Although not much is known about the beginning of Ranchi, it has been a key town in the Chhota Nagpur region, an area known as the abode of many forest dwelling indigenous tribes of India. As the capital of Jharkhand, the once sleepy town has graduated to a bustling metropolis with modern housing, office buildings and shopping centres. And as the home of one of the poster boys of Indian cricket, former captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the city has become a household name across the country.
But not many people know that Ranchi is also the gateway to some of the most scenic corners of the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, rich with verdant hills, waterfalls and temples. With the city offering comfortable accommodation and other facilities, you may explore the region at leisure.
The city stretches outwards from the Ranchi Lake, a 52 acre waterbody excavated by the British in 1842. Also known as the Bada Talab, it is a popular getaway for the local residents. The landscaped and illuminated bank is popular with local visitors. There is a 33 feet tall bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda here.
The two hills overlooking the city, Ranchi Hill and the Tagore Hill, offer a panoramic view of the city. There is an old Shiva Temple (also called the Pahari Mandir) at the top of Ranchi Hill, reached by a flight of nearly 500 steps. During Shivratri festival, pilgrims from Jharkhand and its neighbouring states arrive to offer prayers.
For a bird’s eye view of the city, especially during sunrise or sunset, you may also gather at the top of Tagore Hill. However, little remains of the house that playwright and painter Jyotirindranath Tagore (elder brother of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore) built here, after which the hill top was named. Local transport is available up to to almost the hill-top. It is better to go in a group if you are travelling in the early hours of the day. Located at the base of the hill is the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram.
Another popular temple near Ranchi is the 17th century Jagannath Temple, located about 12km away from the city centre.
