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Garh Panchkot is a ruined fort located in the eastern part of India at the foothills of Panchet hills in the district of Purulia , West Bengal . The ruins of the Panchkot Palace are a silent testimony to the Bargi attack during the 18th century . Alongside nature amazing beauty , Garhpanchakote is also a testimonial to a rich ancient historical heritage . The panchakote hills is also enriched with Zoological Treasure . Dating back to 90 CE when Raja Damodar Sekhar ruled the region , the extreme dilapidation of Garh Panchakot adds to its air of mystery . In the mid 1700s Maratha invader attacked this fort and left it in ruins . Today roots and creepers are ininterwined with the forts crumbling structures . Its charm lies in moss covered domes and stones slabs decorated with floral motifs . The Pancharatna Temple here still carries some exquisite terracotta work on the sandstone arches and pillars . The staicase inside the temple is dilapidated , but you can climb up to get a great view of the valley below . Bear the rough drive from Asansol to Garhpanchkot , and you will be rewarded with a great weekend . That is the magic of this place nestled among the forest of Purulia , nutured by the waters of Barakur and guarded by the panchet Hills . A typical day out at Panchet Hills is like going back to school for a history lesson on the ruined , yet beautiful remnants of Raja Singh Deo 's fort and temple . Next is geography hour , as you learn how Panchet Dam connects Purulia in West Bengal to Dhanbad in Jharkhand . Post lunch , a litle fun at the Muradih lake and you are whisked away for religion classes at Kalyaneshwari and Brinjnath temples . Finally , take a break with a fun ride on the boat across River barakur and unlimited chaat at Maithon .
Things to See and Do : Raja 's Fort : About 7km up Panchet Hill stand Garhpanchkot , which gives the town its name . The fort keeps a lonely vigil over the world beneath . It dates as far back as 90 CE , when Raja Damodar Sekhar ruled the place . The pancharatna Temple as it is called , still carries some exquisite terracotta work on its sandstone arches and pillars . The staircase inside the temple is dilapidated , but the with a little effort , you can climb up to get a great view of the valley beneath . It dates as far back as 90 CE , when Raja Damodar Sekhar ruled the place . The Pancharatna Temple , as it is called , still carries some some exquisite terracotta work on its sandstone arches and pillars . The staircase inside the temple is dilapidated , but with a little effort you can climb up to get a great view of the valley beneath . Ditto with the ruined watchtower on its right . Get off the hills by late afternoon as it is deserted and unsafe after sunset .
Baranti & Muradih Lake : A 15 km drive away , across a rustic setting , leads to Muradi . If you have had fish for lunch here , it would have been alive and kicking in this very lake a few hours ago . The fish bring in the birds bring in the tourists . Between August and November , when bird migration is at its peak , hornbills and cormorants occupy the entire lake . When the birds have gone , local , anglers try their hand at catching the jal pushp , or water flowers . Sunrise and sunset are the best time to come to the lake . If you want some peace and quiet, Baranti is an ideal pick. It lies in the beautiful Rahr countryside and offers a stunning view of the reservoir. You can pack up a picnic hamper and set off to Baranti, where you can eat and revel in the gorgeous view and the peaceful atmosphere. There will be no one to disturb you, for sure! Baranti is also dotted with a couple of verdant hills that you can try and scale, provided you have the right equipment for it
Joychandi Pahar : It is a hill which is a popular tourists spot in Indian State of West Bengal in Purulia district . It is also just four kilometers away from Adra Junction railway station and 1.5 kilometers from Joychandipahar railway station and 1.5 kilometers fromJoychandipahar railway station on Adra Asansol section . At present the station is well connected up to the Joychandipahar and the surrounding locality that one can reach here easily . The weather over here is pleasent , although the day time is quite very hot . The night is pleasent although . The hill was popular only from the Satyajit Ray film, ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ that has some scenes shot here. Earlier, the place was not so popular and as a result, not so much transportation facilities are available to reach the hill from the railway station. Around 520 steps are there at the top there is Chandi Mata Temple from there the hill 360 degrees view of the area one can enjoy .
Panchet Dam : The flagship tourists spot lies about 5 km upstream at the confluence or the barkar and Damodar rivers . However , for the security reasons , u cannot stop here midway if you are driving , but only on reaching the other end . The only place where you can get down is near the steps that leads to the Nehru Chirdrens Park .
Where to Stay and eat : WBFDC's Garpanchkot Prakriti Bhraman Kendra at the foot of Panchet hills , is the only option . There is a big play area for kids and lots of park benches . Book atleast a month in advance , and from Kolkata itself , as they are in demand throughout the season . The food and service at the resturant are average order food an hour in advance .
How to reach : By Air : Convenient airport : Birsa Munda Airport , Ranchi 125km 4hrs in Jharkhand . Taxis are available on hire , but you will need to neogotiate rates . Kolkatas Netaji Shubah Chandra Bose International Airport is about 300 km away .
Rail : Howrah Purulia Express ruins from Howrah on all days via Midnapore . Another good option is the Rupashi Bangla Express the journey takes about 5.5 hrs .
Road : SBSTC offers a non Ac service between Kolkata and Purulia via Asansol from Esplanade . Book online on redbus.in
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