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
Pakur
पाकुड़
Pakur is a mining town with little for tourists: skip unless you have family or business there. A half-day stop is enough if you pass through.
Pakur, in Jharkhand's Santhal Parganas near the West Bengal border, is a coal and stone mining town. There are no major sights, and most travellers pass through on the way to Deoghar or Sahibganj. The town has a railway station and basic services, but no reason to stay overnight.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- पाकुड़
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, heat)
- 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 ₹800–1,200 · Mid ₹1,500–2,500 · High ₹3,000+ (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 |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple thali meal | ₹80–150 |
| Auto-rickshaw ride (within town) | ₹30–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXW · Sonari Airport, Jamshedpur
- About 200 km (124 mi); not practical for PakurAbout 124 mi (200 km); not practical for Pakur
Typical fares
- Pakur → Deoghar by train
- about ₹100–200, 2 h (check)
- Pakur → Massanjore by bus
- about ₹50–80, 1 h (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
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws for local trips; walking is fine for the station area.
See and do
Known for
- Coal and stone mining
- Pakur railway station
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Deoghar | Train from Pakur station, about 2 h | 2.5 h |
| Massanjore | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | 1.5 h |
| Sahibganj | Train, about 1 h | 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Pakur railway station
- A few budget hotels; check condition before booking.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Where is the station? | स्टेशन कहाँ है?station kahaan hai? |
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
- Limited accommodation; book ahead if you must stay.
- Mining trucks on roads; drive carefully.
- No ATMs may accept foreign cards; carry cash.
Pakur is generally safe, but avoid walking alone after dark. Mining trucks are a hazard on roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pakur yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Coal and stone mining
- Pakur railway station
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: Pakur, revision 5229010 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5229010
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pakur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.