jharkhand India

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. The state is bordered by the Indian state of  Bihar to its north,  Uttar Pradesh to its north-west, West Bengal to its east,  Chhattisgarh to its west and  Odisha to its south.

It is the 15th largest state in India by area, and the 14th largest by population. The name “Jharkhand” literally translates to 'The Land of forests or Land of bushes' – and as the name suggests, it has many forests that are well-maintained and preserved.

Jharkhand is rich in natural resources and contributes to about 40% of the total mineral production of India. It is endowed with abundant biodiversity, moderate climate, rich cultural and historical heritage, places of worship some of which are of ancient time as well as ethnic aspects which makes the state an ultimate tourist destination.

Hindi is the official language of the state of Jharkhand. Besides Hindi, people in different regions within the state have their own languages and dialects, such as: Nagpuri, Khortha, Kurmali, Magahi, and Bhojpuri.

The state of Jharkhand has a population of about 3.19 Crores (as of 2020). The religious people here mostly follow Hinduism (67.8% people), followed by Islam (14.5%) and Christianity (4.3%). Sarnaism (a religion or tradition of worshipping a village deity) is also followed by more than 12% of the population.

Jharkhand state was formed in the year 2000, by carving out some regions from the state of Bihar, which it was previously part of – because of a demand for a separate state by the Adivasis and some non-tribal communities in the region.

Jharkhand was formed along with 2 other states - Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh which were carved out of Uttar Pradesh and  Madhya Pradesh respectively the same year.

 Ranchi, the largest city in the carved-out region was made the official capital of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand is known for its bright and peppy traditions, intriguing culture, paintings and vivid art scene, and festive celebrations soaked in traditions.

The important festivals of Jharkhand include: Karam (worship Karam devta, the God of power, youth, and youthfulness),Sarhul (tribal festival where Goddess Sitaas Mother of God along with the Sal tree), Sarna and Nawakhani (major harvest festivals of the state) and Sohrai (a cattle festival). Other common festivals like Dussehra and Diwali are also celebrated in the state.

Jharkhand has many folk dances that are performed regularly in the state, such as: Jhumair, Chhau, and Domkach. The state also has a tattoo tradition called Godna, which is part of its culture. It also has a variety of tribal population which represents its great diversity. The tribes of Jharkhand comprise 32 tribes inhabiting the state and were originally classified on the basis of their culture and work type such as - Hunter-gatherer type, Shifting agriculture, Simple artisans, Settled agriculturists.

Jharkhand is known for its waterfalls, elegant temples, National Parks and of course, forests. Some interesting places to visit and explore in Jharkhand are:

• Jain temple of Parasnath Hill (A popular Jain pilgrimage site situated on the top of a mountain).
• Ranchi the capital city (Ranchi Lake, Rock Garden).
• Hundru falls and Dassam falls in Ranchi (Ranchi is famous for its waterfalls and greenery).
• Jamshedpur (Founded by Jamshedji Tata, a well-known industrialist, this is the first well-planned Industrial city in the whole of India. A city where India’s first private iron and steel company was established; also has beautiful views with hills, lakes, temples and parks).
• The Baidyanath Dham or Baidyanath Temple in Deogarh – A pilgrimage spot (one of India’s 12 “Jyotirlingas”).
• Coal mines in Dhanbad – Coal mining is a main source of Jharkhand’s economy is Dhanbad is its coal mine capital.
• Bokaro steel Plant – An ancient steel plant; India’s first steel plant under its Independence (Swadeshi) movement.
• The Kelaghagh Dam – A beautiful dam surrounded by picturesque hills, located near a town called “Simdega” – a boat ride in this place is highly recommended!
•  Betla National Park – A well-known national park in the state, located in Betla, it houses many elephants and tigers.
•  Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary – A wildlife sanctuary located in Jamshedpur and having one of the largest populations of Indian elephants.

Some places of historical significance Jharkhand that will interest history and archaeology enthusiasts as well as photography lovers are –

• Terracotta temples of Maluti – Built between 17th and 19th centuries and has temples of gods and goddesses such as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Mowlakshi.
• Ketunga Dham – Marked as the Land of Buddha period with several Buddha statues found in the excavation.
• Bhadrakali Mandir – One of the famous Shakti Peeths among the 51 located throughout Indian peninsula.
• Palamau fort, Daltonganj – Located deep inside the dense forests of Aurangabad near Daltonganj.
• Seraikela Palace, Hazaribagh – 300-year-old heritage building with splendor architecture
• Isko Village – Known for its rock paintings which are said to be of mid stone age.

The staple foods of Jharkhand are rice, dal (pulses) and vegetables, especially and tubers (potatoes, yams). Popular dishes from the cuisine of Jharkhand include:

• Rotis (like Chilka Roti, Arsa Roti) – Flatbreads made of unleavened doughs of rice flour on “tawa” pans).
• MardJhor – A dish of herbs cooked in rice starch.
• Aaru ki sabzi – A curry made with a tuber vegetable found exclusively in Jharkhand.
• Sanai phool ka bharta – A dish made of a variety of edible flowers called Sanai - popular in rural areas of Jharkhand
• Tilkut – A biscuit made with pounded sesame-seeds and jaggery or melted sugar.
• MaduwaKhassi – A dish made with mutton that is smoked with its skin intact – usually served with rice.

• By Air: The air network is not very developed in Jharkhand with 4 domestic airports serving only a few flights from limited cities. Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi serves flights from Mumbai and Delhi.
• By Train: Direct trains are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Patna to Ranchi. Taxis and local buses are available from the station.
• By Road: Ranchi is located at the junction of NH 22 and 33 with well maintained roads connecting various cities of the state. State transport and private buses ply within the state and to neighboring states as well.