| Weekend Getaways | Services |
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| Mukutmanipur West Bengal | ||||
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Activities: Boating on the vast stretch of water body, scenic
beauty of rolling hills and forest, a deer park in a reserve forest on
an island, rock climbing, trekking, fishing, visit to local historical
sites of Ambika Nagar and stone images at Pareshnath Hill. Experiencing
local ethnic songs and dances, colourful festivals of the Santhals &
Mundas craft items produced from babui grass and bamboo, having a taste
of the traditional tribal cuisine including the Charpa pitha which is a
specially prepared cake / delicacy with stuffing of meat & rice flour
wrapped in Sal leaf Tourists have an opportunity to learn, appreciate
and go-back with an experience of art, craft, culture and heritage of
the host community. around Mukutmonipur: Pareshnath Hill Local Culture Tribal Culture: Mukutmanipur is inhabited by three major tribes like Santal, Munda, Bhumij (Sardar). These three tribes belong to Proto-Austroloid ethnic group. Dance and music is an inseparable part of their life. Listening to tribal songs in Santali and Mundari language and viewing a tribal dance in the traditional costume with hypnotic rhythm of Madal (Drum) is always a memorable experience. They celebrate the festivals – both religious and social with dance and music.They use traditional musical instruments - Madal, Dhamsa and Kendra are the three predominating instruments famous for their tribal origin. Madal and Dhamsa are classified as percussion or Rhythmic Instruments and Kendra is a String Instrument played with a bow. Madal has an earthen body while the body of Dhamsa is made of Iron. Animal skin is used to cover Dhamsa and Madal. The sound of Madal is melodious and intoxicating.They use traditional musical instruments - Madal, Dhamsa and Kendra are the three predominating instruments famous for their tribal origin. Madal and Dhamsa are classified as percussion or Rhythmic Instruments and Kendra is a String Instrument played with a bow. Madal has an earthen body while the body of Dhamsa is made of Iron. Animal skin is used to cover Dhamsa and Madal. The sound of Madal is melodious and intoxicating. Festivals: The main festivals in the area are Saalui (Baha), Pata, Langra, Dasain, Saharai (Khuntao / Bandna / Goru Jagania), Manasa Puja, Makar Dub, Tusu Sahrai is a post harvest festival performed by Santals during October -November. Baha is a festival of flowers celebrated with dance and music in March during the fullmoon associated with Holi. Badna festival is observed during November month (Kartik month) when cows are worshipped. Badna festival is celebrated for 2-3 days when cows are given in marriage. Dasai dance is a particular dance performed by men on Bijoya dashami day of Durga Puja. Tusu is a post harvest festival held in December- January celebrated by song and colourful procession. Bhadu is a festival in music form performed during August-September and related to early rice harvest. Colourful processions by women while singing enchanting songs in memory of Bhadreswari or Bhadu, the princess of Kashipur of neighbouring district of Purulia. Cockfighting is a tradition observed by the local community during February and March. Performing Arts: Most dances are performed by the women only. The tribal dances are performed mainly in group. Some of the dances like Dahar is performed by the women only. They put on white Saree with red border, put on colourful garlands during the dance performance. In Dahar dance the dancers keep a small water-pot with leaves on their head. They do not touch the pot while dancing. There are different dances like Dasain, Pata, Saharai, Dong or Buang, Lagren etc. All the dances are group dance with rhythmic beats of drums like Madal, Dhamsa and string instrument named Kendra and other instruments. The instruments are played by the male persons. . The male persons put on white Dhoti and turbans on head. They put on other decorative items like Peacock feather, green leaves, flowers etc. on the head Art & Craft Bamboo and Babui Grass Products: The major craft items that are being produced by the local community are from Bamboo and Babui grass,a particular variety of long grass cultivated and produced in the area.Items like Beer Mug, Salt /Pepper Container, Ash-tray, Fruit Bowl, Pen Stand, Wall key board, Hair Clip are made from bamboo and items like Hat, Table mat, Jewellery/Ornament Box, Office File, Pen Stand, Flower vase etc. are made from babui grass. Tribal House art: The tribal community lives in houses made of mainly mud/clay covered with paddy straw or grass on top of the roof. They make their house very attractive with different colours made from particular type of earth quarried from forest. Some times they mix other substances like charcoal powder, ash collected from under the cooking pots and such others to bring different shades. They put various drawings on their walls and use motifs in side the houses. Motifs they use are and Abstract Art Form of the tribal community. Interestingly the visual motifs may be of human motif and/or as floral motif. The motif of Hate Po Kankhe Po is a famous Alpana Motif. The root of some of the Alpana motif may be traced in the tribal motifs of this region How to Reach By Air:Nearest airport – Kolkata By Train:Nearest railheads are Bankura, Durgapur, Kolkata Route Options: You can reach Mukutmanipur by traveling 4.5 hrs by express train (S.E. Rly.) from Kolkata(Howrah station) to Bankura station & then 1 hour from Bankura by road ( a total time of around 5.5 hours from Kolkata to Mukutmanipur). There is also another option - traveling 2 hrs by train - Satabdi Express from Kolkata (Howrah station) to Duragpur and then another 2 hours (98 km)from Duragpur to Mukutmanipur by road ( a total of 4 hours journey).You can reach Mukutmanipur by traveling 4.5 hrs by express train (S.E. Rly.) from Kolkata(Howrah station) to Bankura station & then 1 hour from Bankura by road ( a total time of around 5.5 hours from Kolkata to Mukutmanipur). There is also another option - traveling 2 hrs by train - Satabdi Express from Kolkata (Howrah station) to Duragpur and then another 2 hours (98 km)from Duragpur to Mukutmanipur by road ( a total of 4 hours journey)
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The
signature view of Mukutmanipur is its large water-body, heaving gently
away from the tribal hamlets, suggestive of that tranquil mood. The
surrounding greenery serves to raise the de-stress bar. A short stroll
brings up the confluence of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers, not far
from Pareshnath Hill. Stone images of Parsvanath Swami, made of chlorite
stone, and Shiva await discovery at the top. Three or four verdant green
islands of varying sizes in this lake including the one with a deer
park, Banpukuria Mrigadab, beckon in the distance. Boating in the lake
and visiting these islands is a worthwhile experience. Mukutmanipur’s
undulating forested landscape marked by the vibrant colours of Palash
and Sonajhuri trees is refreshing and invigorating for the body and
mind. It is marked by the prominent hillock about 200metres high,
locally named “Baroghutu” (Baro- twelve, ghutu-/stones/hill). The tribal
hamlets of Baroghutu, Jambeda, Kumorbahal, Dhagora and Mukutmanipur
encircle this hillock. With a landscape that seems naturally designed
for adventure, Mukutmanipur offers opportunities in rock climbing,
trekking and a variety of water sports. The local festivals, Tusu, Bhadu,
Sahrai and Badna are symbolized by much music and dance, and strengthen
the Mukutmanipur experience, laden with the relaxed air of nature in the
heartland.
is a nearby spot to Mukutmanipur marked by a number of ancient stone
images of both Jain God Parswanath Swami and Hindu god Shiva from
Mukutmanipur within a short distance is Ambikanagar, which is a
historical and religious place for both Hindus and Jains. The remnants
of the royal palace provides interesting historical insights – about
King Raicharan Dhabal Deb who was a revolutionary freedom fighter and
closely associated to martyr KhudiramBos. Fairs: Mukutmanipur
Mela / Fair is organized at Mukutmanipur during the first week of
January. Cultural performances by the tribal community from and around
the area are displayed in the fair. Presence of craft items from all
over Bankura makes the fair most attractive and colourful. The fair
lasts for 5 to 7 days, which is organized under the supervision and
control of the Sub-divisional Officer of Khatra Sub-division.Mukutmanipur
on the eastern side of a vast stretch of water body is a striking
combination of rolling land, natural vegetation, lake and tribal
hamlets. The water reservoir was created by construction of a
twelve-kilometer long earthen dyke across the confluence of two rivers-
Kangsabati & Kumari (the second biggest earthen dam in India. There are
3-4 verdant green islands of vsarying sizes in this lake. The site is
marked by the proud presence of a hillock of about 200-meter height
locally named “Baroghutu” (Baro- twelve, ghutu- peaks/stones/hills). The
hamlets of Baroghutu, Jambeda, Kumorbahal, Dhagora and Mukutmanipur all
encircle this hillock. The peak of the hillock offers a magnificent
panoramic view of the lake, village settlements and forest trails. The
hills and forests provide the adventurous spirit scope to trek as well
as do rock climbing. Akashmoni, Palas, Mahua, Sonajhuri, Neem and Bamboo
trees are the main trees that dot the landscape.The total population is
of 1,499 in 276 households nearly 90% of whom are tribals – Bhumij and
Santals. They are lively, honest, simple and colorful people who live
close to nature. Far from the madding crowd the tourists have
opportunity to know and love nature along with nature’s own people. The
ethnically designed houses of the Santals are aesthetically colored in
tones of white, black and ochre and surrounded by vegetation. The
Bio-diversity of the area speaks of a rich variety. Trees like Sal,
Mahul(Mahua), Bhela, Piyal, Kusum, Arjun, Kendu are most common. The
hills and the trees are the abode of small animals, birds and insects.
Different types of fish and tortoise are found in the dam water. Forest
and trees are closely associated with the life of the Santal and Munda
community of this area. Sal, Mahul are the predominating trees that are
found in the Sacred Groves of the tribal community. Some trees have
totem value in the religiocultural life of the tribal community. The
sub-clans of Hansda Clan consider Bena Ghas (a kind of grass) as their
totem. Kisku clan considers Champa, Kurchi and Palash Flower as their
totem. The Mandi clan considers Amlaki Tree to be their totem. The Besra
Clan considers Neem to be their totem. Because of totemic value, the
tribal communities protect these trees and do not cause harm to these
trees