This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha

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Meghataburu

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

Jharkhand and Odisha has many hidden gems that are least explored. Mostly tribal areas surrounded by hills and forests these places are delight for the travellers. Meghataburu is Singbhum district of Jharkhand is one such place. “Buru” literally means hillock and “meghata” means clouds. Meghataburu is thus a place surrounded by hillocks and adorned by the clouds. Yes, you can say, it is the Cherrapunji of the Jharkhand district. True to its name, the town is remains covered by a blanket of cloud most of the times.

Photo of Kiriburu, Jharkhand, India by Amrita

Meghataburu and Kiriburu are actually sister towns located in both Jharkhand and Odisha. Here the borderd between states have mingled and nature has taken its course. Meghataburu is also known for having one of the largest Haematite iron ore mines in the world. The town has been developed by the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL).

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

Both Kiriburu and Meghataburu is a place for nature lovers, where you can spend hours watching the hills and valleys and the occasional fog rolling over. The dense deciduous Saranda forest is just nearby. The places are a great place to experience nature, an ideal mixture of jungle environment and solitude. Although the place receives almost 200 cm of rainfall every year, the weather remains pleasant throughout. Even during the harsh summers of Odisha and Jharkhand, Meghataburu has clouds rolling over the Saranda forests and you can experience the morning fogs. Having said all these, Meghataburu is a secluded offbeat destination away from the cities and a perfect place to spent some quiet time amidst the nature.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

Things to do at Meghataburu

1. Visit the Saranda Forest

The Saranda forests surrounds the twin towns of Meghataburu and Kiriburu. The forest is a dense one full of mostly Saal trees. Most part of the forest is untouched and the home to a number of birds and other wildlife. Since the forest is not much explored, you can thoroughly experience the calmness of the wilderness. Pundul Falls and the Swapneswari Temple in forest are worth visiting. The dilapidated temple has an idol of Goddess Durga and a Shiva lingam. Elephants visit the forest regularly. Bears, deer and boars are also found in the forest. So be careful while you are roaming around in the forest. It is definitely recommended to take a guide with you; otherwise there are chances of getting lost in the forest. Remember, you have to take permission from the DFO if you want to visit the core area of the Saranda forest.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita
Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

2. Visit the 700 Mount Meghataburu View Point

The guesthouse in the corner of Meghataburu town has a wonderful viewpoint. It is said that from there you can actually have a view 700 mountains. Whether there are 700 mountains or not, I do not know, but the view is extremely beautiful and panoramic view of the surroundings and the Saranda forests.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

3. Visit the local market

The local market takes place every Tuesday. The main attraction of the market is the merchandise brought and sold by the tribal people. If you happen to be there on a Tuesday, do not forget to visit the local market. It will provide a great experience and an useful insight into the lives of the tribal people.

4. Watch the wonderful sunset

The sunset from the viewpoint in Meghataburu is simply mind blowing. After a day of roaming around the Saranda forest, spend the dusk at the viewpoint watching the wonderful sunset.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

5. Take a visit to the Kiriburu and Meghataburu iron ore mines

You can visit the Kiriburu Iron Ore Mines and the Meghataburu iron Ore Mines. But to visit these places, prior permission is required from SAIL Authority.

6. Visit the Khandahar Waterfalls

The Khandahar Waterfalls is around 150 km from Kiriburu and is a beautiful site. The waterfall drops down from a height of 800 feet, the waterfall also makes for a great picnic spot.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

How to reach Meghataburu:

The nearest railway head is Barbil. From Howrah, you have to take the Janshatabdi Express and get down at Barbil. The mining town of Barbil is around 28 km from Meghataburu and it takes about an hour to reach the place.

Meghataburu can be reached from Tatanagar by road or by rail also. From Tatanagar, you have to take a train to Barajamda, which is at a distance of 24 km from Meghataburu. You can hire private cars to take you to Meghataburu.

Photo of This monsoons visit the Cherrapunji of Odisha by Amrita

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit the place is between July to December.

Stay at:

The SAIL rest houses are one of the options to stay at Meghataburu. There are other rest houses and basic hotels also at Meghataburu.

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