Places to visit in Banka
3 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Hill and dam 3
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Mandar Hill Official source
Granite hill of about 800 ft linked to the churning of the ocean, with the coil of the serpent Vasuki said to be marked on it; sacred to Hindus and Jains; ropeway to the top. Open 6 AM-6 PM, free (Bihar Tourism).
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Mandar Hill Ropeway Official source
Ropeway to the top of Mandar Hill (Bihar Tourism). Timings and fares to confirm.
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Odhni Dam Official source
Reservoir; open 6 AM-6 PM, free (Bihar Tourism).
In depth: Mandar Hill
Mandar Hill at Bounsi is the mountain the gods and demons are said to have used to churn the ocean, with the serpent Vasuki as the rope; the spiral grooves on the rock are pointed out as his coils. It is sacred to both Hindus and Jains. Take the ropeway or climb, and look out over the plains of south Bihar.
At a glance
- Type
- Sacred granite hill Official source
- Height
- About 800 ft (Bihar Tourism) Official source
- Distance
- 50 km from Bhagalpur (Bihar Tourism) Official source
- Timings
- 6 AM-6 PM; free (Bihar Tourism) Official source
- Time needed
- Half a day
History and significance
- Churning of the ocean
- Mandar was the churning rod; Vasuki the rope, and the coil mark is on the hill (Bihar Tourism). Official source
- Vamana
- Puranas say Vishnu as Vamana placed a step here (Bihar Tourism). Official source
What to see
- Coil marks
- Spiral impressions said to be Vasuki's.
- Ropeway
- To the top (Bihar Tourism).
- Views
- Panoramic landscape (Bihar Tourism).
Visiting
- Timings
- 6 AM-6 PM (Bihar Tourism district page). Official source
- Entry
- Free; ropeway fare to confirm. Official source
Festivals
- Makar Sankranti fair (Bausi mela)
- Not on the Bihar Tourism page; to confirm. Not yet verified
Visitor guidelines
- Keep the area clean and respect religious sites (Bihar Tourism).
- Wear good shoes for the climb.
How to reach Mandar Hill
- By road
- 50 km from Bhagalpur; buses and taxis from Banka (Bihar Tourism). Official source
- By train
- Mandar Hill station (to confirm). Not yet verified
- By air
- Patna (PAT) or Deoghar (DGH); to confirm. Not yet verified
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | IMD normals to add | 06:28 | 17:13 | Cold; fog possible |
| Feb | IMD normals to add | 06:17 | 17:35 | Best |
| Mar | IMD normals to add | 05:53 | 17:51 | Good; warming |
| Apr | IMD normals to add | 05:21 | 18:03 | Hot |
| May | IMD normals to add | 04:58 | 18:18 | Very hot |
| Jun | IMD normals to add | 04:52 | 18:32 | Hot; monsoon arrives |
| Jul | IMD normals to add | 05:01 | 18:34 | Monsoon |
| Aug | IMD normals to add | 05:16 | 18:18 | Monsoon; floods in the north |
| Sep | IMD normals to add | 05:27 | 17:47 | Rain easing |
| Oct | IMD normals to add | 05:39 | 17:16 | Good; Durga Puja |
| Nov | IMD normals to add | 05:58 | 16:56 | Best; Chhath and Sonepur |
| Dec | IMD normals to add | 06:19 | 16:55 | Cool; fog possible |
Suggested plans
- Half day
- Ropeway or climb at Mandar Hill.
- Full day
- Add Odhni Dam.
How to reach Banka
- By train
- Banka; Mandar Hill.
- By air
- Deoghar (DGH) or Patna (PAT); to confirm.
- By road
- From Bhagalpur, 50 km to Mandar.
- Headquarters
- Banka
- Coast
- Landlocked; borders Jharkhand
Best time to visit Banka
- Best time
- September to April (Bihar Tourism)
- Climate
- Hot summers, monsoon, cool winters.
Dates to plan around in Bihar
- Harihar Kshetra Sonepur Mela — Sonepur, Saran: Begins 22 Nov 2026; main days 23-24 Nov (Patna Press)
- Chhath Puja (Kartik) — Across Bihar; Deo Sun Temple, Aurangabad: November 2026; exact dates to confirm
- Navratri and Dussehra — Ugratara Sthan, Mahishi; Ami Sthan, Saran: October; more than a lakh at Mahishi on Dussehra (Bihar Tourism)
- Chaitra fair — Thawe, Gopalganj: March-April (Bihar Tourism)
- Bishua / Chait Sankranti mela — Kakolat, Nawada: Mid-April, three days (Bihar Tourism)
- Sawan (Shravan) crowds — Ashok Dham, Lakhisarai; Garibnath, Muzaffarpur; Kapileswarsthan, Madhubani: July-August
- Ramnavami and Shivaratri — Mundeshwari, Kaimur: Dates vary (Bihar Tourism)
- Kartik Purnima bathing — Dekuli Dham, Sheohar: November (Wikipedia)
Where to stay in Banka
No stays have been verified for Banka yet — our guide lists a stay only after checking it with an official source.
Quick answers about Banka
What is Banka known for?
Mandar Hill of the churning of the ocean, with its ropeway, and Odhni Dam.
What is the one place not to miss in Banka?
Mandar Hill. Granite hill of about 800 ft linked to the churning of the ocean, with the coil of the serpent Vasuki said to be marked on it; sacred to Hindus and Jains; ropeway to the top. Open 6 AM-6 PM, free (Bihar Tourism).
Which is the nearest railway station to Banka?
Banka; Mandar Hill.
Which is the nearest airport to Banka?
Deoghar (DGH) or Patna (PAT); to confirm.
When is the best time to visit Banka?
September to April (Bihar Tourism)
How many places are there to visit in Banka?
Our guide lists 3 places in Banka district, Bihar, across hill and dam.
Nearby, in neighbouring districts
- Ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara, Bhagalpur — Ruins of the Pala-era monastic university founded by King Dharmapala on a rocky hillock where the Ganga flows north: stupas, monastery cells and meditation halls. Electronic gadgets need ASI permission (Bihar Tourism).