Temple
Bandwan Duarsini Temple
Forest, rolling hills and tribal villages near Bandwan, on the Dalma fringe.
- 76 kmBy road from the resort
- South-eastOf the resort
- TempleTemples & culture
Overview
Temple
Visiting Bandwan Duarsini Temple
Duarsini is a small tribal village about 13 km from Bandwan town, set among sal, teak, piyal and palash forest and the rolling hills of the Dalma range. It suits a quiet day of forest walks, birdsong and a glimpse of village life in a largely tribal area.
West Bengal Tourism describes Duarsini as a peaceful village surrounded by rolling hills and the deep green of the Dalma hills. The Dalma forest beyond is home to bears, wolves, wild boar and many birds, and herds of migrating elephants sometimes come out of the forest into the area. Wikipedia lists the Duarsini hills and forests among the places that draw visitors to Purulia each year, and as a picnic spot.
Bandwan is one of the most tribal blocks in the district: in the 2011 Census just over half its people (51.86 per cent) belonged to Scheduled Tribes. The Forest Department runs a tourist lodge and eco-tourism centre at Duarsini with three cottages built like traditional tribal homes, and village homestay rooms were also on offer in 2018.
The name is shared with a folk goddess: Duarsini is one of the 'sini' goddesses that Wikipedia lists alongside Dwarbasini and Palashbasini. No official or encyclopaedic source we could find describes a temple to her at this village.
When you're there
See & do
Things to see and do
- 01
Forest walks
Sal, teak (segun), piyal and palash woods cover the rolling hills around the village, which West Bengal Tourism recommends to nature lovers in search of peace and quiet.
- 02
Birdwatching
West Bengal Tourism notes 'many known and unknown bird species' in the Dalma forest around Duarsini.
- 03
Tribal villages
Santal, Sabar (Shabar), Kheria and Munda villages lie around Duarsini, and Bandwan block is more than half tribal. Visits are best made with a local guide or host.
- 04
The Duarsini ghat road
The Purulia-Bandwan-Galudih road runs through Duarsini and is known for its ghat section through the forested hills on the way into Jharkhand.
Gallery
Photos
Bandwan Duarsini Temple in pictures
Photos coming soon
We're putting together our own photographs of Bandwan Duarsini Temple. Been there with us? We'd love to see yours.
Getting there
From Rangamati
Where it lies
Bandwan Duarsini Temple is 76 km by road from the resort, to the south-east. A local guide, sightseeing cab or driver can be arranged on request.
- The drive
- The drive heads east on SH4 through Balarampur to Barabazar, then south-east to Bandwan; the shortest line by map cuts briefly through a corner of Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district. Beyond Bandwan, the Purulia-Bandwan-Galudih road runs on through Duarsini and its ghat section towards Galudih in Jharkhand. The map pin for Duarsini is approximate, so confirm the final turning locally.
The pin marks the nearest village; the last stretch is best asked locally.
Before you go
- Facilities
- The Forest Department's eco-tourism centre has three cottages styled like tribal homes (WB Tourism). Village homestay rooms were also available as of 2018, and both filled up completely over the Dol holiday that year (Sangbad Pratidin).
- Safety
- Elephant herds from the Dalma forest sometimes pass through. Keep to roads and village paths, never approach elephants, and take local advice before walking in the forest.
Through the year
Seasons & festivals
When to go
Summer
March – June
Spring is palash season in Purulia, when the 'flame of the forest' blooms red, and palash is one of Duarsini's main trees. Rooms here were fully booked over Dol (Holi) in 2018 (Sangbad Pratidin).
Good to know
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How far is Duarsini from Rangamati Eco Resort?
About 76 km by road, by way of Barabazar and Bandwan. The resort can arrange a guide, sightseeing cab or driver on request, which helps here because the final turning is best confirmed locally.
Is there a temple at Duarsini?
We could not confirm one. Duarsini is the name of a folk 'sini' goddess, so a village shrine is possible, but no official or encyclopaedic source describes a temple here. The forest, hills and villages are the reason to go.
Can we stay overnight?
Yes. The Forest Department runs an eco-tourism centre with three cottages built like tribal homes, and village homestay rooms were available as of 2018.
Is it safe with elephants around?
Elephant herds from the Dalma forest sometimes come into the area. Keep to roads, stay well away from any herd and follow local advice.
Make a day of it
Close by
Nearby places
Other places close to this one, so you can see a few in a single trip.
Sources: wbtourism.gov.in · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · sangbadpratidin.in · outlooktraveller.com · router.project-osrm.org
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