Ajodhya Hills, an extension of the Dalma Hills of Jharkhand, is situated in Purulia district of West Bengal. The place is surrounded by forests of sal, teak and mahua trees. It is a picturesque getaway with hills, dales, trees, springs, lakes, river and clear blue skies. The tallest peak of Ajodhya Hills is Gorga-Buru (2850 ft). Ajodhya Hills is home to around 16,000 tribal people. Spanning over an area of 34,517 acres, the forest covering this hill houses various wild animals including leopards, elephants, deer and wolves.
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| Ajodhya Hills |
Sightseeing and Activities
Bamni Falls
Embraced by trees and rocks, this exotic waterfalls is undoubtedly the biggest attraction of Ajodhya Hills. Every year, a large number of tourists from Ajodhya Hills, Baghmundi and Murguma visit this place. A 20-minutes downward trek from the main road along a rocky and lightly-forested trail will take you to the front of the beautiful Bamni Falls. The cascading water falls over the rocks and form a small lake down below. You can even indulge in some shopping as there are many stalls near the road selling a variety of handicraft items and other stuff.
Marble Lake
Another must visit attraction of Ajodhya Hills is the Marble Lake which is also known as the Tarpaniya Lake. Once you reach the place, you will be mesmerized by the charming beauty of the place. This man-made lake was formed when the rocks here were quarried for stone to build irrigation dams. The Marble Lake is surrounded by towering walls of scraggy boulders overhanging the clear, azure waters. There are two points from where you can enjoy the lake's beauty - one is from the top, and the other one is from the side of the lake. Let the soft wind caress your face while you stand on the rock beside the blue water, tranquilized with romanticism and peace.
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| Marble Lake (view from top) |
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| Marble Lake (view from side) |
Ajodhya Hill Top
This is the main tourist area of Ajodhya Hills. Most of the hotels and restaurants are located in this place.
Mayur Pahar
It is a hillock situated 4 km from Ajodhya Hill Top area. From the top, you can get a spectacular panoramic view of the entire range of Ajodhya Hills and its surrounding forests.
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| Mayur Pahar |
Turga Falls
Located close to Bamni Falls, this waterfalls also attracts a lot of tourists. From the main road, you can catch glimpses of the gushing white waters through chinks in the forest cover.
Pakhi Pahar
This 800 feet high hill called Pakhi Pahar is a canvas for the artist, Chitta Dey, who along with his team, has sculpted nearly 65 images of birds on the sheer rock face. The hill has now become a hotspot for tourists who visit this place, only to be left speechless by the single-minded dedication and passion of the veteran artist. Encompassed by verdant forest, Pakhi Pahar is also a great spot for bird watching.
Upper Dam & Lower Dam
Both the upper and lower dams are part of the Purulia Pumped Storage Project (PPSP). These huge reservoirs are engineering marvels. Water from these reservoirs are used for hydroelectric power generation. The Lower Dam, especially, looks spectacular when viewed from the roadside viewpoint situated between the Upper Dam and Lower Dam.
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| Lower Dam |
Sitakunda
It is a tiny hot water spring, 1.5 km from Ajodhya Hill Top. According to the belief of local people, Rama and Sita had come to Ajodhya Hills and stayed during their exile. Sita was thirsty and so Ram pierced an arrow through the Earth's soil crust through which water gushed out. This place is now known as Sita Kunda.
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| Sitakunda |
Best Time to Visit
Ajodhya Hills can be visited all throughout the year except during the summer months of April to June. The place gets very cold and chilly during the months of November to January. February and March is the best time to witness the bloom of Palash flowers across the valley. And the monsoon season shroud the place in endless greenery with dark clouds rolling over the densely forested hills.
Nearby Places
Baghmundi, Murguma and Purulia are located close to Ajodhya Hills.
How to Reach
Trains are running from Howrah and Santragachi to Purulia. It takes around 5 hours to reach Purulia by train. Buses are also plying from Esplanade and Taratala to Purulia. Ajodhya Hills is situated close to Purulia town.
Accommodation
WBCADC Niharika. Tel: 033-22377041/43.
Kushal Palli By Pearltree. Tel: 8145001000.
Akash Hilltop Resort. Tel: 8001501501.
Ajodhya Hill Top Tourist Lodge. Tel: 7278749304.
Durga Lodge. Tel: 8001391223.
Deep Sikha Lodge. Tel: 9564169591.
Ayodhya Pahar Youth Hostel. Tariff: Rs. 550-1500. Tel: 7364853707.
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