Day 114 - Sahibganj

Sahibganj is a scenic place that is located in the state of Jharkhand. The place is known for its pristine views and the entire region is surrounded by hills. Set within the lush green region, the district of Sahibganj, with a predominantly tribal population is a part of Santhal Pargana division and forms the eastern most tip of the division. The Rajmahal and Pakur subdivisions of old Santhal Pargana district were carved out on 17th May, 1983 to form Sahebganj district. Subsequently Pakur sub-division of Sahibganj district was carved out on 28th January, 1994 to constitute Pakur District. A large part of the district is hilly. The vast tract of land enclosed between hill ranges had been assigned a name- Damin-I-koh, which is a Persian word means 'Skirts of the hills'. The region on the bank of the Ganges is fertile and richly cultivated.


How to reach here:

By Air: The closest airport is located at Ranchi.

By Rail: The town of Sahibganj has a railway station and it is accessible from cities such as Kolkata, Barmer, Varanasi, Rajgir, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, New Delhi and Old Delhi.


Best time to visit: March to October.


Languages spoken: Hindi.


Places you must visit:  

Rajmahal is a small but historically important town situated on the right bank of the river Ganges. It was the seat of Government during the Mughal period when Raja Man Singh, general of Emperor Akbar made Rajmahal the capital of Bengal in 1592. Even today relics of the old and prosperous Rajmahal are visible in this one time capital of Bengal.



Mangalhat is situated 10 km west of Rajmahal. This place is popular for the historic monument Jama Masjid, which was built here during the reign of Emperor Akbar.



Kanhaiyasthan is a small village situated within the Sahibganj District, on the banks of River Ganges. This village is present at 13 km north-west of the famous Rajmahal. The main attraction of this village is the Kanhaiya Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, after whom the town is also named.This village is also believed to have been visited by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whose footsteps have been preserved here.






The Teliagarhi Fort is another historic attraction of Sahibganj District. It has been named after the builder of this fort, Teli Zamindar, who dwelled here during the reign of Shahjahan. Near the ruins of this fort also lies the Raksisthan Temple, which belongs to the year 1819.






The Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is the only bird sanctuary in the entire state of Jharkhand. This Sanctuary is famous as a stop point for a large number of migratory birds that come here in winters from Europe and Siberia. This entire sanctuary is spread over a total area of 5.65 sq km. The main birds in the place include Pratincole, Egret, Wagtail, Plover, Lapwing, Stork, Ibis, Heron, Wader, etc.Apart from being a popular birdwatcher’s site, this sanctuary is also home to two lakes namely Berhale and Pataura. Pataura Lake covers 155 hectares and Lake Berhale, 410 hectares. Birds like darters, jacanas, dabchicks, cormorants, teals, and gulls make their home in the region around the lakes.






Moti Jharna is a natural attraction of Sahibganj District. The stream flowing in this place has its source at the Rajmahal Hills.




The Shivgadi Temple is a Lord Shiva Temple situated 8 km north of Barhait. This temple is located inside a cave. The specialty of this temple is that the mountain here continuously drops water on the Shiva Lingam present here. This temple sees many visitors during the month of Shravan, as well as on Mahashivratri.

 


The Binduvasini Temple is another religious attraction of Sahibganj Town. This temple is situated 2 km away from the Barharwa Railway Station. The temple s most visited during the festival of Navaratri that lasts for 9 days.




The Palamau Tiger Reserve is the only Project Tiger reserve of Jharkhand. This area has also been declared as a protected area in 1947, under the Indian Forests Act. Apart from tigers, this reserve also comprises fauna species like elephants, wild dogs, leopards, gaur, sambar, etc.  Koel River also runs through the north of this reserve.