AJODHYA HILLS - PURULIA

From Baghmundi an onwards drive of 5 km on the Ayodhya hills leads to Turga falls. Located near the village of Gosaidih, one gets just a glimpse of the water and the sound of water gurgling down from the metal road. The Water gushes down from a height on the rocks leading into a free flowing stream. One has to carefully get down a considerable height using stairs to reach the falls.

Located near Ayodhya Hill Top, a steep descent takes the visitors to the Bamni falls. One can hear the sound of water gushing down from the Ayodhya Hill Top. Going down the stone stairs, one can see the waterfall peeking out among dense green vegetation. The distance from Bagmundi is about 13 kilometers

A drive from Ayodhya hills passing a local market area takes the visitor to Usul Dungri village. The road has an Infinite procession of Sal trees on its both sides.. There are elephants, hyenas and peacocks in this forest. The road touches the forest before entering the tribal villages. Farming and animal husbandry are local livelihoods of the people living here. The road ends at the view point. There is a concrete watchtower here. Tourists often visit the place during the sunrise. The view point is located 24 km from Baghmundi.

This village of mask makers is located at a distance of 5 km from Baghmundi. Purulia, who is famous for its chhau dance, gets its supply of masks from this village. A visitor coming to this village can observe live artists working with paints, brushes, various molds of masks and readymade masks.This artistic pursuit of Chorida village started more than 150 years ago when Madan Mohan Singh was the king of Baghmundi. Using dark colors, the artists paint imitating each mythical character while designing a mask. Charida Chhau Mask Village is now on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Artist Gambhir Singh Mura received Padma Shri award.Tourist horde here to buy masks as souvenirs.

Matha Hill is 22 km from Ayodhya and about 15 km from Baghmundi in Pahartali. The field is famous for camping and trekking. Mathaburu is the first preferred address of trekkers in winter. If you want to visit a typical tribal village of Purulia, get acquainted with the way of life of the tribals and enjoy the beauty of the forest, you have to come to Matha Forest.

Reaching Mathaburu forest, one would observe Rerengtand village on one side and Kukuburu on the other. In the local language, Buru is a hilltop cliff and Tand is a hill. The hill is at the end of the village. There is also a tong house covered with palm trees. If you hike for a kilometer, you can go to Bhalu cave. Climbing the rocks gives another panoramic view of the jungle of Ajodhya Hills.

The forest of Palash trees touching Kukuburuis known as Sonkupi. On the first day of the month of Magh, a fair is held in the open fields of Matha forests. In the Matha Forest, the annual fair of the tribal community, Jhumur, takes on an impeccable form as tribals dance to the beat of local drums named Dhamsa Madol. The West Bengal Forest Development Corporation also has a tree-house to stay on the field.

From Barabhum station a drive of 4 km leads you to Bhusundi crossing. The Pakhi Pahar or Bird Hill is 1 km from this crossing. The actual name of the hill is Murraburu. Numerous flying birds have been sculpted on the rock faces of this hill by Kolkata Government Art College alumni Chitta Dey who made this hill the canvas of his creation.The distance from Baghmundi to Pakhi Pahar is about 17 kilometers.

At the verge end of one of the slopes of the Ayodhya hills, the jungle of Baghmundi opens to a huge reservoir named Khairabera Dam. In the vicinity of its small-to-large hills, this reservoir has been built for irrigation purpose in the lap of the tallest hill of Ayodhya (Hamtaburu 712 meters). Over time, the aquatic world of this reservoir has developed its own nature and biodiversity. It was built across Subarnarekha Basin. There are some tribal villages in the vicinity. In the evening, the sound of tribals play local drums named Dhamsa Madol. The nearby Machkanda falls into Khairabera dam. Khairabera is about 14 kilometers from Baghmundi.

Murguma, a small village in Purulia located north of Begunkodar village within Jhalda Block. Surrounded by hillocks and forests, Murguma has an uniquely beautiful landscape surrounding the reservoir. There is a huge abundance of Sal trees in the vicinity. Murguma is an ideal secluded destination to spend an offbeat weekend. Apart from the tribal village of Begunkodar, other tribal villages of Garudavega, Bamni and Mamudi village are located nearby. Muruguma is almost 10 km from Ajodjhya hill. Nearest rail station is Muri junction at a distance of 15 km.