Vidyapith Parikrama

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia, an oasis in the heart of the dry rugged land of Purulia, is an educational institute par excellence, a completely residential school imparting man-making and character building education as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda. Vidyapith stands on the Barakar Road in the village Bongabari covering an area of approx 75 acres.

Entering through the main gate, facing east, we have a clear view of the Marble image of Sri Ramakrishna inside the garbhagriha of the temple. But first, at a distance in the north, there is the Vidyapith Museum on our left. To the south, on our right, is a life size portrait of Swami Vivekananda. Further ahead lies the Devayan or the central office, and the Sabhagriha or auditorium, to the northern side. The guest houses are to the south.

The Devayan is the office of the Secretary of Vidyapith. All the programmes like drama, elocutions, recitations, etc. are held in the auditorium. Advancing further on this road one finds oneself in front of the main shrine or prayer hall of Vidyapith where all the boys attend morning prayer and evening vesper services. North of the main temple is the Sabha Bedi where the Annual Prize Giving Ceremony and a few other programmes are held.

From the main temple the road forks left and right. Proceeding northeast towards the left we reach the Monks' Quarters or the Sadhu Nivas. Taking the right at the fork, and proceeding southeast from the temple, we reach the main school building or Sarada Mandir. Crossing the Sarada Mandir as we make a left turn and face south, we find ourselves in front of Vivek Mandir or the junior school. 

Further ahead the roads diverge again, the right one going south, skirting the Dining Hall and approaching the Junior Section. Following the left road that heads north, and crossing the Library on the right, we find the Vivekananda sadan, and Ramakrishna Sadan on our left, and Brahmananda Sadan, Matri sadan, and Sarada sadan on our right. Between Bramhananda sadan and Matri Sadan stands Sadananda sadan, which is our indoor hospital.

At the end of the road there is the dairy-poultry complex, and beyond that, in the north of the Vidyapith campus, lies Gurupalli or the teachers’ family quarters. 

If we take the right at the fork near Vivek Mandir, we reach Shivananda sadan. Boys of class V to VII stay here. On the east of this majestic building there are playgrounds, beyond which we see a gated pool and a wharf endearingly called Mayer Ghat or Mother's Wharf, and south of Shivananda Sadan is the Gymnasium.

North of the gymnasium lie the wide Vidyapith grounds - much beloved of the students and a hallmark of our campus. We have 22 football grounds, 6 volleyball courts, 2 badminton courts and a lawn tennis court (added recently). We also have a children’s park to boast of, and a medium sized swimming pool. Adjacent to the swimming pool is a well-planned Butterfly Park.