At a glance
- The easiest spots for children are Charida's mask workshops, the carved birds of Pakhi Pahar, the Upper Dam embankment and Sita Kund, all with little walking.
- Bamni Falls, Marble Lake, the Mayur Pahar steps and the Murguma gorge need close supervision; keep children out of every pool and reservoir.
- Plan one cluster of sights per half day and be back before dusk, when elephants move through the forests.
- The nearest government hospital is Pathardihi Rural Hospital near Baghmundi; Purulia town has the district's medical college hospital.
- A Double Bed AC room at Rangamati sleeps four (₹2,500 for three, ₹3,000 for four), and children under 5 pay for meals only under the meal package.
A Purulia trip with family works well if you match the places to your children's ages and keep the days short. Most of the sights around the Ajodhya Hills are a short drive apart, several need almost no walking, and a few, like the Chhau mask workshops and the carved bird hill, are things children remember. The waterfalls, a deep quarry lake and some steep steps need real care. This guide sorts the places into easy and careful, then covers pacing, food, health and where to stay.
Is a Purulia trip with family and kids a good idea?
Yes, with a little planning. From our cottages at the foot of Matha Buru, most sights are 3 to 20 km away by road, so time in the car stays short. There is open space everywhere, and the hills are quiet.
The things to plan around are simple. Facilities at most sights are basic or absent, the heat from April to June is fierce, and elephants move through these forests after dark. None of that rules out a family holiday. It just means carrying water and snacks, picking the right season and being back by dusk.
Which places in Purulia suit children?
These need little or no walking and give children something to look at, touch or ask about.
| Place | Road km from the resort | Why children like it | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charida mask village | 10 | Masks being moulded and painted in open workshops | Very little; along the main road |
| Pakhi Pahar | 6.5 | Giant birds carved into the hill; animals on boulders | Optional; birds visible from the road |
| Lower Dam | 11 | A long blue lake between green hills | Little; views from the road |
| Upper Dam | 16 | A road along the top of the dam, with water on one side | Almost none |
| Sita Kund | 20 | A spring bubbling up through white sand; lotus ponds | Short and flat |
Charida is the village where the masks for Purulia Chhau are made. Artisans work in open porches along the road, and many have benches where visitors can sit and watch the stages: a clay mould, layers of paper and cloth, drying, then painting. Small masks make good souvenirs; in 2019 they started at about ₹20. Read more in our guide to the Charida mask village.
Pakhi Pahar is a bare rock hill that the sculptor Chitta Dey and his team of local carvers have been carving with enormous birds, the largest with a wingspan of about 120 ft. Children can spot them from the road. At the foot of the hill, boulders carry carved animals: a peacock, a deer, an elephant, a squirrel, a crocodile and a pangolin. Local women guide visitors around the site.
The dams are part of a pumped storage power project, which makes a good story for older children. Water is pumped up to the Upper Dam when there is spare electricity and let down through turbines inside the hill when power is needed, like a giant battery. A 2023 accessibility study gave the Upper Dam its top score for ease of access, since cars drive along the embankment.
Sita Kund is a small spring near the hill top. Local legend says Rama shot an arrow into the ground here to bring up water for a thirsty Sita. It is a place of worship, so keep it calm and clean.
Places that need extra care with children
These are worth seeing, but only with an adult close by. Keep children out of every pool, stream and reservoir.
- Bamni Falls: a steep descent on narrow, uneven steps, with no proper path to the lower falls. Edges are unguarded and the water can rise suddenly; in July 2019 two bathing college students were caught by a flash flood here and rescued by police. With young children, glimpse the falls from near the car park and leave the descent for another trip.
- Turga Falls: a rocky, lightly wooded trail to the water. Wet rock is slippery.
- Marble Lake: a quarry pit about 40 ft deep, with steep rock walls dropping into the water. Hold small hands at the rim.
- Mayur Pahar: about 120 steps with no handrail lead up to an observation tower. Watch children on the steps and on the tower.
- The gorge near Murguma Dam: strong winds blow at this viewpoint and sudden storms can bring flash floods. With children, skip it.
How to pace a family trip to Purulia
One area per half day. The sights fall into two clusters: Pakhi Pahar, Charida and the Lahariya temple near the resort, and the Ajodhya hill road with the dams, falls and hill top. Do one cluster in a morning, come back for lunch and rest, and keep the afternoon light.
Start early and be home by dusk. Elephants from the Dalma forests move through these hills, mostly at night. Mornings are also cooler for walking.
Respect the heat. In April and May the average daytime high in Purulia is about 37–38°C (IMD 1991–2020 averages). Children tire quickly in that heat, so plan outings for the morning and late afternoon.
A comfortable three-night trip might look like this:
- Day 1: Arrive, settle in, explore the lawn and watch for birds and peacocks around the resort.
- Day 2: Morning at Charida and the Lower Dam; afternoon rest; a bonfire after dinner.
- Day 3: The Upper Dam, Sita Kund and, for older children, Marble Lake or Bamni Falls from the top; back by mid-afternoon.
- Day 4: Pakhi Pahar on the way to the station.
Our 2-day Purulia itinerary has a shorter version.
Food, health and first aid
Food: Our kitchen serves fresh home-style meals in the dining area, and room service is available. The meal package covers breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner. If a child needs plain or mild food, mention it when you book. On sightseeing days, carry water and snacks; tea stalls in the villages are basic, and many sights have nothing at all.
Health: Bring any regular medicines, plus a small first-aid kit with plasters, antiseptic, ORS sachets, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Mobile signal can be patchy in parts of the hills, so don't rely on looking things up on the road.
The nearest government medical facilities, from the Baghmundi block's health records:
- Pathardihi Rural Hospital (30 beds), near Baghmundi at the foot of the hills.
- Ajodhya Hill Primary Health Centre (12 beds), on the hill top.
- Koreng Primary Health Centre (6 beds), near Khairabera Dam.
- Purulia town, home to Deben Mahata Government Medical College and Hospital, the main hospital for serious cases.
Evenings at the resort
Evenings at the resort are relaxed. There is an open lawn and a pond, and peacocks and other birds are about. After dinner, you can ask for:
- A bonfire on the lawn, with BBQ chicken on request.
- A Chhau performance. Purulia Chhau is a masked dance full of leaps and drumming; UNESCO inscribed Chhau, with Purulia as one of its three styles, as intangible cultural heritage in 2010. Visit Charida first and children can see the masks they watched being made come alive in the dance. Our Purulia Chhau dance guide explains the stories.
- Santhali dance, with linked arms, swaying lines and the madal drum.
- Baul songs, sung with the ektara and dotara.
All are arranged on request and charged separately. See Experiences and ask when you book.
Rooms for families at Rangamati
The Double Bed AC Room is the family choice: air-conditioned, with two beds, and it sleeps four. It costs ₹2,500 a night for three people and ₹3,000 for four, and an extra bed is ₹500. Rooms have a western toilet, a geyser and 24×7 power and water, and parking is free.
If you would rather not plan meals, the package is ₹1,600 per person per day, including the stay and all four meals, and children under 5 pay for meals only. Full details are on our Stay page.
