Where Water Meets Wilderness – and Stories Flow with the Wind
Purulia – the western sentinel of Bengal, where red earth meets endless sky. A land of rugged hills, whispering forests, and quiet rhythms, it is as wild as it is poetic. And among its many natural treasures, the lakes of Purulia shimmer like scattered mirrors, each reflecting a different mood of this timeless land.
From vast hill reservoirs to hidden village ponds cradled by Sal forests, these lakes are more than just waterbodies – they are stories carved by time, culture, and earth.
And at the heart of it all lies Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, your perfect lakeside retreat – where every dawn begins with mist rising from water, and every evening ends with the sound of tribal drums echoing across still reflections.
Welcome to the water soul of Purulia.
🌿 The Water Heart of the Red Land
Purulia’s terrain is an orchestra of contrasts – red soil, green canopies, grey stone, and blue water. The lakes here are born from both nature and history – some ancient and sacred, others created by dams that now sustain entire ecosystems.
Each lake tells a story: of reflection, survival, and serenity. Together, they form a liquid map of tranquillity – a journey through stillness, colour, and connection.
From Bon Polashi, you can trace this circle of calm – ten lakes, ten moods, all within reach, all timeless.
🌊 1. Murguma Lake – The Jewel of Ajodhya
The soul of Purulia rests in Murguma Lake – a serene expanse of blue wrapped in emerald hills. In the early morning, mist drifts across the water like poetry in motion, and by sunset, the lake glows golden under a sky ablaze with colour.
Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp sits right by its edge, making this lake both your view and your companion. Every ripple, every reflection feels like a conversation between sky and soul.
🌄 2. Khairabera Lake – Where hills Whisper
Just a short drive from Bon Polashi, Khairabera Lake lies cradled among the Ajodhya Hills, shimmering beneath the shadow of Chemtaburu Peak. The water mirrors the slopes and clouds so perfectly that it’s hard to tell where the hills end and reflections begin.
This is a place of still air, soft light, and quiet contemplation – ideal for trekkers, photographers, and anyone seeking solitude that feels infinite.
🌅 3. Pardi Lake – The Lake that Listens
Hidden deep within the forested folds between Khairabera and Murguma, Pardi Lake is a secret whispered only by locals. Small, secluded, and ethereal, it feels untouched by time.
Here, even silence has layers – the call of birds, the hum of leaves, the echo of water lapping against stone. For those who seek peace that doesn’t speak, Pardi listens.
🪶 4. Marble Lake – The Lake of Reflections
Carved out of old stone quarries, Marble Lake near Baghmundi gleams like a hidden gemstone. Its name comes from the marble-like rock faces that catch the light, turning the water into a shimmering palette of jade and blue.
Once forgotten, this lake has become a favourite for photographers and nature wanderers who love contrasts – rock and water, silence and reflection.
🏞️ 5. Sahebbadh Lake – The Colonial Reservoir
Just outside Purulia town lies Sahebbadh Lake, a legacy of the British era. Built as a water reservoir during colonial times, it remains one of the oldest artificial lakes in the district.
Surrounded by flowering trees and migratory birds, Sahebbadh reflects both history and calm – a gentle reminder that even human-made waters can carry the heartbeat of the land.
🕉️ 6. Telkupi Lake – The Submerged City of Temples
Of all the lakes in Purulia, Telkupi Lake tells the most haunting story. Beneath its tranquil surface lie the ruins of an ancient town – over 30 Jain temples submerged when the Panchet Dam was built in the 1950s.
When the waters recede in winter, the half-drowned shikharas rise from the depths, silent and sacred. To stand here is to witness time itself – half forgotten, half remembered.
🌾 7. Putiary Lake – The Village Mirror
Small, quiet, and wrapped in paddy fields, Putiary Lake reflects the rural soul of Purulia. This lake isn’t grand – it’s intimate, where farmers wash their tools, children play at the edge, and cranes glide across the mirrored sky.
It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t always shout – sometimes it hums softly in the rhythm of daily life.
🌸 8. Baranti Lake – The Romantic Reservoir
A little further north, Baranti Lake spreads its calm between the Muradi Hills and Baranti Village. Famous for its sunset views, this lake glows like liquid gold in the evening light, framed by silhouettes of trees and distant ridges.
Couples, photographers, and dreamers find themselves returning to Baranti – not just for its beauty, but for the peace it wraps around the heart.
⛰️ 9. Upper Dam of Ajodhya – Where Clouds Touch Water
High up in the Ajodhya Hills, the Upper Dam captures the essence of hill water. Small, serene, and surrounded by mist-laden peaks, it offers breathtaking reflections of the sky and forest.
It’s a favourite stop for trekkers exploring the Ajodhya circuit – a place where clouds often descend low enough to kiss the lake’s surface.
🌤️ 10. Lower Dam of Ajodhya – The Hidden Twin
Just a few kilometers below the Upper Dam lies its quieter twin – the Lower Dam of Ajodhya. Fed by hill streams, this lake is a mosaic of blue and green, bordered by trails that lead deep into forest silence.
It’s lesser-known, rarely visited, and utterly pristine – the kind of place that feels like a reward for those who wander without maps.
🏕️ Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp: The Basecamp of Still Waters
To truly explore the lakes of Purulia, you need not move far. Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, nestled by Murguma Lake, sits at the center of this entire circle of water – a perfect starting point for each day’s quiet journey.
Here, mornings begin with the shimmer of sunrise on Murguma’s water, and nights end with starlight dancing over the hills. Between these moments lies a life of simplicity and wonder:
🌱 Eco-Living in Harmony
Stay in bamboo and mud cottages crafted by local artisans. No artificial walls here – just open windows to birdsong and breeze.
🍚 Food from the Land
Savour organic red rice, leafy saag, lentil curry, and smoky local fish cooked over woodfire – meals that taste like the earth itself.
🔥 Evenings of Culture & Story
As dusk falls, the fire crackles and Chhau dancers move in rhythm with drums. Storytellers from nearby villages share legends of spirits that guard these waters – every flame flicker echoing an ancient tale.
đź‘Ł Guided Adventures
Bon Polashi’s local tribal guides lead treks, birding walks, and cultural visits to nearby lakes and villages – ensuring every experience remains authentic, safe, and sustainable.
🪶 The Spirit of the Lakes
Each lake of Purulia is more than scenery – it’s an emotion, a pause, a reflection. Together they form a circle of calm that defines this land’s essence:
- Murguma – Tranquillity
- Khairabera – Majesty
- Pardi – Mystery
- Marble – Reflection
- Sahebbadh – Memory
- Telkupi – Legacy
- Putiary – Simplicity
- Baranti – Romance
- Upper Dam – Adventure
- Lower Dam – Solitude
When seen through the lens of Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, these are not just destinations – they are moods of a single soul.
đź’š Sustainable Travel: Where You Leave Only Ripples
Bon Polashi isn’t just a place to stay – it’s a movement toward conscious travel. Every trip to these lakes is guided by respect for the land, the people, and the delicate ecosystems that breathe life into this region.
- 🌿 Zero Plastic Policy
- 🌞 Solar Energy & Rainwater Harvesting
- 🧺 Waste Segregation & Composting
- 🤝 Employment for Local Communities
- 🎠Cultural Preservation through Chhau & Craft Workshops
Every traveller here becomes a guardian – not just a guest.
✨ Final Words: The Circle of Calm
Purulia is a land that doesn’t shout for attention – it hums softly in the background of Bengal’s map, waiting for those who can hear the rhythm beneath the soil. Its lakes are not mere waters – they are mirrors to its ancient heart.
To sit beside one is to pause time. To visit them all is to understand Purulia’s spirit – wild yet gentle, fierce yet tender.
And when you return to Bon Polashi Eco Hut & Camp, tired yet at peace, the lake outside your hut will shimmer in the moonlight – as if thanking you for listening.
Because here, travel isn’t about movement.
It’s about stillness. 💧