Duarsini is one of the most underrated and secret paradises of West Bengal. Due to lack of promotion and advertisement it is not very popular amongst tourists. If taken positively, this has helped this place to preserve the raw beauty of mother nature. It is located in Purulia and adjacent to the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.
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| If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere... |
Duarsini was in my bucket list for a long time but I didn't have the opportunity to visit the place in person. When I was planning for Duarsini my first concern was to get accommodation in the forest rest house. Hence, I was regularly following the official website (WBFSDC) checking for the availability. Finally, my efforts were answered and the necessary booking was done.
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| On earth there is no heaven but there are pieces of it... |
We started for Duarsini on 25th October, 2022 in Jan Shatabdi Express (12021). At around 9 A.M we reached Ghatshila. We had our breakfast adjacent to Ghatshila railway station and boarded an auto (N.K. Singh: 8579006046) to Duarsini. We hired the auto for an amount of Rs 600. On our way to Duarsini, we halted at Gauri Kunj the last abode of the famous novelist Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhay.
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| The last abode of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay |
Gauri Kunj, located in Ghatshila is renowned for the Bengali author Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. The author spent his last days at this place. Here he penned down some of his classics like Panther Panchali, Aparajito, Aranyak and Apur Sangsar.
It is said that a man took five hundred rupees from the author and could not repay. After a long time, the author met the man at College Street and the latter said he was not in a position to repay the loan and offered the house instead. After the house was registered in his name, the author came here to live. He loved this place and started living here. Currently, this house is maintained by Gauri Kunj Unnayan Samiti. From there we headed straight towards the forest rest house at Duarsini.
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| Forest rest house at Duarsini... |
Honestly speaking, we fell in love with the place at the first sight. The forest rest house offered more than what we have bargained for. The solitude and remoteness of the place touched our soul instantly. We were exhausted and went to a deep slumber after finishing our lunch that day. Only Abhranil decided to stay awake and explore the place in real earnest.
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| Nature does no hurry yet everything is accomplished... |
When we woke up that day, it was already 4: 30 P.M. Quickly Aafter freshening up we went to the Duarsini Mata Temple which is hardly one kilometre from the rest house. Many may have felt that when you are inside a jungle, darkness falls fast. On our way to the temple light started fading and by the time we reached the temple it was completely dark. We had our tea and evening snacks in a flimsy and a makeshift local shop. The warmth of the shop owner and his anecdotes moved us. After spending nearly an hour at the shop we went for an evening stroll through the woods. It was a full moon night and the myriads of stars along with the moon light created a surreal atmosphere. It appeared to us that the mother nature has opened its door to heaven. If ever, one has walked through a jungle on a full moon night they can relate with my feelings.
We bowed to mother nature for giving us the privilege to witness her beauty in its element. That night we had our dinner at the forest rest house and retired for the night.
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| Life is bliss if spent close to nature... |
A bright sunny day welcomed us the following morning (26th October, 2022). We went for breakfast to the local shop and on our way visited the Duarsini Mata Temple again.
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| Duarsini Mata Temple |
After having our breakfast we visited Bhalo Pahar. In the journey of life we sometime come across few personalities who bring us to a complete halt and force us to rethink about our approach ahead. Shri Kamal Chakraborty, proprietor of the Bhalo Pahar ashram, is one of them. Within Bhalo Pahar he has created a religion of his own in the name of Brikshanath. His philosophy is simple yet defining, 'Believe in plants and revere them as God.' According to him plants provide each and every thing required for the subsistence of life on earth hence mankind should be thankful to them.
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| At the entrance of Bhalo Pahar |
We spent the whole morning conversing with Shri Kamal Chakraborty and listening to his vision ahead. We also visited the school, animal husbandry, agricultural lands and the hospital running in the name of Bhalo Pahar. To witness the transformation of a barren land into an institution for the benevolence of mankind was indeed overwhelming. Here I would like to mention that one can also get accommodation in Bhalo Pahar while visiting Duarsini.
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| A man doesn't plant a tree for himself, he plants it for posterity... |
We had our lunch with chicken thali in the same shop. To have lunch sitting in the charpoya surrounded by pristine jungle was fun.
As we had ample time at our disposal we thoroughly explored the village of Asanpani. We sat on the bank of Satgurum river with our feet submerged in the icy cold water and chatted with the locals about their daily life who came over for a bath. Moments like these will remain with us forever.
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| Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax... |
That night we conversed for long hours sitting at the balcony of our forest rest house amidst the pitch black surrounding jungle. Wing flapping of a solitary bird roosting in some high perches above us took our mind and soul to some distant place. This is the reason why I love to travel to remote places. There I can switch off myelf from all the modern amenities and listen to the wisdom of my soul.
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| Sadly, it's much easier to create a desert than a forest... |
The next day, i.e., 27th October, 2022, we had to bid adieu to Duarsini with a promise to visit again in future. As our train was in the evening we decided to utilize the day by visiting Dharagiri Falls, Burudih Lake, Surya Mandir, etc. According to the plan, we booked the same auto which cost us twelve hundred rupees to visit these places.
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| At Dharagiri Falls |
The road leading to Dharagiri Falls traverses through some of the remote villages of Jharkhand. These villages are mainly inhabited by Santhali and Munda localites. Best time to visit Dharagiri is during the monsoon. Dharagiri is thirty five kilometres from Duarsini. Our next destination was Burudih Lake.
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| At Burudih Lake |
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| The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet... |
When you are travelling one of the most important factors is weather. Throughout our stay at Duarsini we had most beautiful weather in recent times. We had our lunch at a roadside pice hotel in the banks of Burudih lake. It was simple yet very satisfying. I have visited Burudih earlier but didn't like the place then, as it was peak season and the pandemonium created by the ongoing picnic parties were beyond imagination. Solitude of the place changed my perception completely. Then we went to Phuldungri Hill.
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| Surya Temple, Ghatsila |
Finally, we visited the Surya Temple located on the bank of Subanarekha river before wrapping up our trip. From Ghatshila we boarded Howrah Jan Satabdi Express (12022) at 5.30 P.M.
The trip to Duarsini left a deep impact in our nature loving soul. It is my earnest request to all to visit Duarsini with your loved ones and enjoy the solace of nature before commercialization sets in. These hidden paradises are those packet of energies that boosts the tourism of a country many folds.
Until next time.
(Picture Courtesy: Abhranil Kundu and Piangshuk Mukherjee)
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