Imagine a thin, winding road, snaking its way to the horizon; flanked by a towering hill on one side and a calm, shimmering lake on the other. The setting sun, casting its eerily beautiful golden hue across the water and onto the surrounding landscape.
Too good to imagine right! Like something you read in a novel. But rest assured, this is reality and its just 240 km from the metropolitan city of Kolkata. Yes, I am talking about Baranti, a small tribal village in Purulia. It is a tranquil abode of quiet mud huts, migratory birds and some truly otherworldly sunsets.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Reaching this obscure location is relatively straightforward. It is best to take a car and drive to Asansol, from there you can take the road towards Purulia and reach Muradi. From Muradi, Branati village is only a short drive along the banks of the lake.
The village itself is bordered by the mighty Panchakot mountain on one side and the Biharinath hill on the other. As Purulia forms the first steps of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, you will see the landscape broken up by hilly outcrops and beautiful stone structures, carved to perfection by nature.
Baranti is a relatively new tourist hotspot that has popped up over the last decade. A scantly populated tribal village, it offers a rich portfolio of ecological tourism. Migratory birds routinely flock the banks of the lakes and the Muradi dam area.
The surrounding forests and hills provide shelter to diverse flora and fauna that are a magnet for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts who flock to the region during weekends.
Over the past few years, a significant number of hotels and resorts have sprung up in and around Baranti village. Upscale establishments like Allure De Baranti and Sprangle Wings Resort provide world class facilities in midst of untampered nature.
I myself had visited the place a long time ago. Back then I stayed at the Aaronnok Resort. It is a simple resort with lush green vegetation adoring its expansive gardens and surrounding. I stayed during the winter months and the biting cold made it a truly novel experience.
The food was authentic, almost a home cooked affair. The hotel staff and employees are mostly from the village and hence the homely touch to the cuisine was evident. Development of hotels, hiking trails and sight seeing has helped the economy of the area.
Many of the village folks have found jobs in the resorts that have come up around the area. This is good for the people but there are some evident hazards when a rich ecosystem like Baranti gets commercialised. I believe ecologically friendly tourism practices go a long way in mitigating such harmful contingencies.
If tourists are responsible with their activities, then nature remains unharmed and thus accentuating the charm of the place. The natural beauty is what attracts tourists to Baranti and protecting it will bring economy to the area; it is a delicate balance that must be respected.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
While staying at Baranti, you can visit quite a few spots in Purulia. For instance, Garpanchakot is only around 10 kilometres from the village. You can easily spend an afternoon at the Panchakot hill, exploring the palace ruins. Panchet dam is only a stone’s throw away from Baranti too. You can catch some amazing views of the setting sun over the Damodar river there.
For the rock climbers and hiking enthusiasts, Joy Chandi hills are about 30 km away; so, if you feel adventurous, you can explore this option. And for those of us who just want to enjoy some downtime, you can take a walk through the village and zone out under a tree, overlooking the lake.
Baranti is a place that holds a different meaning for different people. For some it is a place to step back and enjoy the quiet times of life. While for others, its place to break free from the shackles of urban existence and embrace, explore nature with renewed vigour.
Whatever the reason maybe, it is a place worth experiencing and I believe you should too. So, I suggest you hit the road and carve out an off-beat weekend which you will cherish for a long time into the future.
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