Jharkhand
Forested plateau state of eastern India known for waterfalls, tribal culture, Betla National Park, the Baidyanath temple at Deoghar and the Jain hill of Parasnath.
A plateau state of forests, waterfalls and hills, with strong tribal traditions, major Hindu and Jain pilgrimage sites, and industrial cities.
Highlights: Waterfalls around Ranchi: Hundru, Dassam, Jonha, Hirni · Netarhat hill station and its sunrise and sunset points · Betla National Park (Palamu Tiger Reserve) · Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas · Parasnath Hill (Shikharji), the holiest Jain pilgrimage site · Jamshedpur: Jubilee Park and Dalma hills · Maluti temples and Rajrappa Chhinnamasta temple
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Jamshedpur
Planned steel city founded by the Tata group, with parks and the Dalma hills nearby.
Ranchi
State capital on the plateau, base for the nearby waterfalls.
Deoghar
Temple town of Baba Baidyanath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Netarhat
Forested hill station known as the Queen of Chotanagpur, famous for sunrises and sunsets.
Madhuban
Highest peak in Jharkhand and the holiest Jain pilgrimage site.
Betla National Park
Core tourist zone of Palamu Tiger Reserve with elephants, gaur, deer and old forts.
Hundru Falls
High waterfall on the Subarnarekha river near Ranchi.
Dassam Falls
Waterfall on the Kanchi river off the Ranchi-Jamshedpur highway.
Top sights
Sri Sri Kalika Maharani Temple
Hindu temple in Jharkhand, India
Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga
temple
Karneshwar Dham
Hindu temple in Jharkhand, India
Naulakha Temple, Deoghar
temple in Jharkhand, India
Bhatinda Falls
waterfall in Jharkhand, India
Rani Sati Mandir Mahuda
Hindu temple in Jharkhand, India
Gayatri Gyan Mandir , Mahuda
Hindu temple in Jharkhand, India
Maluti temples
Temples of Maluti village of India
Nature and outdoors
Massanjore Dam
Dam located on the border of Jharkhand & West Bengal
Dimna Lake
lake in Jamshedpur, India
Tata Steel Zoological Park
zoo in Jharkhand, India
Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary
wildlife sanctuary in Jharkhand, India
Charowa dam
dam in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand
Chandil Dam
dam in Seraikela Kharsawan district, Jharkhand
Raja Talab
man-made lake in Jharia Jharkhand, India
Khandoli Dam
dam in India
Things to do
Food to try
Festivals
- Sarhul: When: Spring (Chaitra); Notes: Tribal festival of the sal blossom and new year
- Karma: When: August-September; Notes: Harvest and nature festival with Karma dance
- Sohrai: When: Around Diwali; Notes: Cattle festival; known for Sohrai wall paintings
- Tusu: When: Mid-January (Makar Sankranti); Notes: Harvest festival of the southeast
- Shravani Mela: When: July-August (Shravan month); Notes: Huge pilgrimage of kanwariyas to Deoghar
- Chhath: When: October-November; Notes: Sun worship at rivers and ponds