Ajodhya Hills

Ajodhya Hills is a forested hill range in the Purulia district of West Bengal, part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and Dalma Hills extension. Located near Baghmundi, it rises to about 610 metres and is known for its dense sal forests, dams, waterfalls and tribal villages. The area offers viewpoints, lakes and trekking trails and is a popular weekend destination from Kolkata and Jamshedpur for nature and sightseeing.

Visitors can expect a forested plateau landscape with rolling hills, sal forests, small lakes and reservoirs, and seasonal waterfalls. The area includes viewpoints, dams such as Turga, Upper and Lower Dams, Marble Lake, Bamni Falls and tribal villages. Visitors can explore by road and short trails, enjoy sightseeing, photography and nature walks, and see Chhau mask-making villages nearby. Basic food stalls and guest houses are available in the hilltop area.

Ajodhya Hills forms part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and Dalma Hills range with a long history of tribal settlement. The region has been inhabited by Santhal and other Adivasi communities and preserves traditional village settlements and cultural landscapes associated with the plateau's early habitation.

The hills are a cultural centre for Purulia's tribal communities and the Purulia Chhau dance tradition. Nearby Charida village is renowned for handmade Chhau masks, and local villages maintain traditional crafts, festivals and rural lifestyles that visitors can observe.