It was Ritika’s birthday. And we were duty-bound to go somewhere close to nature.
And that’s where the beautiful Garpanchkot came in. The drive from Kolkata was long but smooth. The Durgapur Expressway / NH-19 was one of the better roads that I drove on in West Bengal. After a lunch stop in Asansol, we reached Garpanchkot in Purulia. We spent most of the first evening resting and sleeping.
Pic 1: In Purulia, Oct, 2026
Pic 2: Palash Bithi resort- our cottage for two nights
The resort was located right in the jungle. It had four cottages. A big pond was next to our cottage. In the morning one could see many different birds. One morning, a big pond heron sat for close to an hour staring at the jungle! And then there were hens and ducks cooing and quacking all day on the premises. Quite a noisy bunch!
Pic 3: An endless fascination with ducks!
On Day 2, we went to the ruins of the Garpanchkot temples. It was interesting to learn that the Bargis (Maratha raiders) had plundered this place. The raids, along with internal conflicts, contributed to the abandonment of the old capital, while the royal family later relocated to Kashipur. Clearly as historians point out often that plunder of temples were not done necessarily due to the difference in faith but territorial ambitions.
Pic 4: The ruins of Garpanchkot
One evening, we visited Baranti Lake, which was quite picturesque, though a little crowded at sunset. The hills overlooked the lake and formed a beautiful landscape. Honestly, the real fun was driving to and from the lake. On the way, Google Maps showed a road through the field, and our car was the only one on it. And while returning on a better route, we navigated pitch darkness and again realized we were the only car driving! It was quite a thrill!
Pic 5: Sunset at Baranti lake
On our last day (Day 3), we went to a 7.5 km long nature trail. While walking, we saw spiders bigger than our palms and butterflies prettier than the most beautiful flowers. I was surprised to see this long and beautiful trail completely deserted. Such trails are a rare thing and I am sure people simply aren’t aware enough to access it. Unfortunately, the walk was brief, as Ritika heard sounds and her mind interpreted them as anything from a lion to a bear (I was sure it was construction noise coming from far away!).
Pic 6: Garpanchkot Nature trail- an absolute must visit!
While returning to Kolkata on Sunday, we made a quick stopover at Maithon Dam and experienced it by boat. Arhat was loudly protesting against the boat ride but finally relented. Later, he mentioned he even enjoyed it!
Pic 7: Boating at Maithon dam (the life jackets are a display of both caution and fear of rocky boat rides!)
Garpanchkot was one of the rare trips where nature was firmly at the centre, not the accommodation or the typical trip checklist. What will stay with us are the green forests and lakes, and the lack of tourists all around!
Pic 8: A jungle trail near the resort
