SARANDA FOREST
On 22nd Jun, I started to Kiriburu. No amount of googling fetched me any info about this place. Also, the few people who went there just didn’t care to post any info on the net for future tourist’s benefit. I wanted the future tourists to dodge such difficulty. If you find this info useful, do leave comment, no matter after how long are you seeing this. Before you read any further, consider two points first:
1. Are you young, healthy and looking for an adventurous trip? Read on. If not, this destination’s not for you. Open www.google.com and search for a different destination.
2. What season is it now? It’s ok if it’s just before winter. If rainy, think of rescheduling. Rain played a spoilsport in my schedule.
Little intro about the places. Meghahatuburu & Kiriburu are two different places. Meghahatuburu is in Jharkhand and Kiriburu is in Orissa. Don’t worry about distance, border check posts, vehicle permits, etc. They are like two adjacent places in the same city blah blah …
Now, let’s get on to the point. You’ve 2 ways to reach there. (This info’s as on 22nd Jun‘07.)
OPTION 1
1. Go to Manoharpur.
Now, don’t start mailing me about the train schedules and availability. Check them yourself from www.indianrail.gov.in or www.irctc.co.in. Don’t jump with joy, if you found a train connecting your place to Manoharpur. Read on.
2. From here, you’ve to go by bus. Fare is Rs 45/-. That bus stop is just 3-4 min walking distance from railway station. There’re only 2 buses. First bus to Meghahatuburu is at 8.30. Next one at 13.30. That’s all. It takes 2 hrs to reach Meghahatuburu / Kiriburu. Don’t expect an expressway there. The road is just ok, with considerable bumps, to make sure that you don’t nap, unless you’re damn tired, and miss the surrounding beauty and at the same time not so bumpy to make you swear not to take that road again.
3. Ask the conductor if the bus passes the guest house (details given below) that you plan to stay in. Don’t start thinking of hiring another vehicle to take you there, if it doesn’t. It’s just round the corner.
4. Ideal trip is for 3 days, with 2nd day, preferably, being a working day. Make sure you reach Manoharpur by 7.30 AM on Day 1 and have your breakfast. Catch that 8.30 AM bus. After reaching, check in into the guest house. Also, ask the guest house in-charge if you can get breakfast/lunch/dinner in their mess. Generally, they provide. If you want to visit the mines and the ore treatment plant, set out immediately to SAIL’s office. Meet “Manager: Mines” and get permission to visit the mine and the treatment plant on Day2. Try for Meghahatuburu mines. They are better than Kiriburu mines. If he refuses to permit, don’t pester him. That poor guy has to consider so many factors, right from your safety to his and plant’s safety, before he permits. Who knows? You may be a Moubadi, carrying out a reconnaissance to plant a bomb. Carry any id card issued by government and your office id, to prove that you are not a Maoist. Carry an AK-47, if you’re a Moubadi.
5. I assume that you’d your lunch by now. Now, start roaming about the place. If you want, you can venture into the forest to catch a glimpse of some animals. Don’t ask me where you can find them!! Make sure you carry some basic items like a hi power torch, mosquito repellant etc. Spend time in forest according to your interest and adventurous spirit. Here ends Day1. Places of interest given below.
6. Don’t sleep till late morning. Wake up well before Sunrise and set off to “View Point”. I was told that one can see Sunrise and Sunset from that point. But, I found the name of the place as “Sunset View Point”. To see it by myself, it was a cloudy day and I couldn’t say Hello to sun even by mid-day. Now, come back to guest house and have your breakfast.
If you secured permission to visit mines and plant, visit them. Probably, you can come out by mid day. Spend remaining day by wandering around. By evening go to “Sunset View Point” and enjoy that.
7. Now starts Day3. Roam in Kiriburu / Meghahatuburu. Not much to see there. You can just get an idea of the lifestyle of people there. Reach your guest house by appropriate time and have lunch. Now, go to “Bank More” to catch the last bus to Manoharpur at 13.30, unless you plan to catch early morning bus.
To go back to Manoharpur, there are again two buses. 1st one at 5.30AM and last one at 13.30. Watch out. The buses are not always on time. At the same time, chances of them leaving before scheduled time are very very remote. Almost nil. You’ll be in Manoharpur within 2.5 hrs. Now, you’re back into this so-called civilized world. Get back to your home. Transfer all the fotos from your digi cam to your computer. Send me shots of the animals and moubadis, if you got any.
PLACES OF INTEREST
1. View Point (I already mentioned it).
2. Pump House (Water purification plant, near which there’s a beautiful waterfall).
3. Tholkobad (This is in the heart of the forest).
4. Kumdi (I don’t know much about this).
5. Rangirang Dam.
Don’t be disappointed, if you are unable to visit most of the places. They are closed, so that you don’t disturb the moubadis.
ACCOMMODATION
1. Saranda Rest House
2. Meghalaya Rest House
3. SAIL Guest House – I
4. SAIL Guest House – II (Ph: 06596 244303, Rs 200/- per day)
What? Why are you still on this page? If this info is sufficient, why do you need to look at the succeeding parts of this blog? Go to “Comments” and thank me.
OPTION 2
1. Catch 2021 TATA Janshatabdi. (You can also try for passenger trains.)
| SNo | Stn Code | Stn Name | Arrival Time | Dep. Time | Distance | Day | Remark |
| 1 | HWH | HOWRAH JN | Source | 06:10 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | KGP | KHARAGPUR JN | 07:53 | 07:55 | 116 | 1 | |
| 3 | GTS | GHATSILA | 09:26 | 09:27 | 214 | 1 | Train doesn't halt at this station, presently |
| 4 | TATA | TATANAGAR JN | 09:30 | 09:40 | 250 | 1 | |
| 5 | CBSA | CHAIBASA | 10:27 | 10:28 | 312 | 1 | |
| 6 | DPS | DANGOAPOSI | 11:06 | 11:07 | 367 | 1 | |
| 7 | NOMD | NOAMUNDI | 11:20 | 11:21 | 375 | 1 | |
| 8 | BJMD | BARA JAMDA | 11:46 | 11:48 | 389 | 1 | |
| 9 | BBN | BARABIL | 12:25 | 00:00 | 398 | 1 |
2. Get down at BBN. Go to Bus stand. Its around 2 km from the railway station.
3. You get some buses and some private vehicles to go to Meghahatuburu / Kiriburu.
Fare is around Rs. 50/-. Road is very bad. Don’t be surprised if you cross ditches 1-2 feet deep. In fact, you should be ready for them.
4. You are there. Refer to “Option 1” for some more info about the place.
