Ranchi is the capital of mineral-rich state Jharkhand. Located at an altitude of 700 metres, Ranchi was once identified as the summer capital of Bihar owing to its altitude of 700 metres, waterfalls, surrounding forest and beautiful river Subarnekha flowing by. There are not many sightseeing spots in Ranchi, but due to better flight connectivity, natural surroundings of Ranchi are becoming popular among travellers. The weather here remains pleasant during evenings and nights.
The city takes immense pride in accounting for the 40 per cent of the country’s total mineral reserves. The most popular places in this city include Ranchi Hill, Kanke Dam, Tagore hill and Hudru falls, Hatia Museum and Tribal Research Institute and Museum. The city has a wide variety of trees and wildlife, Maugha, Sal and Simul are some of the rare types of trees found here.
Places to Visit
Patratu Valley
Forty kilometres outside Ranchi lies the scintillating Patratu Valley. With sparkling waters of the Patratu Dam on one side and lush green trees flanked along the other, driving along the Ghat of the Patratu Valley is truly a stupendous experience. However, do not venture into these roads after dark because of the rampant Naxalite influence in the area.
Panch Gagh Falls
Panch (means five) Gagh Falls is a stunning tourist destination which has five waterfalls cascading through tall and steep hills near the scenic village of Khunti. The foot of the waterfalls has a very calm and serene atmosphere and is an ideal location for picnics and weekend getaways.
Birsa Zoological Park
The Birsa Zoological Park, also known as Birsa Jaivik Udyan houses a wide variety of wild animals like lions, tigers, various kinds of deer etc. It is located on the Ranchi-Patna National Highway near Ormanjhi and is a must-visit for all wildlife enthusiasts.
As part of the animal adoption program, you can also adopt an animal and contribute to the wildlife preservation drive of this park.
Ranchi Lake
Located at the base of the majestic Ranchi hill, this lake was constructed in the year 1842 by a British National Colonel Onsely. It is centrally located and has boating facilities.
Being well-maintained by the authorities, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed evening and is ideal for picnics. The Ranchi hill itself is a popular tourist destination, it also has a Shiv Mandir at its top and one can get a panoramic view of the entire city from there.
Sun Temple
The Sun Temple has an extremely captivating architecture and has the shape of a giant vehicle with 18 wheels driven by seven horses. The temple complex also has a holy pond which is highly revered among Hindus.
The Sun Temple is located amidst lush greenery and serene surroundings and absolutely worth a visit.
Topchanchi Lake
A Lake upon which a dam was built to supply water to Dhanbad and its suburbs, the Topchanchi Lake attracts tourists all over the year being the beautiful reservoir that it is.
Jonha Falls
Plunging from a height of about 45 meters, the Johna Falls are surrounded in a canopy of plush dense trees and thick shrubbery. The holy waters of River Ganga and River Raru come together to form these giant roaring falls. They are also known as the Gautamdhara Falls because of a Buddhist shrine that lies in proximity to the falls.
Tagore Hill
Situated in Morabadi in Ranchi, Tagore Hill is a popular hilltop in the state of Jharkhand. Also known as Morabadi Hill, the hilltop has a long associated history with the revered poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Engulfed in lush greenery and boasting of gorgeous panoramic vistas, the vantage point stands at a height of 300 feet and is an ideal picnic spot and a popular tourist attraction near the city. It is believed that Tagore used to come up here to enjoy the utter ataraxy and solitude at the top, and to write books. A number of his famous books have been conceived and written up here.
You can reach the top by climbing a flight of 200 – 250 stairs and enjoy stunning views of the town below. Besides, you can also try your hand at trekking, rock climbing and several other adventure sports and thrilling activities here. At the foot of the hill is also situated the famous Ramakrishna Ashram and a centre of Divyayan and Agararian Vocational Institute. In addition to that, you can also enjoy mesmerising sunsets from uphill.
Dasham Falls
Located near the Taimara village in the Ranchi district, Dasham Falls, also known as Dassam Falls, is a spectacular waterfall in the state of Jharkhand which is a tributary of the Subarnarekha River. Cascading down a height of 144 ft., the waterfall boasts of utter serenity, peace and calm. The area surrounding the spot is engulfed in rich greenery, that makes it an ideal picnic place in the region. To reach the spot, you will have to climb a flight of stairs. You can also stop in between and stare at the gorgeous scenery surrounding it.
The waterfall is basically a Nick Point, also known as Knick Point, which means that it has been developed over the years due to the break in the rocky slopes in a longitudinal manner. For the same reason, it is not ideal to swim or to step into the water as the current is strong and the ground is uneven. Other than that, the region echoes with the gurgling sound of water which is like music to the ears, and is perfect to relax and rejuvenate.
Pahari Mandir
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Pahari Mandir in Ranchi soars at an altitude of 2140 feet and offers a mind-stirring bird’s eye view of the entire city. You have to climb about 300 steps to reach here, but the beauty of the temple and the stunning view is absolutely worth it. The Shravan season is a pompous affair here and sees a footfall of hundreds of devotees each year.
Must Try Food in Ranchi
1. Prana Lounge
2. Moti Mahal Deluxe Restaurant
3. Zinnia Multi Cuisine Restaurant
4. Kaveri Restaurant
5. The Best Restaurant
6. Nirvana Restaurant
7. Mirch Masala
8. Yellow Sapphire
9. Dosa Plaza
10. Kareem’s
How To Get Here
An emerging industrial hub, Ranchi is well connected to the rest of the country via airways and railways. A network of National Highways also connects Ranchi to major cities of India.
By Air
The Birsa Munda Airport connects Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Bangalore via regular flights of various carriers. The nearest international airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport located in Kolkata.
Nearest Airport: Birsa Munda Airport (IXR)
By Road
Situated on NH23 & NH33 Ranchi is directly connected to nearby cities like Patna, Jamshedpur and Kolkata via regular bus services.
By Train
The Ranchi Junction links Ranchi to major cities in the country via railways. A number of regular express and superfast trains are available between Ranchi and major cities across India.