Archaeological Tourism in Purulia is famous for its age old ruins and artefacts which gives an insight about the art and architecture prevailing in the region during ancient times. A number of villages and towns are situated in Purulia district which houses the remains of ancient temples and monuments. Though most of the structures have worn out with time, excellent craftsmanship that existed years ago can still be witnessed in the relics.

Banda
Banda is a village, also known as Deulghera. It houses a single temple exhibiting `rekha` style and a broken amalaka still standing in its place. The tower of the temple has bhumi-amalakas that span up to the corners and the central projection is embellished with foliated scrolls and interconnected chaityas. Leafy lattice like motifs adorn the central projection which is representative of Middle Eastern Islamic architecture. No idol of any deity has been discovered in the temple.

Cheliama
Cheliama is a big village in the Purulia district. It houses ancient temples belonging to 17th century, richly adorned with terracotta. One of the famous temples among these is the Radha-Vinod temple built in 1619 that hosts a contemporary plaque made of terracotta in Bengali. Krishnalila scenes are depicted in the in the panels above the archways. Other panels portray confrontation of Rama and Ravana, avatars of Lord Vishnu, other deities, devotees and many more. Some of the panels are however badly worn out while some still stand in excellent condition.

Deulghata
Deulghata is another archaeological site in the district of Purulia. The place houses remains of around 15 temples and shrines situated near Kansai River. Most of the temples exhibit curved brickwork and stucco decoration depicting chaityas and miniature rekha motifs. The tower tops of almost all the temple have been lost with time. Excellent craftsmanship can still be witnessed in the remains of these temples.

Pakbirra
Pakbirra hosts only three temple remains, two of them facing north and the smallest one facing east. The ruins contain large amalaka fragments and stone kalasas with emerging lotus buds. Several sculptures have also been found in Pakbirra which belong to Jainism. The sheds have images of various tirthankaras.

Suissa
Suissa has been found to have several iconic images which probably belong to the temples that existed here once. The various images excavated here include Lord Vishnu in unusual tribhanga pose, Ambika, Chaturmukha votive shrine of rekha-type, images of Tirthankaras, Amalaka, a linga and many more.

Para
Para is a village that houses two pre-Muslim deuls. The top of one of them has fallen down with the stucco; however, some brickwork has still remained intact. Remains of a stone temple have also been found in Para. It exhibits intricate carving on soft sandstone which has substantially ruined with time. The temple of Radharaman, the tomb or Chhatri of Purushottam Das, a small mound with a ling, makara waterspouts and some pillars are the other excavations of this place.

Birinchinath
Birinchinath is situated near Mahanadi River and is the site of an ancient temple which has disappeared with time. Several stone fragments having architectural incisions and mouldings have been found in this region. Existence of a rekha-deul has been confirmed by presence of fragments of amalaka. An old linga is also present in the site with a Nandi bull near it.

Budhpur
Budhpur is the site of a large Buddheswara Siva temple. Previously, the temple had mandapas attached to it which later fell down. Additionally, ruins of three sculptures have also been found, the heavy pedestals of which suggest that these were cult images. These remains belong to 12th or 13th centuries.

Charra
Charra is a village situated in the north east of Purulia district. Two rekhadeuls, made of stone, were housed here with carved bhumiamalakas and chaityas. Amalaka of the structures are still intact. Ruins of another temple have also been excavated and archaeological researches have suggested that they were Jain temples as numerous Jain sculptures have been found scattered around the village.

Ganpur
Ganpur is also a village that hosts an abandoned temple that resembles `atchala` temples of Bankura district belonging to 17th century. Barakar sandstone forms the main structure of the temple. It has been estimated that a brick rasmancha was situated nearby.

Telkupi
Telkupi is a village located in the north-east of Cheliama. Several temples have been documented in this region, mostly made of brick while some of them are also made of stone.

These places serve as famous tourist destinations exhibiting the intricate artistry and beautiful architecture of ancient past. Numerous excavations have furnished various structures belonging to old temples and shrines. These give a fair idea about the prevailing religious beliefs in that period of time. Apart from enhancing the tourism of the district, these places also have historical significance.