Purulia is not just Ayodhya Hills or Mathaburu. Hidden deep inside its dense sal forests lies an unfamiliar slice of paradise. As winter sets in, Patalghar becomes another perfect short-trip destination. To reach here, get off at Barabhum station and head towards Baghmundi. Cross the tribal villages of Rangadi, Bashitard and Bhuchungdi along the way, where you get a glimpse of quiet rural life. Move past Dava village and enter Mathaburu, where your adventure and mountain journeys begin. This is also a training zone for rock climbing.
Follow the road through the dense forest until you reach Duarsini More which is the edge of two kingdoms. A little ahead, turn right to find Purulia’s newest retreat: Patalghar. The moment you arrive, the forest surrounds you completely with sal, piyal and palash trees standing tall on all sides.
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Patalghar in the heart of the forest
The forest here is truly deep. Amid this dense green stands Patalghar, designed like the iconic Hobbit Houses. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories, the hairy little folk lived inside such houses. A similar Hobbit village in New Zealand attracts tourists who spend heavily for an overnight stay. Another version appears in Disneyland. Only the backdrop is different, instead of foreign landscapes, these Hobbit-style homes now sit on the red earth of Purulia.
The houses are almost circular. With a domed roof, three sides of each house remain underground. Only two doors and a couple of windows are visible above ground; the rest blends into the earth. Spread across nearly 4 bighas of land, Patalghar is an eco-friendly tourism destination. Opposite it, the Kuku Buru Hill of the Ayodhya Range rises sharply.
Places to explore nearby
The sound of dry leaves falling in the sal-piyal forest is magical. Not far from here lies the village near Tikratard which is about 18 km from Barabhum via Marekate, home to many tribal communities. During festivals, their houses are adorned with wall paintings. Clean courtyards of mud houses stretch toward the distant Kuku Buru Hill which is considered sacred by local tribes. Their prayers, rituals and vows revolve around this mountain, beside which stands Aralkanali Hill.
The Hidden Aralkanali
Walk through the sal forest and head toward Aralkanali. Cross the paddy fields and keep moving. The forest ends and giant stone formations begin, terracing upward like natural steps. Climb slowly — always with an experienced guide. The landscape resembles Hampi in Karnataka, full of massive boulders in unique shapes. From the top, the view is spectacular — lush green forest on one side and the red-earth ruggedness on the other. Avoid visiting during peak monsoon or summer. This newly emerging destination in Baghmundi is known locally as Aralkanali or Badani Dhadi.
From here, if you have a full day, you can cover Baghmundi circuit spots such as Upper Dam, Lower Dam, Marble Lake, Turga Falls, Bamni Falls, Sitakund, Mayur Hill, Pakhi Hill, Matha Hill, Khairabera Dam and the famous Charida Mask Village.
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How to reach?
Take the 18011 Adra–Chakradharpur Passenger from Howrah. It leaves at 11:35 pm and reaches Barabhum at 7:14 am the next day.
On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the 22891 Ranchi Intercity leaves at 12:50 am and reaches Barabhum at 6:03 am.
Where to stay?
Patalghar, located in Tikratard, has six Hobbit-style rooms and tents for accommodation. A guide is mandatory for visiting Aralkanali, and guide charges are separate.
