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Tourism Places In Jharkhand
One of the oldest demands for a separate state was fulfilled when the Parliament
passed the Bihar Reorganization Bill on August, 2, 2000 to create the state of Jharkhand.
The genesis of the demand can be traced to early 1900s when Jaipal Singh, the Oxford
educated hockey Captain of the 1928 Olympics mooted the idea of a separate state
consisting of the Southern districts of Bihar. After that there had been no looking
back. Jharkhand Movement had begun.
The state comprises of eighteen districts of the erstwhile Bihar - Ranchi,
Gumha, Lohardanga, East Singbhum, West Singbhum, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Kodarma, Chatra,
Dhanbad, Bokaro, Palamau, Garhwa, Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Pakure and Sahebgunj. With
an area of 74,677 sq km the new state will be bordered by Bihar, MP, Orissa and
West Bengal to its north, west, south and east respectively. 35% of the population
of former Bihar is in the Jharkhand region.
Jharkhand is one the most industrialised regions of the country today. The region
accounts for 35.5% of the country's known coal reserves, 90% of its cooking coal
deposits, 40% of its copper, 22% of its iron ore, 90% of its mica and huge deposits
of bauxite, quartz and ceramics.It is home to the largest steel plant in Bokaro,
apart from Jamshedpur being practically the city of TISCO and TELCO.
With its huge reserves of forests and natural resources, things can look up in this
predominantly poverty ridden region.With a total revenue of Rs 3,775 crores, Jharkhand
may be able to alleviate its poverty. Its revenues can now be utilised for its own
develpoment and no longer be diverted to the state's coffers of Bihar as has been
the case. Naturally the biggest loser is Bihar. Bihar will suddenly find its lifeline
of revenues shrunk without those contributed by Jharkhand region.
Just consider this fact, about 63% of Bihar. s total revenue comes from this region.
With the creation of Jharkhand, the truncated Bihar will suffer a revenue loss Rs
1,500 crores annually, as the major contributor to the State's Exchequer, mines
and minerals, and a large chunk of the commercial taxes will go to the newly formed
State.
With everything in its favour, Jharkhand can well look forward to a bright future.
It is poised to become the Industrial powerhouse of the country, that is, if its
leaders set the wheel of development rolling.
Tourism in Jharkhand
Ranchi
Ranchi, the Capital of the State is known for the Tagore Hill, Lamle Da,. Kagammatj
Temple which is believed to have been built during the 17th centry, and on Ranchi
- Hazaribagh road is the War Cemetery.
Ranchi offers an ideal opportunity to those interested in anthropology. Tribal Research
Institute and museum is well worth a visit for those seeking to know more about
the tribal life of Jharkhand.
Mc Cluskieganj
Mc Cluskieganj is a small village near Ranch. It evokes nostalgia and one gradually
discovers that the place was once popular with the Anglo-Indian community. Film
makers have taken note not only of the spectacular natural beauty, clean air and
extravagant greenery, but also of the village itself, a heady mix of the untamed
and the sophisticated. Some of the houses here have retained their English names
together with the epitaph of 'haunted house'. During the 1950s, there were no less
than 100 Anglo Indian families with their typical cottages, clubs and shops.
Betla National Park (Palamau)
The world's first tiger-census was done in the Palamau forests in 1932. There were
around 54 tigers here in 1991. The park is spread over a core area of 250 square
kilometers and is also known as the Betla National Park. The National Park is laden
with a severe biotic pressure from 107 villages in the buffer and three in the core.
Livestock dependence is also high. Peafowl, red jungle fowl, and partridges are
the common birds here.
Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary
The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary is set in a similar ecosystem. Hence, most of
the denizens of the wild found in Palamau can also be seen here. Sighting of wild
boar, sambar, nilgai, cheetal, and kakar is assured especially near the waterholes
at dusk. Tigers being less in number - 14 according to the 1991 census - are difficult
to sight. The sanctuary is situated at an average altitude of 1800 feet and stretches
over 184 square kilometers of undulating country and steep hills with dense tropical
forests and grass meadows. The National Highway passing through the sanctuary is
a cause of disturbance to their environment.
Netarhat
It is worth driving on a couple of hours through Betla to Netarhat, which is a pretty
place at an elevation of 1250 meters. It is renowned for spectacular sunrises and
sunsets plus the scenery.
Rajrappa
Rajrappa, 90 km from Hazaribagh town is famous for "Ma Chhina Mastika" temple where
River Bhera joins the Damodar from a height of 20 ft. The little waterfall offers
boating facilities, which introduces some very spectacular rock formations in this
area.
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Parasnath
Graced with a pleasant climate and picturesque places, Hazaribagh plateau has on
its eastern margin, Parasnath - the highest hill in Jharkhand, rising to a height
of 4,480 ft. The loftiness here is of another order. According to Jain tradition,
no less than 20 out of 24 tirthankaras or saints (including Parsvanatha) are believed
to have attained salvation in the Sammeta shikhar or the Parasnath hills. The hill
seems to have been an abode of Jains. Parsvanatha, the 23rd tirthankar was very
popular among the tribal population of Chotanagpur. Both the Swetambara and Digambara
Jains have many beautiful temples here on the hills.
Deoghar
Deoghar or Baidyanathdham is the most important Hindu pilgrimage site for the people
of Jharkhand as well as Bihar. Lakhs of pilgrims visit this place on foot traveling
for around 100 km during the month of Shravan to pay their reverence to Lord Shiva.
Hotels of Jharkhand
The State has hotels of star and non star category catering to the needs of the
tourists visiting Jharkhand. Besides it has resorts, restaurants and cafés which
cater to the needs of all segment of travelers.
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