kharagpur
- 30–40 min drive; hotels and guesthouses available.
- Midnapore
- About 45 min drive; more options than Kharagpur.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | কত?koto |
| Where is the temple? | মন্দির কোথায়?mondir kothay |
| Stop here, please | এখানে থামুনekhane thamun |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
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 ATM in the town centre; carry cash.
- Temples may be locked outside prayer hours — ask a local or the priest.
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep) makes roads muddy and some lanes impassable.
Very safe. The only concern is stray dogs near the market after dark. Carry a torch if walking after sunset.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chandrakona yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Terracotta temples (Shyamrai, Malleshwar, Pancharatna)
- Old market street
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: Chandrakona, revision 5304079 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5304079
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chandrakonaচন্দ্রকোণা
এই ঠিকানায় যান
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulate in Chandrakona. The nearest major diplomatic mission is in Kolkata (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.).
Carry small notes (₹10–100); no card payment at most stalls.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chandrakona). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.