| Ranchi City Tour Guide - Jharkhand |
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Ranchi Facts:
• Altitude 360 meters
• Best time to visit Sept - May
• STD Code- 0651 |
Ranchi is the capital of the newly founded state of Jharkhand. The erstwhile summer capital of Bihar, the city is well equipped to wear the mantle. A popular tourist destination for its pleasant weather and scenic landscapes, the city also boasts of eminent educational institutions within its precincts. The administrative and transportation hub of the mineral rich state, Ranchi also has a large number of business travellers. Waterfalls, hills and many temple complexes are the city's main points of interest.
History
Earlier the name of the district was Lohardaga. The old district had come into existence after the creation of the non-regulation South – West frontier as a result of the Kol rising in 1831-32. The name of the district was changed in 1899 from Lohardaga to Ranchi after the name of a small village now comprised within the headquarters station.
In ancient times the district of Ranchi was in the possession of Munda and Oraon tribes and was known to Aryans as Jharkhand or the 'forest territory'. The area was included in the Magadh Empire during the reign of Ashoka (273-232 B.C.) and Samudra Gupta (335-380 A.D.) must have passed through the area on his expedition to the Deccan. The Chotanagpur Raj was set up in fifth century A.D. after the fall of the imperial Guptas. Phanimukut from Nag Dynasty was elected the first king.
The Chotanagpur plateau was referred to as Jharkhand by the Muhammedan historians. In 1556 Muslim influence penetrated in Jharkhand, and then known to the Mughals as Kokrah. In 1585, Akbar sent a force under the command of Shahabaz Khan to reduce the Raja of Chotanagpur to the position of a tributary. After the death of Akbar in 1605, the area presumably regained its independence.
In 1780, a district was formed under the name of the Ramgarh Hill which lasted till 1863. Six police thanas were also set up in 1809, marking the beginning of end of the feudal authority of the Raja.
Ranchi has attracted many Christian missions which have contributed much to the growth of education in the district. The earliest Christian missionaries reached the district in 1845. |
How to get there
Air
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Patna have regular flights to Ranchi. National and private airlines fly to the city.
Train
Most of the major cities of India are connected by regular passenger and express trains to Ranchi.
Road
Government and privately operated buses link many states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa to Ranchi. Situated on National Highway 23 and 33, there is a network of good roads leading in and out of the city.
Best time to visit
October to May is the best time to visit Ranchi when the temperatures and humidity are low and the weather is pleasant. The city is visited almost throughout the year because of its relatively high altitude. Many find it the ideal place to recuperate because it has pleasant climate through the year, with the exception of June, July and August.
Dining Out
Almost all hotels in the state have restaurants in their premises. The upper rung of the ladder serves Continental cuisine. You’ll get Indian food on the menu of all restaurants.
Shopping
Indigenous crafts make a good buy, especially the bamboo work, wood products, interesting toys and metal craft. The intricate ‘paitkar’ paintings and stone carvings rarely find their way to the market for lack of sponsorship.
Tourist Offices
Jharkhand Bhawan, Room 514 & 516, Ansal Chambers -2, Fifth Floor, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.
Tel: 011-6170167 / 011-6109936
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