Futiary Retreat Purulia

Futiary Retreat is a small resort on the edge of Futiary Dam in Purulia district, West Bengal, roughly 284 km by road from Kolkata. The water is about 500 metres from the gate, and three low hills - Tilaboni, Sindurpur and Panjonia - close the view on the far side.

This is red-soil Purulia rather than the hills of the north: open sky, a reservoir that draws migratory birds in winter, and palash trees that flower a deep orange-red in March and April. Most guests come for a slow weekend - a morning by the dam, a walk through the village, a bonfire after dark - and use the retreat as a base for the hills and old temples around Kashipur and Pakbirra.

The retreat has seven AC Premium Rooms, each priced at ₹3,500 a night per room and sleeping up to four. Every room is air-conditioned, which matters in Purulia, where the afternoons stay warm for much of the year. Wi-Fi is available and there is free parking inside the campus.

Check-in is from 12 noon and check-out is by 10 am.

Meals are not included in the room rate. Vegetarian breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening tea and snacks can all be ordered from the kitchen, so you can eat every meal on site without driving out. That is worth knowing, because there is very little in the way of shops or eateries close by.

The dam is the reason to be here. The retreat lists:

• Boating and kayaking on the reservoir
• Bird watching, best from November to February when the winter visitors arrive
• Cycling and village walks along the bunds and fields
• River picnics
• A bonfire in the evening

Distances below are approximate road distances from Futiary.

• Futiary Dam - 500 m, a two-minute walk
• Tilaboni Hill - about 4 km; a short trek with a local guide
• Sindurpur Hill - about 6 km; the Darakeswar river rises here
• Kashipur Rajbari - about 18 km, a historic palace
• Pakbirra - about 21 km, known for its ancient Shiva temple
• Surulia Deer Park - about 22 km
• Joychandi Pahar - about 25 km, a rocky hill popular for short climbs and views

A full day can take in Kashipur, Pakbirra and Joychandi in one loop if you have a car.

By road from Kolkata: the usual route runs through Burdwan to Durgapur, then the Bankura bypass, on to Bishpuria and Hura, and from there to Ladhurka. From Ladhurka the resort is a few kilometres further, past Saldiha More. Allow most of a day; the drive is long but the last stretch through the villages is pleasant.

By train: Adra and Purulia are the nearest railway stations. Trains such as the Rupasi Bangla Express from Santragachi and the Purulia Express from Howrah run to this side of the district, and a hired car from the station covers the rest.

By air: Kolkata is the nearest major airport, and from there it is the same road journey of around six hours.

Public transport to the dam itself is thin, so a private car or a pre-arranged pickup makes life easier.

November to February is the most comfortable season, with cool days and the dam full of migratory birds. March and April bring the palash bloom and warmer afternoons. The peak summer months that follow are very hot on the plateau, and most travellers avoid them. The monsoon turns the countryside green and fills the reservoir.

• Check-in 12 noon, check-out 10 am
• Rooms are priced per room, not per person, and sleep up to four
• Meals are extra; the kitchen serves vegetarian food
• Pets are welcome
• Suits families, couples and senior citizens
• Free Wi-Fi and free parking
• The resort is in a quiet, fairly isolated spot; bring anything you need from town

Futiary Retreat is a good fit for travellers who want the calm of a Purulia reservoir and a comfortable AC room at the end of the day. Message us with your dates and group size and we will check availability for you.