Jharkhand Tourism

Toupadana, a small village near Ranchi is famous for making unique toys for kids. These toys are usually made from wood and are very unusual in design. Mostly, these are made in pairs and are just pieces of wood painted to resemble human figures. The love for culture and traditions of the locals can be seen in their creations. Toy makers create the Ram Parivar and Lord Ganesha. They are also known to create beautiful caricatures of bride and groom. These toys are then decorated with clothes and ornaments which make for a genuinely unique takeaway from Jharkhand.

Jharkhand has a unique tradition of fairs and festivals owing to its rich tribal culture. Throughout the year, the state hosts many cattle fairs across different locations on various religious occasions. Kunda Mela in Pratarppur, Kundi and Kolhaiya Mela in Chatra, Tutilawa and Belgada in Simaria are the most popular cattle fairs. These fairs make for a brilliant opportunity for meeting and documenting the lives and culture of the locals of Jharkhand. Of the various cattle fairs, the Belgada Mela that takes place on the day of Baisakhi Purnima originated in the 1880s and is a source for the cattle keepers to promote their business. 

While the official language of the state remains Hindi, a lot of other regional languages like Bhojpuri, Oriya, Bengali, Sadri, Urdu and Angika are widely spoken and understood in different cities of Jharkhand. Most of these languages are connected to Indo-Aryan Languages. Other than this, a significant number of locals communicate in Munda languages which are related to the Austro-Asiatic language family.

Ranchi

The top tourist destination in the city which promises to offer breathtaking views of some of the most majestic waterfalls in the country is Ranchi. The capital of Jharkhand is famously known as the ?City of Waterfalls?, with the must-visit waterfalls that include the Hundru Falls, the Dassam Falls, the Panch Gagh Falls, and the Jonha Falls. Bordered on all sides by rocky hills with mighty waterfalls cutting through the heart of the city, Ranchi is one of the most aesthetically beautiful cities not just in Jharkhand, but in the entirety of the Indian subcontinent as well.

Jamshedpur

Jharkhand is home to Jamshedpur, which has acquired the title of ?Steel City of India?, making it another popular tourist destination in the state. Renowned for being one of the most well-planned cities in the country, Jharkhand is an industrial city founded by Jamsedji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group. Don?t be misled by the tag of an industrial town, though, because Jharkhand abounds in greenery and natural beauty, with must-visit tourist attractions being the Dalma Hills, the Jayanti Sarovar, the Hudco Lake, the Bhuvneshwari Temple, and the Tata Steel Zoological Park.

Hazaribagh

The most picturesque city in Jharkhand is Hazaribagh, a city abundant in rolling hills, crystalline waterfalls, and lush greenery all around. Meaning the ?City of a Thousand Gardens?, Hazaribagh does have its fair share of gardens, but it also boasts of a plethora of other attractions that beckon tourists to visit the city all year round. The most important places in the city that you couldn?t forget to visit include the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Canary Hill, Isko Village, Rajarappa temple, Konar Dam, and Suryakund.

Deogarh

Deogarh, with its numerous temples scattered all across the perimeters of the city, is another important tourist destination in Jharkhand. Deogarh is home to the famous Baba Baidyanath Temple, which finds mention in history for being one of the twelve ?Jyotirlingas? present in India. If you?re looking for a divine connect, Deogarh is a must-visit location, with other famous attractions of the city being the Trikuta Hills, the Satsanga Ashram, Hathi Pahar, Nandan Pahar, and the Shivganga Pond.

The people of Jharkhand belong to different tribes like Baiga, Bathaudi, Asur, Banjara, Bhumij, Bedia, Binjhia, Santhal, Oraon, Birjia, Birhor, Chero, Gond, Karmali, Parhaiya, etc. Craft is an important part of the culture of this state which includes wood crafts, bamboo crafts, Paitkar paintings and metal works. Dohari, Domkach, Janani, Jhumar, Mardana, Daidhara, Pahilsanjha, Adhratiya and Vinsariya are the different types of music practiced in Jharkhand played on musical instruments like Kadri, Gupijantra, Sarangi and Tuila, Vyang, Anandlahri and Bansuri while Paika, Chaw, Jadur and Karma are the various dance forms of the state. People of the state celebrate all the festivals with great joy and merriment like any other state of India, Kunda Mela, the Kolhua Mela, the Chatra Mela, the Kundri Mela and the Tutilawa Mela are some of the major fairs and festivals of Jharkhand.

According to historians, Jharkhand was a distinct geopolitical, cultural identity even before the rule of Magadha. It is believed that the local languages spoken by the tribal communities in Jharkhand today bore a resemblance to that of the Harappan culture. While the state is said to have been buried for the majority of the Vedic age, it was only during the reign of Mahajanpadas in 500 BC that India witnessed the rise of 16 states which practically controlled the entire Indian subcontinent.

In that period, northern Jharkhand had aligned itself to the Magadha Empire, and the southern part of Jharkhand was under the kingdom of Kalinga. Through the medieval ages, the state was ruled by dynasties of the Nandas, Mauryas and Guptas. Post India's independence, Jharkhand shares its history with Bihar. The demands for statehood for the tribal population started being raised right after the declaration of states. Finally, in the year 2000, Jharkhand was formed from southern Bihar. Today, the state alone accounts for 40% of the total mineral resources of India.

The state of Jharkhand was carved out of the southern part of Bihar in November 2000. Spread across an area of 79, 710 square kilometres, Jharkhand shares its borders with Bihar in the North, Odisha to the south, West Bengal in the eastern side while Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh line its western borders. The capital city, Ranchi is the most populous town in the state followed by Dhanbad which is the largest industrial city. Geographically, many parts of the state lie in the Chota Nagpur Plateau, and forests cover most landmass.