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Panchakot is locally known as Panchet  , was a part of an ancient East Indian kingdom known as Rajchakla Panchakot . Damodar Sekhar, established Panchkot Raj probably during early 90 AD with the help of Sardars of Jhalda and expanded his kingdom over several other parganas. To give recognition to the main five (panch) clans (khunt) of the locals the kingdom assumed the name Panchakot. We visited Garpanchakot forest in 2012 during the 2nd day of our puja holidays. We visited this place for sightseeing.

We viewed the most unexpectedly magical sight of Old Terracotta Temple ruins nestled in the lush green hills..

We were there for 30 minutes. The stairs to enter inside was destroyed.still if we look from outside it feels like may be we are in 1800 year.If somebody plans a tour then it’s a must visit place with panchet & maithon dam.

History of Garpanchakot :-

Panchkot Giri has its references in the Puranas also. Panchakot Raj was probably a part of Tilakampa Kingdom. Telkupi was capital of Tilakampa Kingdom. Telkupi, a village under Raghunathpur police station, was submerged with the construction of Panchet Dam.Garpanchkot garh was a part of the Singh Deo dynasty of Panchakot located at the southern foothills and a group of temples are still standing as mute spectators of the rise and fall of the dynasty .

The temples are of different architectural styles, the principal one being a ‘Pancharatna’ temple accompanied by ‘Jor-Bangla’type and more than one ‘Pirha’ type temples made of stone. The Pancharatna temple still carries some depleted but exquisite piece of presumably pre-muslim period terracotta work on its arches and pillars. 500 meters away and a bit uphill from the main ruins of the Garh Panchkot, lies ‘Dhara’ a perennial spring channeled through a ‘Cow mouth’ made of stone.

The temples are of different architectural styles, the principal one being a ‘Pancharatna’ temple accompanied by ‘Jor-Bangla’type and more than one ‘Pirha’ type temples made of stone. The Pancharatna temple still carries some depleted but exquisite piece of presumably pre-muslim period terracotta work on its arches and pillars. 500 meters away and a bit uphill from the main ruins of the Garh Panchkot, lies ‘Dhara’ a perennial spring channeled through a ‘Cow mouth’ made of stone.

The great poet Michael Madusuda Dutta visited the place during 1872 for a short period as an estate manager of Singh Deo dynasty. He wrote three poems on Panchkot namely, ‘Panchkot giri’, ‘Panchkotoshyo Rajosree’ & ‘Panchkot Giri Biday Sangeet’.

Historian J.D.Beglar who visited Telkupi in 1862 described it as ‘containing, perhaps, the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal’. He listed over twenty temples and referred to several others and to ‘numerous mounds, both of brick and stone’. Telkupi dates back to the 1st century AD. The temples submerged at Telkupi were Jain temples.

(Source: West Bengal Forest Development Corporation )

Its a silent place with absolutely nothing within 5km radius  .
If you are a fan of both forest and hills then Garpanchakot is the best place for you. We had a small team for this trip.
After seeing Garpanchakot it felt like we went back 100 years in history.

Tour Summary :
Date – 22/10/2012
Tour Members : 5
Kolkata to Garpanchakot Short Tour plan :
Day 1 : Kolkata to kumardubi, Purulia. Station to resort
Day 2 : Garpachakot sightscene
Day 3 : Sightscene Maithon and Panchet and Back to Kolkata

Some More Info :-

Village: Baghmara
Post Office: Rampur
Police Station: Neturia
District: Puruliya
Pin Code: 723121
West Bengal
Carry list : Camera, Mineral water,Torch.

Garpanchakot Tour Map

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