Page 231 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

BIHAR & JHARKHAND  229

Environs
Hundru Falls, some 45 km Festivals of Bihar &
(28 miles) east of Ranchi, is Jharkhand
a picturesque picnic spot. Maner Urs (Feb), Maner.
This is the point where the This festival honours the
Subarnarekha river drops Sufi saint Sheikh Yahya
down dramatically from Maneri with soulful qawwali
the Chhota Nagpur singing at his mausoleum,
Plateau to form a 100-m and a lively fair in the town.
(328-ft) waterfall, which Sarhool (Mar/Apr), Jharkhand.
splashes into the pools The Munda tribals perform
below. The sleepy town tree-worshipping ceremonies,
of McCluskiegunj, 40 km followed by much dancing
(25 miles) northwest of and feasting.
Ranchi, is a quaint relic of Jatra (Mar/Apr), Jharkhand.
the Raj. It was established The Oraon tribals hold lively
as a settlement for dances during this festival,
Eurasians, who felt they in which the young people
belonged neither to choose their mates.
British nor to Indian Buddha Jayanti (May),
society, and wanted a Bodh Gaya. A fair and
Fields on the outskirts of Ranchi haven of their own. Today, special prayers are held to
only a handful of the original celebrate the Buddha’s birth,
t Ranchi settlers remain (many have attainment of enlightenment
emigrated to Australia), living and nirvana.
Ranchi district. 289 km (180 miles) E of
Patna. * 846,500. ~ 5 km (3 miles) out their old age in cottages
S of town centre. £ @ n Birsa crammed with their treasured
Vihar Tourist Complex, Main Rd, (0651) collections of English china
230 1230. ( daily. _ Rath Yatra ornaments, and adorned with
(Jun/Jul). pictures of the British royal family.
The capital of the state of
Jharkhand, Ranchi is a good y Jamshedpur
base from which to explore East Singbhum district. 130 km
the natural beauty of the (81 miles) SE of Ranchi. * 570,300.
Chhota Nagpur Plateau. The ~ £ n Tourist Information Centre,
summer capital of Bihar in Bistupur, (0657) 243 2892. @
the days of the British Raj, ( daily. _ Founder’s Day (Mar).
Ranchi still attracts visitors
keen to escape the heat and One of India’s major indus trial
dust of Bihar’s plains. The centres, Jamshedpur is a
town’s main attraction is the rare oasis of cleanliness and
17th-century Jagannath Temple, efficiency in this region. The Pilgrims with offerings for the Sun
perched on a hill in the planned township, God on Chhat
southwestern outskirts. surrounded by lakes,
Like the Jagannath rivers and the pretty Batsavitri (May/Jun). This
festival commemorates the
Temple at Puri Dal Hills, was legend of Savitri, who brought
(see pp316–17), this established in 1908 her husband Satyavan back
temple also holds an by the Parsi tycoon, from the dead through the
annual chariot festival. Sir Jamshedji Tata (see sheer intensity of her prayer.
The Chhota Nagpur p450). He is regarded as It is celebrated by married
Plateau is the home the father of industrial women, who fast and pray,
of the forest-dwelling development in India. tie strings around banyan
Munda and Oraon The Tata Iron and Steel trees and offer sweets and
tribes. The wide- Company (TISCO) was fruits to images of Savitri.
ranging exhibits and set up by him in this Sonepur Mela (Oct/Nov),
collections of artifacts Oraon tribal area because of the Sonepur (see p220).
in the Ranchi Museum girls dancing rich deposits of iron Chhat (Oct/Nov). Flower-
provide a comprehen- ore and coal found shaped pastries called thekua
sive picture of their lifestyles here. The Tata empire continues are made in every home during
and social structures. to flourish, and several of its this three-day thanksgiving
research, educational and festival, dedicated to the Sun
E Ranchi Museum cultural institutes here are God, celebrated all over Bihar.
Open Mon–Sat. Closed public hols. open to visitors.

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