[Sutripta]

Any night accommodation inside Dalma?

How is the Purulia - Balarampur - Chandil road now?

Regards
Sutripta

[Samba]

Originally Posted by ARAY

That Figo looks somewhat like EcoSports to me with your lens.
Opening picture itself was enough to tell whats coming ... winter.. err monsoon ! Excellent composition of a crisp travelogue.

Thanks.
11mm wide angle lens made Figo look somewhat like an Ecosport! So you may say its the cheapest way to upgrade!

Originally Posted by //M

Yes Samba Da, on the way you would have seen a road with a barricade and restricted area marked on it. However if you continue driving on the other road which leads to the bridge from where the dam is visible, you will come to a fork. The right leads to Chandil town and the left leads to the top of the dam.

Thanks a lot for the pointer, there's always a next time!

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Any night accommodation inside Dalma?

There are two.

One is at the base near the forest office, just at beginning of the forest. This one belongs to Jharkhand forest department and is at the foot hills.

The other one is at Dalma top. I have heard it belongs to TATA. They have only 2-3 rooms.

Originally Posted by Sutripta

How is the Purulia - Balarampur - Chandil road now?
Regards
Sutripta

Purulia to Balarampur is single lane but excellent roads.

Purulia to Chandil is single lane too but a bit patchy with occasional pot holes. The upper layer of the road surface is rough for a major portion. But its not at all alarming or can be termed as bad/poor roads. Its pretty much drive-able, may be a bit bumpy at places.

[1100D]

Was Surprised to not see a star rating on this Travelogue.It definitely has great pictures, lovely narration of a terrific weekend getaway. Rated at 5-stars.

Carry on the terrific work you are doing without being bothered about trends.

[AJ-got-BHP]

"Aree O Samba !!" It must be strange for a lot of people that such a small weekend getaway travelogue makes it's way to the Hot Threads of the Forum. However, in today's world it's the small things that matter most !! Really refreshing getaway penned down by you with some fabulous clicks (needless to say). Rated 5* as this can really be of good reference for someone planning a weekend getaway close to Kolkata apart from the monotonous beach sides in the southern part of the state. Thanks for sharing !!

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by Samba

The other one is at Dalma top. I have heard it belongs to TATA. They have only 2-3 rooms.

Isn't Dalma WLS? In that case unlikely TISCO will be allowed a guest house there.

Regards
Sutripta

[vdm295]

As usual Samba, Your travelogues are just too good to read. The pictures & the details you provide are just apt. Would love to see some more pictures of the resort that you stayed in. The location of the resort seems to be just awsome.

[TheStranger]

Short and 'very' sweet travelogue , Samba. Excellent pics , as usual.

One thing I have been wanting to ask you (enviously) ever since I started reading your travelogues - How do you manage to find all these beautiful places for your short holidays ??

I don't think many of us even know that places like these exist anymore ! Though your eyes and lens, we also travel with you to these exotic locations.

Keep on travelling, brother and penning them down. It keeps adding more places to see and experience for us.

Rated 5 stars.

[SouraC]

Now there is practically nothing to say about your TL, as usual a informative write-up with fantastic pictures.

I have also visited these places a decade back in the month of August with family and friends. Although it was not a self drive trip, but we have enjoyed a lot.

Sharing few Pictures of the long forgotten trip which suddenly became lively in my memory after reading your Travelogue.

The Hotel









A trip to Dalma Top



The Chandil Dam







A view from Top of the Dam





We have also visited Dimna Lake



A bit Wider View



And the topping of the trip was a quick visit to Dasam Falls which was on that time a quite disturbed area.





We liked 10th Milestone at that time and it seems even after a decade the Hotel has not changed much.




Hope to visit the place again in near future.

[BlackPearl]

Lovely little travelogue Samba, thanks a lot for sharing. Rated 5 stars. The pictures are excellent as usual. As you know some of us are planning to go there very soon, this travelogue could not have come at a better time!

[Samba]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Was Surprised to not see a star rating on this Travelogue.It definitely has great pictures, lovely narration of a terrific weekend getaway. Rated at 5-stars.

Carry on the terrific work you are doing without being bothered about trends.

Thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by AJ-got-BHP

"Aree O Samba !!" Rated 5* as this can really be of good reference for someone planning a weekend getaway close to Kolkata apart from the monotonous beach sides in the southern part of the state. Thanks for sharing !!

Thanks a lot and thank god you have not asked me 'Kitne haathi the?' ('How many elephants were there?' , just tweaked the dialogue from the famous movie Sholay based on the scenario!)

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Isn't Dalma WLS? In that case unlikely TISCO will be allowed a guest house there.

Regards
Sutripta

Yes dada, you are correct, i inquired about it from few of my friends and they told it belongs to FRH. Earlier i heard that, bookings of this bungalow can be made through TATA, hence the confusion.

Originally Posted by vdm295

As usual Samba, Your travelogues are just too good to read. The pictures & the details you provide are just apt. Would love to see some more pictures of the resort that you stayed in. The location of the resort seems to be just awsome.

Thanks a ton. Am sorry, i do not have any more pics of the resort.

Originally Posted by TheStranger

Short and 'very' sweet travelogue , Samba. Excellent pics , as usual.

One thing I have been wanting to ask you (enviously) ever since I started reading your travelogues - How do you manage to find all these beautiful places for your short holidays ??

Thanks a lot. Actually for week end trips there are many beautiful destination's around Kolkata. I try to cover a few of them. But i do believe 'happiness is in the journey not at the destination'!

Originally Posted by SouraC

Now there is practically nothing to say about your TL, as usual a informative write-up with fantastic pictures.

I have also visited these places a decade back in the month of August with family and friends. Although it was not a self drive trip, but we have enjoyed a lot.

Sharing few Pictures of the long forgotten trip which suddenly became lively in my memory after reading your Travelogue.

Thanks and fantastic pics.

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Lovely little travelogue Samba, thanks a lot for sharing. Rated 5 stars. The pictures are excellent as usual. As you know some of us are planning to go there very soon, this travelogue could not have come at a better time!

Thanks a lot and wish every one of you, all the best for the rain drive and hope to see many beautiful pics after the drive.

Sharing a pic of our Figo at Dalma top.



The only video i managed to find from this trip. Its inside Dalma forest, just before the climb up. Sorry for the shaky video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoQrTnkPq8

[vikramvicky1984]

Originally Posted by Samba

One is at the base near the forest office, just at beginning of the forest. This one belongs to Jharkhand forest department and is at the foot hills.
.

Hi sir,
I am planning to travel tomorrow. Have bookings for the guest house ( not sure which one, done through forest department).

Any suggestions for the drive uphill?
Any suggestions which vehicle is better to take.
Options are Innova, swift D, i10 petrol and alto

[Samba]

Originally Posted by vikramvicky1984

Hi sir,
I am planning to travel tomorrow. Have bookings for the guest house ( not sure which one, done through forest department).

Any suggestions for the drive uphill?
Any suggestions which vehicle is better to take.
Options are Innova, swift D, i10 petrol and alto

Hello,
up hill drive is not a very difficult task if its dry. But if it rains then slush makes the scenerio worse. So just be slow, judge the road ahead and then negotiate. I will prefer an Alto/i10 for there short foot prints rather than a bigger vehicle as roads are narrow. Plus it will be easier to reverse if you face an elephant in front of you.

Happy journey.

[vikramvicky1984]

Originally Posted by Samba

Hello,
up hill drive is not a very difficult task if its dry. But if it rains then slush makes the scenerio worse. So just be slow, judge the road ahead and then negotiate. I will prefer an Alto/i10 for there short foot prints rather than a bigger vehicle as roads are narrow. Plus it will be easier to reverse if you face an elephant in front of you.

Happy journey.

Thanks a lot, we took i10 and swift only. It did rain, just had to drive patiently. Stayed in the GH at top.
Two updates:
1. All those who have booked please double check before starting. They were talking about cancelling going forward as a big cat's cub(unconfirmed) has been seen
2. They are planning to launch package deals for dalma very soon. Should be a boon for travelers.

[subhojitb]

Once again a brilliant travelogue Samba.
Places like these were unknown long ago except for the locals, got its fair share of name and fame due to the beauty and vistas associated with it, lost its sheen to some extent due to inadequate tourism infrastructure, lost in oblivion for different reasons primarily like maoist activity -- rejuvenated once again by people like you through your eyes, your pen, your thoughts and your unparalleled experience leading the way for others to plan for a new road trip.

Thanks would be an understatement.
As a representative of Oxford Atlas, may I ask you your next such destination?
On a serious note -- I was planning for long to drive to Jamshedpur from Kolkata. But few earlier posts in the forum specified that road near Baharghora is almost non-existent and also not very safe. Can you predict how will be tarmac after the rains and also the safety issue? (I am planning in November with my family as got charged up reading your travelogue)

[Samba]

Originally Posted by subhojitb

Once again a brilliant travelogue Samba.

Thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by subhojitb

As a representative of Oxford Atlas, may I ask you your next such destination?

As of now there are no such plans! These small trips happen all of a sudden!

Originally Posted by subhojitb

On a serious note -- I was planning for long to drive to Jamshedpur from Kolkata. But few earlier posts in the forum specified that road near Baharghora is almost non-existent and also not very safe. Can you predict how will be tarmac after the rains and also the safety issue? (I am planning in November with my family as got charged up reading your travelogue)

Now roads are absolutely safe. Even people travelled through Lodhasuli in night with out any issues. Though i would say a day drive is always recommended, when you are with your family.


Road condition till Ghatshila was great. Ghatshila to Jamshedpur was a bit rough, plus road widening work was going on in this stretch. In November things should be fine. Over all road condition is pretty good. You can definitely go ahead with the trip with your family. Wish you a happy & safe journey in advance!