Kakrajhor Tour  (Feb 14-16, 2025)

14.02.25   HWH (0630 hrs) > Ghatshila (910 hrs) > Charmurti Resort - Kakrajhor (by auto) 

15.02.25    Kakrajhor Resort   >  Belpaharii > Kakrajhor Resort

16.02.25   Kakrajhor Resort > Kakrajhor  >  Kakrajhor Resort > Ghatshila (1430 hrs)>HWH (0800 hrs)

 ## Above are the scheduled time

Travel Companions & Last-Minute Changes

The original group included me, Tutu Da, Mohua, and Bunty. Unfortunately, Srijan dropped out at the last moment, and Barun, suffering from flu, also canceled his trip after realizing the severe train delays.

Day 1: February 14, 2025 – Arrival & Exploring Amlasol

Our trip began with a delay as our Janashatabdi (train: 0620 AM) was running late by 4.5 hours. Instead of waiting endlessly, I booked (Rs 130/- per head in a Chair car) the Ispat Express ( 6:30 AM) at around 4 am in the morning, which also departed after a 1.5-hour delay. But by mistake, I booked the ticket for 14th March ! We had to pay a fine to the TTE and paid Rs 360 for the fare per head.

Finally, we reached Ghatshila at 1100 am and took an auto to our accommodation, Charmurti Resort, for Rs 600. 

Name: Ghatshila topographic map, elevation, terrain.

Location: Ghatshila, Purbi Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India (22.56666 86.36979 22.76384 86.63818)

Average elevation: 175 m

Minimum elevation: 70 m

Maximum elevation: 513 m

https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-mc5b14/Ghatshila/?center=22.66264%2C86.50909

Dominant languages of East Singhbhum region Jharkhand...

34.42% Bangla.

15.92% Santali.

16.83% Hindi.

7.28% Urdu.

5.65% Bhojpuri.

5.27% Odia.

2.76% Ho.

2.73% Mundari.

1.86% Punjabi.

1.51% Magahi.

1.28% Maithili.

0.97% Telugu

As their first language at the time of the 2011 Census of India.

The increasing dominance of Hindi is steadily eroding and killing the rich linguistic diversity of India, thereby threatening the unique cultural heritage of India.

It took almost 1 hours to reach the resort .The resort charged Rs 1500 per day with food, and for a group of 4 in one room, the cost will be Rs 1300 per person. We opted for 2 person per room. The room was spacios and toilet is big with commode shower.

https://www.kakrajhor.com/

There are some other resorts also. They are few and far between.

You will get all the phone numbers here.

We were served a delicious lunch by Thakurdas Mahato, who is nephew of famous Mahato of Charmurti fame.

The first day was spent exploring the nearby areas at our own pace. We walked around the lush green surroundings, visited a watchtower that offered a panoramic view of the landscape, and ventured into the nearby villages of Amlasol and Amjharna Lake. The rustic charm of these villages, with their simple yet warm lifestyle, was captivating. Amjharna lake, provided a peaceful retreat amid nature.

One of the most interesting spots we stumbled upon was a junction where West Bengal and Jharkhand meet. There we found a school where they teach Santali and Alchiki script was written onthe wall.

GPS LOCATION:

https://goo.gl/maps/Q7EEgxMvJY8KsCk18

PRATHAMIK VIDYALAYA KANIMAHOLI (written in Hindi and Alchiki language)

DPEP NPS KANIMAHULI

UDISE Code: 20180605301

Year Of Establishment: 2000

Link:  https://stackschools.com/schools/20180605301/dpep-nps-kanimahuli

Surprisingly, I was able to get in touch with my PA at this location, due to network availability. He told me  that our Management was frantically serching for me for our coming Board Meeting. We also took some time to play with the local village children, adding a heartwarming experience to our day.

We were served a delicious dinner by Thakurdas Mahato, who is nephew of famous Mahato of Charmurti fame

Day 2: February 15, 2025 – Ketaki Lake & Belpahari Tour

We started our second day with a planned excursion to explore the beautiful landscapes around Belpahari. Our first stop was Ketaki Lake, a picturesque water body surrounded by dense forests. The tranquil atmosphere and the reflection of the lush greenery on the calm waters made for a breathtaking view. There we met the CRPF Jawans and had a chat with them. We were told it was a hotbed of Maoist even few years back.

The tribal houses are as usual very colourful.

From there, we moved towards Belpahari , Ghagra River. We also visited the Tarafeni Dam, a lesser-known but scenic spot ideal for soaking in the natural beauty. Along with these, we explored other tourist spots in the area, immersing ourselves in the serene and unspoiled wilderness.

For lunch, we decided to eat outside the resort, enjoying a delicious local meal before heading back.

The auto fare for the entire day's tour was Rs 1800. However, throughout the day, I remained unreachable mostly as only Reliance Jio had network coverage in this region. Our management kept calling me regarding the board meeting, but I was off-grid.

We were served a delicious dinner .

Day 3: February 16, 2025 – Lakjal Cave, Khandarani Lake & Return Journey

Since we had missed a few places the previous day, we dedicated our last day to covering them. Tutu Da did not join us for this part of the trip. Our first stop was the Laljal Cave.

Next, we visited Khandarani Lake, another beautiful and serene spot. The tranquil waters, surrounded by dense forests, created a mesmerizing view. It was a perfect place to reflect on our journey before heading back. 

We concluded our sightseeing early and returned to our resort by 11:45 AM. 

We were served a delicious lunch.

The auto fare for the day was Rs 1500.

Change of Plans & Journey Back

Initially, we had planned to take the 1:20 AM Badampahar train on February 17, but due to continuous train delays (5-6 hours late on average) due to the priority given to Vande Bharat trains and repair of lines, we decided to change our plans. Instead, we boarded a MEMU train at 2:30 PM, buying the ticket from the platform itself  for Rs 85. This turned out to be a wise decision, as we reached Howrah at 9 PM and were back home by 10 PM.

Final Thoughts

Despite the train delays and connectivity issues, our trip to Kakrajhor and Belpahari was an enriching experience. The natural beauty, the simplicity of the villages, and the peaceful lakes made this journey memorable. The warmth of the local people and the untouched beauty of these destinations truly made it worth every moment. If you want to spend some quite time in the lap of nature with no touristic crowd. Most of the time you are on your own here. Please note only Reliance Jio works here.