HAVEN OF HILLS AND WATERFALLS

Rabindra Nath Tagore completed his master piece ‘Geetanjali’ here. Edward Lear in 1873 fascinated and impressed by the beauty of this place said, “Utterly wonderful is the rainbow like edging of the water with thousands of bathers reflected in the river. Then the colour of the temples, the strangeness of the huge umbrellas and the inexpressible multitudinous detail of architecture, costume etc., I had always supposed this place a melancholic, or at lest staid and soberlty coloured spot. Instead I find it one of the most abundantly buoyant and startlingly radiant places full of bustle and movement. Constantinople or Naples are simply dull and quiet in comparison.:”
This place, a summer capital during the British period, is Ranchi.
We always thought that deep valleys, sky-high hills and oceans of greenery existed only in Kashmir – the paradise on earth. But our thoughts needed rectifications and by sheer luck we came across Ranchi. Though it could not be called another paradise on earth, nor would we call it the heaven of Bihar, it is undoubtedly the haven of hills and ridges, valleys and basins, plateau and green forests, silent lakes and turbulent waterfalls. In and around Ranchi are situated two national parks and 14 wildlife sanctuaries which prove to be an attraction for tourists.
The Tagore – hill as it is called, could have been named so as Rabindra Nath Tagore completed his Geetanjali here – 4 km. Away from the city. Standing on top of this hill, one can get a complete view of this city. And if one stands on the hill early in the morning, he can imagine how  paradise awakes from a long, sleep birds chirping as though saying,, “It is time to wake up” the tree-leaves, flowers and grass blades covered by small delicate pearl-like dew-drops ready to get dried by the morning sun.
Ranchi is situated at an altitude of 2, 140 ft. above sea-lever; though not a great height, yet clouds cover the hills like west blankets for most of the rainy months. It posses al all year spring –time even more beautiful than in some hill stations. The city is surrounded by two circles. The first circle starts with lakes, dams and hills Ranchi lake, kanke Dam, Dhurura dam, Ranchi Hill, Tagore Hill; and the Jagannath Temple on a  hill top. Form Kanke dam the view of the sun setting and its reflection in the waves of the rounded by beautiful huge tress, and a landscape of strewn tocks between which runs the narrow line of transparent water, besides which is small jhuggi of a chaiwala-a dream come true.
The heart of the city has hundreds of churches and convent schools. Though, almost impossible to believe, but Ranchi has the best schooling facilities in Bihar. The influence of Christianity is such, that some tribals who have been fortunate enough to get an education here, convert to Christianity. Asia’s biggest mental asylum Ranchi Mental Asylum is situated in this dam-water gives an unusual affect, and one is almost immersed I the different shades of yellow, orange and red of the sun setting on waves.
The second circle is at a radius of 40 km form Ranchi. Here are the waterfalls cascading from a spectacular height. Hundru fall Dashamghagh fall, Jonna fall, etc., are no less interesting to watch that the Niagara Falls.  Hundru is said to be most attractive among all. It is adventurous and thrilling. 45 km from Ranchi, the Subernarekha river falls here form a height of 320 ft. though the Jonna falls from a height of only 140 ft. it is security. Although Ranchi has not been advertised as a tourist place, it has all that a tourist comes for beautiful land scopes, hills, mountain lakes, valleys, fall etc. misconceptions and suspicions have been some of the reason for the prejudiced image of Ranchi s a town in Bihar, the capital of Jharkhand movement, a horror of inevitable crime and the poor tribals. Yet people have been living there fearlessly and with complete unity. These people are helpful and can go out of hair way to help anyone be it their neighbors or tourist.
This place has been a place of attraction for anthropologists and sociologies. The different tribes and castes of people are a vast topic which is still under research like the Santhals. Most Munda, Oraons, Bhum, Kols Cheros, Kharias, Pharisee etc. their festivals, fairs, ceremonies, ways of living, clothing foods, etc. are an additional attraction for anyone who visits this place. WE expect that any one who visits Ranchi will not be  disillusioned. It is also a comparatively low pollution area which can not disturb anyone’s health.
Though the roads are full of potholes, as any road in Bihar. But as soon as one enters the Chhotanagpur area, one should keep his eyes open so as not to miss the undulating sweep of watch-tower like hills, grouped into ranges after ranges, covered with lush green jungles and forests.