Purulia is the westernmost district in
West Bengal. The state of
Jharkhand and the West Bengal districts
Bankura and
Bardhaman form its borders. The district headquarters is
Purulia town, a major rail junction, situated north of the Kasai river. The district, covering an area of 6,959 sq km, has a population of 2.5 million.
Purulia receives an average rainfall between 1,100 mm and 1,500 mm. Agriculture is the main source of revenue. The major river is the
Damodar. Chief crops are rice, maize, potatoes, groundnuts, and wheat.
Purulia is an important archeological site. Several 7th century Jain temple ruins are found here. The district is famous for its masked dance form, Chau. Major tourist destinations include
Pakhipahar and Ajodhya hills.
