Purulia, the headquarters of
Purulia District, lies north of the Kasai River in
West Bengal. It is a major
railroad junction connecting the major cities and towns of the state, as well as of the country. Constituted a municipality in 1876, the town is a major agricultural distribution center in the region. Industries include oilseed milling, silk and cotton weaving, and cane work and shellac manufacture. There are four colleges affiliated to the University of Burdwan. Purulia is also famous for its masked dance form called
Chhau.
Nearby attractions include
Jhalda (40 km),
Chelliama village, Sirkabad, Ajodhya Hills and the ruins of several 7th century Jain temples in Balrampur.
