Jharkhand

Carved out of the southern part of Bihar in 2000, the state of Jharkhand (literally meaning, “the land of thickets and bushes”) is one of the youngest states of India.

Flanked by Bihar on the north, UP and Chhatisgarh on the west, West Bengal to the east and Odisha on the south, this state is totally land locked. The capital is Ranchi.

This state which covers a major portion of the Chhota Nagpur plateau in Northern India in the eastern part of the country is a beautiful, picturesque land which has been richly endowed by Mother Nature in all aspects.

Amply blessed by mineral wealth, rich in flora and fauna, striking natural beauty and fertile land all together make it one of the most burgeoning and one of the most rapidly expanding industrial hubs in India at present.

Owing to thick vegetation and jungles in the area, there is a rich variety of wildlife in Jharkhand. There is a plethora of national parks and zoological gardens where they can be seen at its best. The most famous wildlife sanctuaries of the area are the famous Betla National Park and the Hazaribagh National Park- both being places of great interest for those who love to see the wild animals in all their glory.

The capital city of Ranchi is the hub of all industrial activity as well, though the busiest and largest industrial city in the state is Jamshedpur. That is the place we all know as the home of TISCO, one of the oldest iron and steel plants in India.

On the periphery of Ranchi lies the famous Tagore Hill, named after Rabindranath Tagore. The famous litterateur is believed to have written a part of his famous Gitanjali here, besides other poems. Kanke dam, which lies close to Ranchi, is another popular tourist attraction. The city of Puri (which lies in Odisha) and is famous for its Jagannath Temple and the annual Rath Yatra is also not too far from Ranchi.

Other major cities and industrial centres of Jharkhand are Dhanbad, Bokaro, Sindri, Deoghar, Hazaribagh and Patratu.
The Poush Mela or Tusu Fair which is celebrated in the month of January around the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, is an important day for most people of the area. The tribals in the state of Jharkhand celebrate the festival of Sarhul, which falls during the spring season with great enthusiasm and fanfare. That is the time when the tall shaal trees which grow in this area get covered with new leaves.

The cuisine of this area is a delicious mix of both vegetarian food and non vegetarian delicacies. Somedishes peculiar to this region are Handua, Joki Moringa oleifera, Sandhna, Khukhri and Putu or Rugra.

Jharkhand is famous for its intricate carvings on wood and bamboo handicrafts too. Unique paintings that bear a special touch of the region, musical instruments, some very unique tribal jewellery and wooden artifacts from the area will be wonderful souvenirs that will remind you of the fascinating trip to this state for a long time!