Baguran-----An offbeat Beach

Baguran Jalpai Tour/If you love to travel I think you love every popular and unpopular destinations be it a sea beach,be it some high altitude destination or be it wildlife or desert.But those who specifically love to spend a couple of days in a beach then I will suggest a name called Baguran Jalpai.Its completely a virgin and serene beach just 165 kms away from Kolkata.Its aan offbeat destination in Midnqpore.its a no man's beach but you will be invited by thousands of red crabs in the beach.Its an unique beauty which will surely attract you.

Way to Kanthi

The beach of Baguran Jalpai is very clean and you can easily take a bath in the blue waters of the sea.You can also notice many fishing boats far away looking like small dots in the waters.If you want to spend some quality time to find yourself this place will not dissatisfy you.You will only hear the continous roar of the sea and the cool breeze will feel you mesmerised.Its an ideal destination to get youself away from the din and bustle of city life.There is a fishing harbour and Bankiput beach is also not far away.There is also a lighthouse where there is the provision to go to the top.The view is marvellous.You can also able to see the sunset from the top.Apart from sitting for hours in the Baguran Jalpai beach,you can also take a stroll to nearby village,take pictures,talk to the natives and know their habitats.

Baguran Jalpai Beach

There is only one hotel here as this place is a booming tourist destination.Hotel Sagar Niralai is a very homely accomodation with good location and excellent food quality.The location of this hotel is very near to the beach.You will find hammocks in the lawn of this hotel.There is a narrow muddy lane which will lead you to the beach.You cant go out in the beach after the dark because there is no lighting arrengement,no shops on the seaside.Its completely dark and you cant walk a bit down the sea side.

HOW TO GO-Board train from Howrah and arrive Kanthi station.From the station take auto to reach the hotel just 30mins from Kanthi.

1)TamraliptoExpress(Dept-6.35am Arrival-9.18am),Hwh-Digha super fast AC Express(Dept-11.10am Arrival-13.41pm),Kandari Express(Dept-14.15pm-Arrival-16.56pm).

If you go by car then you have to reach Kanthi.There are two ways to reach Kanthi.The first route is via Junput.Take the Junput road and drive straight to Sea Dike road.Then turn right.

Another route is via Contai-Soula road.

WHERE TO STAY-Hotel Sagar Niralai-(09434012200)

I hope this blog will help you to explore Baguran Jalpai easily.

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CHUPIR CHAR------THE PLACE TO BREATHE FOR BIRDS

Chupir Char Santuary/ Chupir Char is a small tourist spot near to Purbathali in Kalna,Bardhaman.It lies on the banks of large ox bow lake created by the Ganges river and it is just 8kms from the town of Nabadwip.It is specially known for innumerable known and unknown birds in winter.The silence of this place breaks in winter when Chupir Char becomes the main attraction of tourists mainly bird lovers.The ox bow lake comprises of three islands and its 3.5 sq kms in area.There are minimum 50 boats to give you service.They will take you near to the different birds to catch a glimse to the birds and to take pictures.You can have a near glance to flocks of Gadwalls,Eurasian Wigeons,Northern Pintails,innurable species of kingfishers,Intermediate Egret,the Sandpiper,Pochard and many more.The cost of boat ride is 150 for maximum 4 hrs .

This lake was once not used to be the lake but river Ganga but somehow it forms this ox bow lake but still connected with the river.Hence it has the permanent source of water pouring into the lake.The place is rich with greeneries and different types of crops.The boat journey will shed all your fatigueness and monotony.it is just awesome.Under the water you can see various types of planktons and weeds.You can also able to see the temple of Iscon very far away from there.

I came to know this place Chupir Char in March 2018 from a friend.Before that I only knew about Manglajodi in Orissa for bird’s paradise.I searched google and was stunned to know this place so near to my city.But it was my bad luck that I came to know it a bit late because the winter was over and it was useless to go in March.So I decided to visit in January next year.I was just literally waiting for winter.So after doing much planning and discussions with my husband we decided to visit in 26^th January,2019,The Republic Day .We decided to go by train. Kolkata is facing chilling waves and it was very difficult to board the early morning train.So we boarded  the 10.05 train from Howrah.

When we reached the station we were stunned to see the  tremendous crowd going to and fro.It was really difficult to move.Wherever our eyesight went,there were only the heads of people.Actually it was the national holiday and everybody was in a mood for holiday.Somehow we boarder the crowded train,managed seats but  the condition inside the train was tremendous.Anyway we reached the Purbasthali station in 2.5 hours.Then we called Jayanta da,who was our boatman.We from Kolkata reserved our boat as it would be difficult to hire the boat from the spot due to holiday and the place was really crowded.We boarded a toto from the station which help us to reach the ghat where our boat with many other boats was waiting.The place was excellent.There were also children’s park and hotels to stay.

The boat journey was the most unique thing you can do in this place.All our tiredness in train journey was vanished in this boat journey.The silence,the natural beauty would force you to stay in the boat.There are some footside small  hotels where you can have your lunch.The food is mouth-watering.We had a on hour boat ride then we strolled in the park.My daughter had a great time with the rides in the park.We had our return train on 4.10pm so after spending few hours there we headed towards the station.

Purbasthali can be reached by both rail and by road.

1)By road-Reach Burdwan,Go to a place called Diwandighi on the Katwa,right towards Kusumgram,turn right again towards Nandaghat,turn left towards Purulia,turn right to Purbasthali railway station.

2)By rail-There are many locals both from Howrah and Sealdah.Most suitable trains are Howrah-Katwa local(dept at 8am arrival at 10.22am),another hwh-katwa local(dept at 10am and arrival at 12.22pm).From Sealdah(dept at 8.06am and arrival at 10.51am)

Hotels in Purbasthali

1)Chupi Kasthashali Pakhiraloy Cottage(09073565723)

Boatman phone number-Jayanta(9734465974)

I  hope my write up will give you a good information about Chupir Char

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PURULIA THE LAND OF PALASH

Purulia chhau nach/ Purulia is a very important district of West Bengal.It covers a large area of our state.There are many reasons for visiting this district.First of it because of Chau Dance which includes an important part of folk dance.Tourists and photographers from all over the world visit this place for enjoying this dance festival.Apart from this the natural beauty of Puruliya is awesome.In the monthe of March to April you can find a flower name "Palash"which increase this place's beauty thousand of times.

Palash Flower

About Palash Flower-

The scientific name of this flower is known as"Butia Monosperma"Its popularly called "Palash" in West Bengal.The unopened bud of Palash is mainly required in Saraswati pujo in Bengal.It can be red,orange or yellow in colour.Its the state flower of Jharkhand.In Purulia you can find these in the month of March -April.The roads seems to be covered th red and yellow carpet in Purulia.In West Bengal this flower is associated with Spring.

I have got the chance to visit Puruliya in 2018,march.Though the tempareture was really hot at that time but the nature bathed in the red colour due to innumerable Palash flower.Mainly I visited at that time to see this invincible beauty.Being a travel maniac I can't control myself of going out somewhere out of my home.The routine life and din and bustle of city kills me.So this time I selected Puruliya.My husband and my daughter are my greatest companion in my travel.If you are planning for weekend destination near kolkata then Purulia can be your next option to visit.

Purulia can be easily accessable by road and rail.

1)By Road-NH19,(Via Durgapore),NH 14(Via Kharagpur)

2)By Rail-Hwh-Chakradharpur Express(From Hwh-23.05-Purulia-6.20AM) ,Rupashi Bangla Express(From Satragachi-6.25AM-Purulia-11.50AM), Lalmati Express(From Hwh-8.30AM-Purulia-14.10).

We started our journey on 11th march,2018.We preffered to go by our car.It is almost 8hours drive from Kolkata to Puruliya .So we thought of staying one night in the middle of somewhere.So Durgapore was the best option as it was on our route.We took a halt for one night and in the morning we started early for Puruliya.We planned to visit Joychandi hill which would be on our way.Its the famous hill where the eminent Bengali director Satyajit Ray had shot some scenes of his famous film 'Hirak Rajar Deshe'.Its a beautiful spot just 2 kms from Raghunathpur and 4kms from Adra town.The hill is just 2kms from Purulia-Barakar road.The beautiful winding lanes,the curious people just looking at you,the cows and goats walking around,the village children innocent smile.Its just the kind of bucolic village scene you had drawn in your childhood days.Nayways,after spending some time,we reached in the city and checked in a hotel called Rupashi Bangla.Its a beautiful hotel.Very neat and clean.The rooms are very cosy.Tge nights were spent in leisure.

Joychandi Pahar

Next morning after having breakfast,we started our journey for Ajodya Hills,the most eminent and main tourist spot in Puruliya.You can see the Upper and Lower dam,Chandli dam,Bagmundi and Charida village in and around Ajodya.Ajodhya hill is the part of Dalma hill.The highest peak of Ajodya is Chembatiburu. The Upper and Lower dam are the main source of water for entire Puruliya.

1)Ajodya Pahar or hill-Its the part of Chotanagpur Plateau and the extension of Eastern Ghats range.The nearby populated town is Bagmundi.The whole area is hilly and rugged.You can avail three routes to reach Ajodya.Via Jalda,vi Bagmundi and via Sirkabad.

Upper Dam

2)Chandil Dam-It is the most popular tourist spot in Jharkhand-Purulia border.Its situated in Subernarekha river.The Karkori river originating from Hudru falls merges with this Subernarekha river in this place.

3)Bagmundi-Bagmundi is a small town in Purulia and its very near to Ajodya.

4)Charida Village-Charida village is a must watch place to visit for its popularity in mask making of the famous folk dance called "Chou Dance".Its a famous acrobatic tribal dance highly performed in Purulia and Jharkhand districts.About 300 village people are engaged with this making of the masks.One can also visit this village in the month of December to see this traditional festival of Chou.

Chou Masks

Its very near to the town Bagmundi.You can hardly take a visit  on route Ajodya hills.

Next day,we checked out of the hotel and headed towards Durga pore again.On the way,we visited Baranti,another beautiful spot in Puruliya.There is a dam called Muradi dam.The blue waters of the lake is just awesome surrounded by hills.The hills were covered with red and yellow Palash flower.Then we headed towards Durga pore.We stayed there for one night before returning to Kolkata.
All in all our trip was memorable.

Muradi Lake

There are lots of festivals which takes place in Purulia.They are as follows:-

1)Shiber Gajan-This festival is celebrated in the mid of March and continued till the end of May.This festival is also known as Gajan,Charak Pujo,Chhow Parab,Chait Parab.

2)Bhadu-Celebrated in the month of Bhadra,this festival is mainly celebrated for paddy harvesting.The tribes and caste of Bengal,referred to  Bhadu as goddess.Its popular among Bagdis and Bouris.

3)Tushu-The rural women celebrate this festival known as Tushu.It is accompanied by the songs of joy,sorrow and experience of the villagers.

4)Baha-This festivel is performed by Santhals in Spring time.It is also known as Sarjan Baha or Sarhoo to Mundas.The Santhals perform folk dance and songs overnight.

5)Chau-This festival is performed in the month of December generally from 20th -22nd December.In this fesival the folk dance is performed by the rural people along with acrobatic twist and turns having a mask in their face..The dance is accompanied by Shanai.

There are quite a few number of  good hotels in Purulia.They are:-

1)Hotel Rupashi Bangla(07001930089)

2)Hotel Aakash Sarovar(08001901901)

If you want to stay in near Ajodya Pahar then 

1)Lodge Avoya(8420935330)

2)Aranyak Lodge(9932725555)

Final Word We hope this write up will help you to rexplore about Purulia

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