Discover Purulia: Chhau, temples and landscapes

Purulia brings together dance and craft traditions, historic ruins, and diverse water and forest landscapes. This gives you several distinct areas to focus on when planning your trip: Chhau and Pata Naach, temples and fort ruins, and nature spots and trekking.

Mask-making and dance traditions

In the village of Charidah, in Purulia’s Baghmundi block, masks are made and used for the internationally renowned martial Chhau dance. Around 250 craftspeople from the village are involved in making them; this is an approximate figure and may change over time. Chhau is an integral part of rituals and festivities in Purulia. The tradition thus connects mask-making in Charidah with a dance form rooted in the destination’s cultural life.

Another dance form found in Purulia is Pata Naach. It is traditionally performed in the month of Bhadra at the end of the monsoon season and accompanied by Bhaduria Jhumur songs. Exact dates vary according to the local calendar. Chhau and Pata Naach therefore differ both in their cultural context and in the stated timing of their performances: for Pata Naach, the connection to Bhadra is an important point of reference.

Temples and fort ruins

Deulghata, near Boram in the Arsha police jurisdiction, is home to the ruins of 15 temples near the Kansai River. The elaborately decorated temples attract visitors and are significant to tourism in Purulia. Another historic site is Garh Panchakot in the Neturia block. It has the ruins of forts built in 1600 AD by the kings of Panchakot. Garh Panchakot is about 60 km from Purulia town. The two sites represent different forms of historic heritage: temple ruins at Deulghata and fort ruins at Garh Panchakot.

Hills, forest and water

Khairabera is an irrigation dam set amid hills and forest near Baghmundi. Near Bamni, a picturesque waterfall defines the landscape, surrounded by lush green forest. Sita Kund in Bagandi, in the Baghmundi block, is known for its clear freshwater springs and streams. There, cold water emerges beneath bright, fine sand. The three descriptions highlight different features: a wooded hillside around a dam, a waterfall in the forest, and springs where water emerges beneath the sand.

Water activities and trekking

Durga Bera, also called Marble Lake, is an artificial body of water with a depth of 40 feet. Visitors can fish and go boating there; availability of these activities may vary. Jaichandi Pahar is near the town of Raghunathpur, about 44 km from Purulia, and is a popular trekking destination. Alongside the descriptions of natural scenery, specific activities are also a focus: fishing and boating at Durga Bera, and trekking at Jaichandi Pahar.

If you’re looking for hotels in Purulia, your trip’s focus can be a good starting point: Chhau and Pata Naach are associated with dance and crafts, Deulghata and Garh Panchakot with historic sites, Jaichandi Pahar with trekking, and the water spots with varied landscapes. First consider which of these themes matter for your stay; this will help you tailor your hotel search to the purpose of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Purulia, Baghmundi, Howrah, Bankura, Nadia, Bardhaman, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling.

For the broader travel overview: West Bengal.