The district of Bankura is locked from all the sides by other districts of West Bengal like the Puruliya, Medinipur, Hugli and Bardhaman. Out of the total area, 1,397 sq. km of the area of Bankura is covered with forest. Situated at a major road and rail junction, Bankura is to the north of Dhaleswari River, around 185 km from Calcutta.
Although the headquarter of the district is Bankura the major inflow in this district is for Bishnupur. It was from here that the Malla kings ruled in the 16th century. Bengal has a tradition of terracotta temples due to the peculiar soil, but Bishnupur temples are the most striking of them all. Also, Bankura boasts of Shishunia hill, a peak rising abruptly from the neighbouring plains. The mountain is 440 meters high but is said to be older than the Himalayas.
