First Day I Covered Gadrasini Hill and Khandarani Dam. Next day after taking my breakfast I started my journey with my ‘Sarathi’ pulsar 150. I covered four spots over there. it was a little bit hectic day.Started the day with Dhangikushum, and covered Ketki lake, Kankrajhore and Taleberia Dam.
Dhangikushum || Hudhudi Falls
Towards our right is a slope strewn with rocks and boulders that leads to a waterfall. The path has uphill and downhill trajectories through the deep forest, however, some parts of it are insanely beautiful and isolated. A few temporary shacks sell handicraft items—things made from stones hand-quarried from these rocks and boulders.
There are puja items like utensils for worship rituals. Also, there are baskets, mats, coasters, and several other home utility things made of cane and jute.Though Few years ago I’ve not seen this culture. Now a days lots of tourist used to visit the place and the local people grab this oppertunity for their earnings. If you have financial capability, please consider buying some items without bargaining. Belpahari has suffered long enough. The population here has faced violence, hunger, and abject poverty. The literacy rate is very low, your INR 100 will go a long way here. In this stretch you will come across groups of kids who might ask you for money. But don’t give them money in hand It may harmful for their future as becasue they missusages this and used to spend the money in smoking and drinking.
The hike ends at a waterfall point, named Hudhudi Waterfalls. though in winter the waterfall and the waterbody itself is not impressive but the route to the waterfall, the hike, is worth it.But its real beauty is in rainy season, in the month of September its shows its real,atttractive, fantasmagorical, megical beauty. It is also known as Jangalmahal’s Nayagra in the local area.
Ketki Lake
Ketki lake is a very beautiful lake and is quite large. The lake and the ecology around it look so Himalayan to me! Small rolling mounds with green grasses encircle the lake. Beyond the grassland is deep forest. We spot butterflies and ladybirds lounging on the grass. There is pin drop silence and hardly any visitors.
Knakrajhore
After visiting Hudhudi and Ketki I reached Kankrajhore through forests of sal and mahua. This is the place where the cult Bengali movie “Charmurti” was shot. It is laced by deep forests and Adivasi(santhal) villages. There is an army outpost and a “Charmurti” guest house. It is silent most of the times, unless the inhabitants of the villages start playing the madol, a type of drum that is also called tumdak. The instrument is played during special occasions within the community. There are many trails around Kakrajhor for trekkers. Even bikers are choosing this place for the adventaures riding.
Taleberia Dam
Talberia Dam is developed as a picnic spot for the tourist. The lake is situated at a distance of 85 KMs from the heart of Bankura city and from Belpahari its near about 33KM. Dam is totally surrounded by the deep ‘sal-mahua’ forest.
After covering theses four location it was already Sunset time and keepthis in mind I drop the other plans to boating over here and detour towards my homestay.
Date palm jaggery
During the returing back time I’ve seen an exited thing. Date palm jaggery is a seasonal delicacy in the Bengal region. It is revered for its distinctive woody sweetness and aroma. In winters the sap of wild date palms is tapped by professionals called “shuli”. The sap is then boiled until the desired consistency is reached. The shulis usually migrate from different regions, construct temporary huts near the trees and does the job.
Many such shulis are doing their job here. They have put up boards announcing the availability of the jaggery in front of their huts. There is a furnace with steel and aluminium pots and pans on it, a place where the sap is boiled.