Susunia Hill (Bankura)| Photos, Best Time To Visit

Susunia Hill, Bishnupur Overview

Soaring at an altitude of a whopping 1442 feet, the Susunia Hill is a famous spot in the Bankura District for indigenous sports like rock climbing and trekking. The entire hill is covered luxuriously with a rich flora of beautiful shrubbery, majestic trees and rare medicinal plants. Part of the eastern ghats, this hillock is popular among novice and expert mountaineers alike. In fact, many renowned and successful mountaineers of the country have started their journey on this very hill. During winters, trekking and camping activities are arranged on the Susunia Hill. Enveloped in the ranges of the eastern ghats and resting amidst the lush greenery, spending a day on this hill is the perfect way to escape the loud and polluted airs of the city.

There also stands an ancient but impeccably carved monolith structure on the Susunia Hill named as the Narasimha Stone. The carvings on the monolith call it the oldest stone. What is interesting about this stone is that a fresh spring water stream shoots right out of it! Lord Narasimha is the reincarnation of the great Lord Vishnu, and hence, these spring waters are considered to be very holy. The Susunia Hill is cradled in the gentle caress of nature which makes it an ideal destination to beat the summer heat, blow off some steam after a long week and completely relax your mind and body.

Things To Do at Susunia Hill

The Susunia Hill is majorly famous for its trekking and camping activities. Two-day rock climbing programs and training sessions are held here for beginners and adventure mongers. However, even if you're not into these sports, there are still plenty of reasons why you should visit this enchanting hill. Walking up and around the hill, one is enthralled by nature's magical beauty. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the eastern ghats and admire the blanket of green that covers them. Since the hill lies amidst such dense greenery, the atmosphere is always calm, and it instils within you a feeling of restful tranquillity.

Appreciate the inscriptions and engravings on the rocks dating to the 4th century Chandravarman Dynasty and lose yourself in the curious intrigue they create. Discover the infamous water spouting monolith of the great Lord Narasimha and drink its holy waters. The River Gardeshwari and its tributary River Darakeshwar, both grace the Susunia Hill by cutting through the hill and bringing lively energy with them. You can picnic along the banks of these bustling rivers while enjoying the stunning view of the colourful hues created by the thick green foliage and the azure waters of the river.

The Susunia Hill provides a spectacular and unobstructed view of the sunrise. The entire Susunia Village is a treasure trove of award-winning craftsman exquisitely skilled in stone carving. You can witness these master craftsmen showcasing their skills as they make makeshift handicrafts from nothing but stones! Be sure to buy a few of these handicrafts as souvenirs of your wonderful trip to Susunia Hill.

History of Susunia Hill

A fascinating fact about Susunia Hill is that it is an official archaeological and fossil site! Thousands of years old fossil remains of animals like hyenas, Asiatic lions and giraffes have been found on many spots around the hill. Not just fossils, upon excavation, tools that were known to be used in the Stone Age were found here too.

It is believed that somewhere in the 4th century, King Chandravarman of the Chandravaran Dynasty built a fort on the Susunia Hill. There are inscriptions found on the hill that talk about Pushkarana, which was once the capital of Chandravarman. Symbols of wheels and chakras have also been found on the rocks. One of the rocks on the hill reads, the devotee of 'Chakkaswami (Lord Vishnu), the King of Pushkarana, son of the King Simhavarmana, King Chandravarmana offers the revenue of the village named 'Dhoso' for worship to his Lord Vishnu. There are other engravings found on the hill too, but archaeologists have not been able to decipher them as they are written in, according to their suspicion, the obscure Samkhalipi.

Best Time To Visit Susunia Hill

The best time to visit Susunia Hill would be early in the morning during sunrise. The view of rising sun peeping from behind the mountains as the ecstatic sky bursts into a pallet of vibrant colour is sure to leave you entirely mesmerised and even dumbfounded.

It is best to visit Susunia Hill during winters, i.e. between October and March. The weather this time of the year is quite pleasant and welcoming and hovers between 15 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Summers are quite hot, and the temperature goes as high as 38 degrees Celsius! The Susunia Hill can get quite warm during the summers even though it rests at a high altitude.

How To Reach Susunia Hill

The Bankura Junction Railway Station (BQA) is the closest railhead to the Susunia Hill at a distance of 29 kms which is approximately a 50-minute drive. You can hail a cab from here to Susunia Hill or a bus. The Bankura Bus Stand (39 kms) and the Durgapur Bus Stand (42 kms) are both quite close to Susunia Hill and experience frequent traffic of government buses, private buses and luxury buses.