Gopegarh

Gopegarh is an emerging getaway located at a distance of 5 km from Medinipur in West Bengal. The place has derived its name from the fort of the Gope king who once ruled here. The fort has now been transformed into an eco park. The park is situated on the banks of Kangsabati river. A number of hillocks, trees and forests surround the area which makes Gopegarh Eco Park an ideal tourist getaway. The park hosts a variety of flowers like Duranda and Vacaranda as well as Shal, Bakul and Tekosa trees. You can also take a stroll to the nearby tribal villages.

Gopegarh Eco Park

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How to Reach

You can reach Medinipur from Howrah station by Medinipur local. Hired cars and auto rickshaws are available from Medinipur town to reach Gopegarh.


Accommodation

Gopegarh Heritage and Nature Eco Tourism Centre. For booking: DFO, Midnapore, Dist. and P.O. - Paschim Midnapore. Tel: 03222-275869.

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Ranibandh

Ranibandh is an unexplored weekend destination situated in Bankura district of West Bengal. It is surrounded by dense forests of sal, mahua, palash and arjun trees. The area is mostly inhabited by the tribal people. Although some private hotels have recently come up at Ranibandh but the experience of spending a night in the Forest Rest House is truly unique. Here at Ranibandh, you will wake up to the chirping of birds instead of the horns of motor vehicles. You can take a leisurely walk along the village road to end up at the local market. The lush greenery, peace and pollution-free environment of Ranibandh makes it ideal for spending a lazy weekend away from city rush.

Ranibandh

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How to Reach

Trains are running from Howrah and Shalimar to Bankura. Ranibandh is 16 km from Bankura. Hired cars are available from Bankura to reach the village.


Accommodation

You can stay at the Forest Rest House in Ranibandh.
For booking contact: Aranya Bhawan, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Tel: 033-23358581.

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Phulberia

Phulberia is a small village situated 30 km from Bankura town in West Bengal. The place lies in a peaceful and serene environment away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The village is set in a natural surrounding with trees, shrubs and dense foliage. Several species of birds including parrot, dove, bulbul and purple-rumped sunbird are seen sitting and feeding on the fruit trees. The 'School of Fundamental Research' which was founded by Acharya Satyendranath Bose has set up a research centre at Fulberia village. They have also constructed a guest house. The guest house is surrounded by flowering shrubs. A narrow water stream flows near the place. You can take a lonely stroll to the local village market where a variety of items are sold.

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How to Reach

Trains are running from Howrah and Shalimar to Bankura. Phulberia is 30 km from Bankura. Hired cars are available from Bankura to reach the village.


Accommodation

The only place to stay at Fulberia is the 'School of Fundamental Research' Guest House.
For booking contact: 29, Pratapaditya Road, Kolkata - 700026. Tel: 033-24664317.

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Chaibasa

Chaibasa is a beautiful weekend getaway in West Singbhum district of Jharkhand. The town is surrounded by dense forests and mind-blowing hills. Apart from that, Chaibasa is embraced with gardens, dams and water streams which make it ideal for a perfect vacation. The prime attraction is the Chaibasa Forest Range. Other tourist spots in Chaibasa include Rungta Garden, Jubilee Lake, Shahid Park, Madhubandh and Ranibandh. Several tribal villages are also located close to the town of Chaibasa. You can also visit the nearby tourist places - Kiriburu and Meghataburu.

Chaibasa

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How to Reach

Trains are running from Howrah to Tatanagar and Chakradharpur. Buses and cars are available from both Tatanagar and Chakradharpur to reach Chaibasa.


Accommodation

Hotel Annapurna. Tel: 06582-256720.
Hotel Akash. Tel: 06582-256488.

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Labhpur

Labhpur is a little-known weekend getaway near Santiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal. It is the birthplace of the famous Bengali writer, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay. Many of his novels and stories carry a vivid description of this area. A walk through the village roads will take you to the writer's ancestral house. The main attraction of Labhpur is the Fullara Devi Temple. This 100-year old temple is surrounded by dense foliage and believed to be one of the 51 Shaktipiths. Legend has it that the lower lip of Goddess Sati fell at the site of the temple. A huge pond situated near the temple adds to the beauty of the place. Every year, a 10-day fair is held at the Fullora temple during Magh purnima. Another attraction of Labhpur is the Daldali Lake.

Fullara Temple

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How to Reach

Trains are running from Sealdah and Howrah to Bolpur-Shantiniketan. Labhpur is 50 km from Bolpur. Regular bus service is available from Bolpur to Labhpur. Alternatively, you can reach Ahmadpur from Howrah or Sealdah by train. Labhpur is 12 km from Ahmadpur.


Accommodation

Fullara Devi Temple Committee Guest House. Tariff - Rs. 600-800.
You can also consider staying at one of the several hotels and lodges at Bolpur or Suri.

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Vetnai

Vetnai is a small village located in Ganjam district of Odisha. Nestled in the laps of the Eastern Ghats, the place is home to innumerable black bucks which roam freely in the mountain slopes. The local people consider the black bucks as a symbol of sanctity and good will. You can also visit the nearby Monglajori Bird Sanctuary. Various species of birds including Whistling duck, Grey-headed lapwing and Asian openbill are sighted in this sanctuary. Chilika Lake is another attraction near Vetnai which you shouldn't miss out.

Black Bucks at Vetnai

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How to Reach

Trains are running from Howrah to Brahmapur. It takes around 9 hours to reach Brahmapur from Howrah. Aska is 50 km from Brahmapur. Regular bus service is available from Brahmapur to reach Aska. Vetnai is 12 km from Aska. Minibuses and trekkers are plying from Aska to Vetnai.



Accommodation

No proper accommodation facilities are available at Vetnai. You can stay in one of the village houses or your own tent. You can also consider spending the night at one of the few budget hotels in Aska.
Suite Home Lodge, Aska. Tariff - Rs. 1200-2200. Tel: 9238773999.
However, the best option is to stay at Berhampur (50 km) or Balugaon (75 km).

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Ajodhya Hills

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.

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.

Marble Lake (view from top)

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.

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.

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.

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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