Ranchi is the capital city of the state Jharkhand. Ranchi was the centre of the Jharkhand movement for a separate state for the tribal regions of South Bihar. Jharkhand was formed on 15 November 2000 by carving out the districts of Chota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas divisions of Bihar. As a part of Bihar, it used to be the summer capital from the time of the British Raj because of its cool climate.
Ranchi is located on the Chotanagpur plateau, at a height of 2,140 feet above sea
level. The entire area is generally covered with red soil. Extensive forests around
Ranchi are composed mainly of sal, gambhar, asan, kend, simul and mahua.
Bears, sambar, chital, nilgai and hares are found in the forests. Summer days are
hot but nights are cool (maximum 37 degrees centigrade, min 20 degrees
centigrade). It is cool/cold in winter (maximum 23 degrees centigrade and minimum
5 degrees centigrade). Annual rainfall is 1530 mm.
PLACE TO VISIT
Rajrappa Mandir - About 65 km from Ranchi for the worship of Goddess Kali, known as Chhinnamasta.
Jagannath Temple - in Ranchi was built by Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, king of Barkagarh Jagannathpur, on 25th December 1691. Similar to the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa, this temple is built in the same architectural style, although smaller. And similar to the Rath Yatra in Puri, an annual fair cum rath yatra is held at this temple too, attracting thousands of tribal and non-tribal devotees not only from Ranchi but also from neighbouring villages and towns.
Nakshatra Van - Nakshatra is a term in Hindu Mythology which means a star which is prominent in a division of sky. Each Nakshatra is associated with a Zodiac as well. These zodiacs are quite scientifically, related to celestial bodies and their movements in sky. Astrologers believe that each constellation of the zodiac is associated with a tree. Those trees are of medicinal, social, aesthetic or economic value.
Nakshatra Van, Ranchi boasts to be a park unique in its own ways. The park can be
said to be divided in various sections. The park is centered around a circle, which is
a representation of the various Nakshatras on the ground. The circle is divided in
arcs precisely according to the angles, these zodiacs subtend on earth. Tree of a
particular zodiac has been planted in its corresponding arc. At the center of this
circle, there is a musical fountain which has a huge pot in which the water gets
collected. The park has beautiful flowers planted all along the pathway, and has
sprawling lawns as well
Pahari Mandir – In Ratu Road ,2 km away from main Road (Firayalal). It is very good place to see whole ranchi in one sight.
HOW TO REACH
By air - The Ranchi Airport (Code: IXR) is located in Hinoo. It is approximately 7
km from the city centre. The airport name is Bhagwan Birsa Munda Airport.
By rail - Ranchi is connected by rail to important places all over the country. Hatia
is a station next to Ranchi and serves as terminus for many of the trains. Given
below are some of the convenient trains. The first number is for the train from Ranchi
and second for the train to Ranchi.
By road - Ranchi is well connected by a network of roads with all the neighbouring cities and towns. The distance to some important locations are as follows: Bokaro 110 km, Dhanbad 170 km, Jamshedpur 140 km, Chaibasa 130 km, Hazaribagh 100 km, Gaya 220 km, Patna 340 km, Barhi (on NH 2 Grand Trunk Road) 136 km, Rourkela 250 km, Kolkata 415 km. Bus connections are available to most of thecities and towns in the area.
