Joychandi Pahar, an 800-foot hill near Raghunathpur in Purulia, West Bengal, is shown on January 13, 2026. The site is renowned for its historical significance as a location of armed resistance and a hideout for freedom fighters during the Indian independence movement, particularly the 1857 revolt. Described as a dormant volcano composed of single rock formations, its rugged terrain provided a strategic refuge for revolutionaries to plan and conceal themselves. Today, the site is a popular tourist destination and a renowned rock-climbing center. It features the Chandi Mata Temple, attracts adventurers with its 520 steps, and gained fame for its appearance in Satyajit Ray’s film *Hirak Rajar Deshe*, directed by India’s only Academy Award-winning filmmaker. Tourist traffic has turned the foothills into a commercial hub, though some visitors have been seen taking dangerous selfies on steep cliffs.
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More footage filed by NurPhoto videographers.