At a glance
- For sunrise, local guides take early risers to the watch tower at Usuldungri, about 29 km from the resort beyond Ajodhya Hill Top.
- For sunset in the Ajodhya Hills, travel writers recommend the Upper Dam road and the summit of Mayur Pahar.
- Murguma, Khairabera and Baranti are the lakes for evening light; Baranti is 120 km away and best with a night's stay.
- Sunrise in Purulia moves from about 5 am in June to about 6:28 am in mid-January; sunset from about 5 pm in November–December to 6:34 pm in July.
- Elephants move through these forests at night, so travel before dawn and after dusk only with a local driver, on main roads, and never walk forest trails in the dark.
The best sunrise and sunset points in Purulia are in and around the Ajodhya Hills. For sunrise, local guides take early risers to the watch tower at Usuldungri, about 29 km from our cottages beyond Ajodhya Hill Top. For sunset, travel writers favour the Upper Dam road and the summit of Mayur Pahar, while Murguma and Khairabera are the lakes for evening light. Further afield, Baranti in the north is known for both. Sunrise ranges from about 5 am in June to about 6:28 am in mid-January, and sunset from about 5 pm in November and December to about 6:30 pm in mid-summer.
When are sunrise and sunset in Purulia?
These are the times at the resort, near Baghmundi, on the 15th of each month. They shift by only a minute or two across the district and from year to year. First light comes about 25 minutes before sunrise, and dusk lasts about as long after sunset.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:28 am | 5:21 pm |
| February | 6:18 am | 5:41 pm |
| March | 5:54 am | 5:54 pm |
| April | 5:25 am | 6:06 pm |
| May | 5:04 am | 6:19 pm |
| June | 4:59 am | 6:32 pm |
| July | 5:08 am | 6:34 pm |
| August | 5:21 am | 6:18 pm |
| September | 5:32 am | 5:49 pm |
| October | 5:42 am | 5:20 pm |
| November | 5:59 am | 5:01 pm |
| December | 6:18 am | 5:02 pm |
Two things are worth knowing. Winter days are short, so a winter sunset comes early and the drive back is in the dark. And the sun does not rise due east: around the December solstice it rises and sets roughly 25 degrees south of east and west, and around June the same distance to the north. A viewpoint that faces the sunset in May may miss it in December.
Sunrise points in Purulia
Usuldungri: the hill-top sunrise
Usuldungri (Ushuldunri in census records) is a small Adivasi village in the south-east of the Ajodhya plateau. Local guides and travel writers describe it as the place to start the day, with a recently built watch tower looking out over the ridges. Guides usually go from Ajodhya Hill Top through the villages of Tudugora and Edelbera, about 9 km. One tour itinerary suggests it for sunset instead, so ask your driver which way the tower faces before you choose.
Go with a local driver or guide: the approach is on minor village roads, and the 2011 census recorded no all-weather road to the village. This is someone's home, not a viewpoint built for visitors, so keep voices low at dawn and ask before photographing anyone.
Joychandi Pahar and Baranti: mornings in the north
If you are staying in the north of the district, Joychandi Pahar near Raghunathpur rewards an early climb: a writer for Kolkata on Wheels recommended the top in the soft sun of a winter morning, with fields, ponds and the railway spread below. At Baranti, Outlook Traveller recommended both sunrise and sunset at the lake. Both are 95 km or more from the Ajodhya Hills, so they suit a night away; our Garh Panchkot and Baranti day trip shows how to plan one.
A quiet sunrise closer to home
Not every morning needs a pre-dawn drive. The lawns at Rangamati look out on the hills of the Matha forest, and early morning is when the birds and peacocks around us are most active. We have not found a documented public trail up Matha Buru, 3 km away, so keep forest walks to full daylight.
Sunset points in Purulia
The Upper Dam road
The Upper Dam, 16 km from the resort, is the easiest sunset in the hills. A road runs along the top of the embankment, with the reservoir on one side and forest on the other, and a Bengali travel writer singled out the lakeside road for its sunset view above the Ajodhya hills. A 2023 study rated the dam among the easiest sites in the hills to reach, which makes it a good choice for older travellers. It is a working power-station reservoir, so stay on the road.
Mayur Pahar
Mayur Pahar, 20 km from the resort and about 2 km from Ajodhya Hill Top, rises to around 600 m and carries an observation tower with an all-round view of the range. The same travel writer recommends sitting on the summit to watch the sun go down. From the parking area a path and a flight of about 120 steps, without a handrail, lead to the tower, so carry a torch for the way down and take the steps slowly in fading light.
Murguma Dam
Murguma Dam, 37 km from the resort at the north-western end of the hills, is a favourite for sunsets over water. Its earthen embankment runs for over 2 km, and a slow walk along it in the late afternoon opens up the whole island-dotted lake with the hills behind. Two cautions: mobile signal is weak, so fix pick-up plans in advance, and leave the gorge viewpoint near the dam well before dusk, as strong winds and sudden storms make it dangerous.
Khairabera Dam
Khairabera Dam, 22 km away below Chemtaburu hill, is the quietest of the lakes. Outlook Traveller's writer found only the sound of water on the rocky banks and cattle bells, with stars coming out over the water after sunset. Stay on for the first stars, then drive back with your driver on the main road.
Pakhi Pahar in afternoon light
The giant birds carved into Pakhi Pahar, 6.5 km from the resort, are on the hill's western face, so it catches the sun in the afternoon. The panels can be seen from the Balarampur–Baghmundi road, which makes this an easy late-afternoon stop before heading on to a sunset spot.
Baranti
In The Telegraph's words, sunset is particularly special at Baranti: the lake changes colour as yellow and red spread from the water onto the paddy fields. At 120 km from the resort, it is best seen with a night's stay nearby.
Places to leave before dark
Some well-known spots are for daylight only. Outlook Traveller advises getting off Panchet Hill at Garh Panchkot by late afternoon, as it is deserted after sunset. Bamni Falls and Turga Falls are reached by forest paths and should be left well before dusk. The quarry rim at Marble Lake has steep, unguarded edges that are hard to see in fading light.
Getting there before dawn and back after dark
- Plan the timing: for a sunrise at Usuldungri, aim to be at the tower by first light, about 25 minutes before sunrise.
- Dress for it: winter mornings and evenings on the plateau are cold; bring a warm layer and a torch.
- Settle plans in advance: mobile coverage is patchy in parts of the hills.
- Check the calendar: around Baisakhi Purnima (April–May), the forest department sets up check posts in the hills for the Disum Sendra, so expect crowds and checks.
From Rangamati we can arrange a driver, cab or local guide for an early start or a late return on request.
A sunrise-to-sunset day in the Ajodhya Hills
- Before dawn: drive to Usuldungri with a local driver and watch the sunrise from the tower.
- Early morning: come back across the plateau to Ajodhya Hill Top; walk to Sita Kund and eat at one of the simple eateries on the top, or carry breakfast.
- Mid-morning: Marble Lake, where the water looks bluest on a clear day, then Bamni Falls before the midday heat.
- Midday: Turga Falls and Turga Dam on the way down the hill road, then lunch and a rest through the hottest hours.
- Late afternoon: Pakhi Pahar for the carved birds in afternoon light.
- Sunset: the Upper Dam road or the summit of Mayur Pahar.
- After dark: drive back on the main road, then a bonfire on the lawn, which we can arrange on request.
It is a long day with two early starts in one, so it suits keen walkers and photographers more than small children. For more on light and composition, see our photographer's guide to Purulia.
