Transport & Communication

Bishnupur is reasonably well connected via roads. Due to its importance as a tourism destination, it is basically connected to almost all major places of Bengal. Long distance buses connect Bishnupur to places like Arambag, Durgapur, Asansol, Kolkata etc. There are regular and frequent bus services available between Kolkata and Bishnupur. The buses usually leave Kolkata from the Espalnade bus stand. The journey takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes. On a whole the journey is not very comfortable as the Buses ply through the undivided two-lane SH-2 (SH2 cannot be termed as one of the best maintained roads in the country), via Kotulpur, Jayrambati-Kamarpukur, Arambag, Champadanga meandering through densely populated towns and villages all along the way. Bishnupur is well-connected by rail to the rest of the country via Kharagpur and Bankura. Express and mail trains do ply between Kolkata and Bishnupur on a regular basis. The Rupashi Bangla Express, Aranyak Express and the Purulia Express are the most convenient trains to reach Bishnupur from Kolkata; these trains come via Kharagpur(Midnapur) and take approx 3:30 to 4:15 hours to reach Bishnupur from Kolkata. Within the city of Bishnupur, private auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are most convenient mode of communication. Recently CNG autos have been introduced plying through various parts of the town. These vehicles are environment-friendly, non-polluting, convinient, less time consuming and cheap mode of travel. Nearest International Airport is at Dumdum, Kolkata (Netaji Subhash International airport) which is 170 km away on road; a smaller private air strip at Panagarh belonging to the Indian Air Force is rarely used. A new airport is coming up in Andal (90 km from Bishnupur). It’s expected to be completed in the next two years.