Winter Solo Ride From Durgapur to Baranti Lake & Murardi Dam | A Hidden Gem Near Purulia
Some journeys don’t wait for a plan; they simply begin. On 30th November 2025, a cold winter morning in Bidhannagar, Durgapur persuaded me to step out, kickstart my motorbike, and ride without a destination marked on a map. All I carried was curiosity and a simple mission — to test my new DJI Mic Mini outdoors, where real sound lives. No itinerary. No travel partner. Just a solo motorcycle ride to Baranti and Murardi Dam, with winter riding alongside.
Winter Morning Vibes — Durgapur to Murardi Lake Ride
Around 7:30 AM, I left home through streets wrapped in mist. Smoke from wood-fired kitchens curled up from roadside villages, mixing with the raw scent of winter soil. The semi-rural stretch wore the colours of late autumn — dry leaves, golden fields, and slow-moving mornings wrapped in shawls. The deeper I rode, the quieter it got. The wind wasn’t harsh, but crisp enough to wake every sense up. This was the perfect day to test not just a mic, but myself.
Reaching Murardi Dam — The Calm Reservoir of Purulia Region
After nearly two and a half hours of scenic riding, I reached Murardi Dam, located near the foothills of the Purulia zone. The dam, also known as part of the Ramchandrapur Medium Irrigation Project, quietly supports farming and tribal livelihood in the area. It is an earthen dam nearly 900 meters long, forming a massive reservoir often mistaken as a lake. In winter, the reservoir appears like a huge silver mirror, untouched and undisturbed. Birds skim the surface, fishermen cast nets, and wind whispers instead of howling. It is not chaotic tourism — it’s nature’s slow breathing. Perfect for someone carrying a mic.
Baranti Lake — A Scenic Winter Escape Near Purulia
A few minutes from the dam lies Baranti Lake, hugged between two small hills — Muradi Hill and Baranti Hill. This region is known as Baranti Purulia, one of Bengal’s rising offbeat destinations. The charm is simple: no city crowd, no artificial theme parks, only tribal villages, dry forests, calm water and open skies.
Baranti Sunset — A Must-See in West Bengal
Travellers love Baranti for its sunsets. During November and December, the sun sets behind the ridge, turning the whole lake into a molten red sheet shimmering with violet and gold reflections. This is one of the most photogenic and peaceful sunset points in West Bengal, especially for bikers, vloggers, and nature lovers.
Testing DJI Mic Mini in Real Travel Conditions
Recording indoors never prepares you for wind noise, ambient sounds, water movement, boat paddles, or villagers’ chatter. This is exactly why I rode here alone — to practice natural travel audio recording, wind-flow resistance, field-level voice clarity, and gear handling while riding and vlogging. The DJI Mic Mini captured the rustle of winter grass, lake waves breaking gently, faint tribal songs from village radios, cold wind brushing against the mic foam, and the quiet pause between sounds. It was not just a trip — it was practical content creation training on the road.
Why Baranti & Murardi Are Perfect for Solo Riders
If you love offbeat travel in West Bengal, this place is ideal. It is safe for solo riders, has great road connectivity from Durgapur, Asansol, Bankura and Purulia, is perfect for photography, bird watching and vlogging, and offers budget-friendly tribal resorts and village homestays. The location is uncommercial yet scenic. Most importantly, winter here feels slow, peaceful, and intimate with nature.
Want to Explore It Yourself? Watch the Ride
Watch my entire solo winter ride to Murardi Dam and Baranti Lake in the embedded video below. Hear the sounds. Feel the cold. See the tranquillity. And if you enjoy solo travel, travel gear experiments, offbeat locations, and real ambient sound recording, subscribe to my YouTube channel — SwaVoy. Join me as I discover more unknown places, test travel gadgets on the go, and let the road narrate its own stories.
