The state of Jharkhand is located in eastern India and came into existence in the year 2000 by reorganizing the southern regions of Bihar state. Jharkhand has common borders with Bihar in the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the west, Orissa in the south, and West Bengal in the east.

The Chota Nagpur Plateau forms most of the area of Jharkhand. The plateau is the source of many rivers including Damodar, Koel and Subarnarekha. This area is also famous for its abundant mineral wealth - iron, coal, uranium, graphite, and magnite are among the minerals found here. Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Ranchiare centres of heavy industry based on these mineral resources.

Forests and woodlands cover a significant 29 percent of the state. Asian elephant, tiger and bison are among the inhabitants of these forests. Betla National Park in Palamu district and Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary have a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Almost one-third of the population of Jharkhand belongs to indigenous tribal communities - Santhal, Oraon, Munda, Chero and Gond are the important ones. These tribal groups are known for their different languages (such as Santhali, Mundari, Khariya, Panchparagnia) and festivals (Sarhul, Karma, Sohrai, Badna).

Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand, earlier it was the summer capital of Bihar during the British rule. Ranchi is a famous tourist destination in the region, and has a number of beautiful waterfalls, especially after the rains; Hirni Falls, Jonha Falls, Hundru Falls and Dassam Falls are the most famous. The 17th-century Hindu Jagannath Temple is a replica of the famous temple at Puri in Orissa. The Parasnath Hill in Hazaribagh District is named after the Jain Tirthankar Parshvnath and one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots for Jains. Baidyanath Dham is located in the Santhal Paraganas district and is an important pilgrimage for the Hindus. The plateau of Netarhat is popularly called the `Queen of Chhota Nagpur' and is attractive for its cool climes.

Tourist Attractions:

Hazaribagh: The name implies 'a thousand gardens'. Since long it is a renowned health resort for its excellent climate and magnificent sceneries all around. Parasnath Temple is situated on a hillock close by, where 23 out of 24 Jain prophets are believed to have attained salvation.

Betla National Park & Palamu: This is one of the prime tourist attractions in Jharkhand. The national park is replete with tigers, panthers, elephants, dear and many other animals as well as a few waterfalls and hot springs. In Palamu it has a Tiger Reserve

Netarhat: 156kms from Ranchi, this beautiful hill station promises a perfect solitude and offers stunning views of sunrise and sunset.

Lodh Falls: 61kms from Netarhat, it is one of the biggest water falls of Jharkhand where water tumbles down from a height of 468 feet.

Hundru Falls: The River Suwarnarekha cascades down from an altitude of 320 feet. In the monsoons the location becomes more spectacular.

Topchanchi Lake: in the midst of green hills and forests, the artificial lake is 37kms away from Dhanbad and a beautiful picnic spot.

Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar): In the district of Santhal Parganas, Deoghar is a significant pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. There is a temple of Lord Shiva here.
Apart from the abovementioned ones, other tourist attractions in Jharkhand include: Tagore Hill, Kanke Dam and Jagannath Temple, Maithon and Panchet Dams, Rajrappa, Urwan Tourist Complex, Dassam and Jonha Falls and cities like Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Bokaro.

Access:

How to Reach Jharkhand by Air: The state has a domestic airport in Ranchi, which is connected by regular flights with Kolkata, Patna , Mumbai & New Delhi.

How to Reach Jharkhand by Road: Ranchi is located at the junction of National Highways 23 and 33. Extensive road network is under construction to facilitate road transport in the area and make the state easily accessible from any corner of the country.

How to Reach Jharkhand by Rail: The main Railway Station in the state is also located in Ranchi. South Eastern Railways connect it to other major cities like Patna , Rourkela by regular trains. Another important railway station is in Hazaribagh.