General Information
Area : 79,714 sq.km.
Population : 218.44 Lakhs
Capital : Ranchi
Districts : 18
Introduction
The new State Jharkhand formerly a part of Bihar state, was formed on November 15th, 2000 with Ranchi as its capital. Jharkhand is the 28th state of the Indian Union. The districts are Garwa, Palamu, Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Pakur, Sahibganj, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi, Lohardagga, Gumla, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum.
The new state largely comprises of the forest tracks of Chhotanagpur plateau and Santhal Pargana and has distinct cultural traditions. This area in and around the districts of Chotanagpur and Santhal Parganas was formerly Southern Bihar and is thickly wooded and consists of a succession of hills.
Places to visit
Tagore Hill
3 km from Ranchi, is this rolling hill, named after Rabindranath Tagore, the author of the Indian national anthem. The first Indian Nobel laureate for Literature is supposed to have written a number of books here.
Ramkrishna Mission Ashram
Drop by at this peaceful place on your way down Tagore Hill.
Diyyayan and Agrarjan Agrarian Vocational Institute
Also on the way down Tagore Hill.
Ranchi Lake
A centrally situated lake that offers boating facilities.
Ranchi
Situated in the heart of Chotanagpur, at an altitude of 2,140 ft. above sea level, is Ranchi, known for its scenic attractions, water falls, barren rocks and hillocks.
Ranchi Hill
Offers a panoramic view of the town from its summit. There is a Shiva temple on the top of the hill.
Gonda Hill
Has a water reservoir at the summit and a big lake at the bottom.
Tribal Research Institute and Museum
A storehouse of the historical lineage of the tribals of the Chota Nagpur region.
Angrabadi
A temple complex in Khunti which accommodates the temples of Ganpati, Ram-Sita, Hanuman and Shiva. The Shankracharya Swami Swarupanand Saraswati, captivated by the serene beauty of Angrabadi, rechristened it as Amreshwar Dham.
Hundru Fall
About 45 kms away from Ranchi town, the Swarnarekha river falls from a height of 320 feet forming a picture postcard like waterfall.
Jonha Fall
40 kms from Ranchi, this fall is named after Gautam Buddha. There is also a Buddha temple here.
Dassam Fall
About 40 km away from Ranchi, cascading from a height of about 144 feet, the Kanchi river makes a pretty waterfall called Dassam.
Panch Ghagh Fall
55 kms from Ranchi, on the way to Simdega via Khunti, this beautiful cataract has five waterfalls in a row.
Hirni Fall
About 75 km. from Ranchi on the way to Chakradharpur.
Jagannathpur Temple & Hill
About 10 km. from Ranchi, is the old temple of Lord Jagannath, built in 1691 in the architectural style of the Puri temple. It stands like a fort on the top of the hill. Its' car/chariot festival held on Ashadhmas draws a big crowd.
Sun Temple
About 39 km. from Ranchi, near Bundu, stands the elegant Sun temple fashioned in the form of huge chariots with 18 richly decorated wheels and seven life like horses. The surroundings of the temple, have a dharmashala, for pilgrims to stay.
Netarhat
Popularly called the "Queen of Chhota Nagpur", Netarhat, 154 km west of Ranchi, is a plateau covered with thick forests. Generally people come here to enjoy the breath taking sunrise and sunset.
This hill station makes a lovely summer getaway.
Jamshedpur
Also called Tatanagar or The Steel City, this has put Bihar on the steel map of the world. Visit:
» Jubilee Park, a replica of the famous Brindavan Gardens of Mysore
» Dimna lake, a popular picnic spot
» Dalma Wild Life Sanctuary
» Dalma Hills, whose steep slopes offer excellent trekking opportunities
» Sir Dorabji Tata Park, with manicured lawns and brilliantly lit fountains
» Hudco Lake, nestled in the picturesque, hilly terrain of Telco Colony
» Keenan Stadium, used for international cricket matches
» JRD Tata Sports Complex, one of the best sports complexes in India
» Tata Steel Zoological Park, at the confluence of the Kharkai and Swarnarekha rivers
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh means "a thousands gardens". It is a hill station situated at an altitude of 2,019 ft. above sea level. Visit Canary Hill, Hazaribagh Lake, Wild Life Sanctuary, Tilaiya Dam, Rajrappa, Konar Dam.
Once upon a time this had a thousand bagichas (gardens), hence the name.
How To Get There
Air: The state has a domestic airport in Ranchi, which is connected by regular flights with Kolkata , Patna , Mumbai & New Delhi .
Road: Ranchi is located at the junction of National Highways 23 and 33. Extensive road network is under construction to facilitate road transport in the area and make the state easily accessible from any corner of the country.
Rail: The main Railway Station in the state is also located in Ranchi. South Eastern Railways connect it to other major cities like Patna , Rourkela by regular trains. Another important railway station is in Hazaribagh.
