The culture in Purulia concentrates on the conventional society move 'Chau'. Prevalent among Santhals, Kumars, Mahatos, Kalindis and Sahish communities are the rare masked dancers of Chau representing the essentially local culture.. The use of beautiful masks and the exclusive style of dance, make-up and colourful costumes have made this dance popular all over the world. Many consider this form comparable to martial art because of the physical strength and agility involved in dancing. The Chau dance is an inseparable part of the rituals and the festivities of Purulia. Earlier the story and dance were primarily based on mythological stories from the Ramayana, the Puranas, but presently contemporary issues such as Santhal revolt, Kargil war etc. are used as themes for the shows.

Situated at the foothill of Panchakot (panchet hill), in the north east corner of the Purulia District,close to the boundary with district Burdwan and JharKhand. Hilltop offers picturesque and panoramic view of the command area of the Panchet dam on Damodar River and its reservior. Bird watching on Panchet dam is a treat to the eye.

Cheliama is considered as one of the most popular destinations in Purulia. It has a rich history and is also known as a paradise for historians and archaeologists. The village has remnants of civilization in the region dating to the 17th century. Temple's aroud the village are good example of the architecture, artistry and culture of their eras and this is seen in the figurines and carvings in these temples. Apart from this, the renowned Radha-Govinda Temple in Cheliama attracts many tourists. One of the famous tourist spots in Purulia, Cheliama is a paradise for historians and archeologists, thanks to its rich history. The village has remnants of the contemporary civilization of the 17th century. The terracotta figurines and exclusive carvings around the temples vouch for the fact that the village had been an important landmark during the yesteryears. Apart from this, the well-known Radha-Govinda Temple in Cheliama attracts a mass of tourists and is a focal place, depicting the Bengali culture prevalent in the contemporary era.

Ayodhya Hills is a hill located in the Purulia district. It is a part of the Dalma Hills and extended part of Eastern Ghats range. Highest peak of Ajodhya Hills is Gorgaburu. The nearest populated town is Bagmundi. It is a popular place for young mountaineers to learn the basic course in rock climbing. There are two routes available to reach Ajodhya Hills. One is via Jhalda and the other one is via Sirkabad. There is a Forest Rest House here. Gorgaburu (855 m), Mayuri etc. are of the some of the peaks of Ajodhya hills range. The area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills. The area around Bagmundi or Ajodhya Hill is an extended plateau.

Deulghat is a place near Boram in Purulia known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. It is home to ruins of 15 temples near the Kansai River and also known as the land of temples. The prodigious architecture of the temple, coupled with beautiful carvings, is one of the prime reasons to make Deulghat worth a visit. The temple reflects the old-style culture of the contemporary people. The ruins left in the temple makes Deulghat an important tourist center of Purulia Deulghat Dam and Deulghat Water fall are other popular spots at this place which attracts visitors from all over the region.

Matha is a Village in Bagmundi Block in Purulia, Matha Buru (Matha hills) is commonly known for its esthetic beauty. Annual ‘Mela’ is originated on the hill by tribal community. Many nature camp and Rock-Climbing courses are conducted here by different organization mostly during the winter season. The clear blue sky, lush greenery and small hills around the village make it an ideal location for the nature lovers.

Baghmundi is a small community development block located in the administrative division of Purulia. Every year thousands of tourists visit this place to witness the natural beauty of the magnificent Ayodhya Hills and it’s many dams. The picturesque landscape here consists of undulating hills, cascading waterfalls, lush green forests with rich variety of flora and fauna.

Baranti is a beautiful village surrounded by hills and lakes, just 265 kms away from Kolkata. It is a small, quiet and scenic place worth a visit to rejuvenate one’s mind and soul. Baranti is in the vicinity of Ramchandrapur Irrigation Project. One can get a grand view of the reservoir from Baranti, where apart from enjoying the beautiful view; one can also go for a picnic as it is a popular spot amongst locals. Tourists can take nature walks along the Murardi Lake or through the forests and see the sun going down over the hills and lake.

Khairabera is situated in Baghmundi some 70 Km away from Purulia town, this place has a vast water body at the foot hills of Chemto and Barra Hills (Ajodhya –range). It is a serene hill station surrounded by lush green forests, streams, waterfalls and hills. This place is ideal for the tourist looking for calmness, geology, falls, streams and different vegetation. The irrigation dam in slopes and woods at Khairabera are the real attraction of the spot. The dam is located on the Kangsbati river that offers a picturesque view of surrounding hills and forests. Bamni falls is another significant attractions near this place.

Bamni falls is a scenic waterfall surrounded by lush green forest. It is a popular picnic spot in Baghmundi, Purulia. This place is a great place for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. It takes a 20-30 mins trek through beautify forest trail from the entrance to reach the waterfall. The area is covered by tall Sal trees and the rich flora is the home to many varieties of birds.

Muruguma is a tribal village situated at the border of the Purulia district in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Muruguma is known for its pure and calm lake. The combination of blue water and green surroundings make it one of the most peaceful picnic spots for the tourist. Tourist can spend time boating, fishing and bird-watching by the lake or take a stroll around the picturesque surrounding of dam. Muruguma dam is another prominent tourist place in Murugma. Muruguma dam is an earth filled dam built on Kangsabati river in Purulia. The dam is surrounded by scenic hills, forests and river. The place is a great placed for trekking, camping and birdwatching.

Duarsini is a small tribal village in the Purulia district. The Sal, Segun, Piyal and Palash forests of Duarsini, just 13 kms from Bandwan town, are ideal for nature lovers. The attraction of this village lies in its scenic beauty due to its surrounding of spectacular rolling hills and deep greenery of the Dalma Hills. Dalma Forest is home to wildlife such as bears, wolves, boars, and many known and unknown bird species. One can even spot migrating elephants herd coming out of the forest into Duarsini. This is the perfect place to spend time away from the hustle bustle of city life and enjoy the peace in the nature’s lap. There are several tribal villages in the area pertaining to Santhals, Shabaradh, Kheriya and Munda tribes. Forest Department runs a tourist lodge and an eco-tourism centre here with 3 comfortable cottages. The cottages resemble traditional tribal cottages.

Saheb Bandh is a 50-acre lake in Purulia, that is known to have been constructed in the mid-19th century. It is said this water body was dug by convicts, at the instigation of Colonel Tikley, during the British Raj. This process was started in the year 1843 and took five years for to complete. Saheb Bandh is a popular sanctuary for bird watchers. This place is considered as a home to many migratory birds. During the migratory season birds from Baluchistan, Siberia and several places in Europe fly to this place.

Developed by forest department, Surulia is a popular picnic spot famous amongst eco-tourists. Just 6 km away from the main town, the Eco Park is located on the bank of the river Kangsabati. It has a deer park and tourism cottage inside the park and it is visited by visitors in huge numbers.