Saranda Forest (Manoharpur)

One of the best places I have visited till now. A 6 hrs journey by train, this sleepy village-town is located near the Jharkhand – Orissa border. A perfect place to spend an extended weekend.

We were a group of 14 members who put up in Santoor – a small but beautiful resort owned by Mr. Abhijit Ganguly. Hospitality was excellent and so was the food coming right out of his kitchen.

On the day of our arrival, we spent the evening exploring the sleepy village and then went atop a hillock to watch the sun go down behind another range of hills overlooking the Koel river flowing parallel to the railway line. It was a spectacular scene to watch the sky change its colours every moment and at the same time trains zooming by the river.



After watching the sun set, we climbed down the hill to dip our feet in the water of the river and then trekked back our way to the resort past the railway track. We even managed to have a close save from getting run down by a train as we sat chatting on the railway tracks oblivious of the fact that a superfast train was approaching. It would have been a mass killing or would it be a suicide???? We reached the resort at around 6.30 p.m. and spent rest of the evening sitting and chatting under the open sky, listening to the various sounds of nature.

The following day we were supposed to enter the forest. We didn’t get to see the core area as we were traveling with kids and Mr. Ganguly warned us of ferocious animals. So we had to be satisfied seeing the periphery. The next day, after an early breakfast we set off with our guides. We were told that we will be crossing 3 rivers viz. Koel, Koena and Karo. After about a 2 hrs. drive through dry vegetation (which was quite disappointing) we stopped in the midst of nowhere. The guides told us that we have to climb upstream Karo river on foot. The experience was new and exhilarating. Water was ankle deep but the river bed was full of pebbles, so a bit rough. We climbed for sometime and suddenly the river vanished. We took a right turn and in front of us was this huge, majestic waterfall surrounded by huge trees. I have never seen such a beauty in my life. The best part being the ethnicity of the place remains untouched as the place is not commercialized as yet. We stood there mesmerized, soaking in the beauty of the place in our memories.

We then walked back, this time downstream, to where our jeeps were waiting. We took another ½ hr drive to yet another waterfall. This too was beautiful and we all took a bath there. The fall was in steps as if it has been arranged by the nature for people to sit back and enjoy the scenic beauty whilst the water gushes over you.

After a good soak, we had a voracious lunch since all of us were famished by then.


Time to go to yet another spot……. The Kiriburu Sunset Point. This picturesque town overlooks the Kiriburu Mines. A small, well maintained township. We watched the sun bid us adieu and then we drove back to the resort wondering to ourselves ……..if the periphery of the jungle has such beauty hidden, what beauty awaits in the core area.