Day 110 - Bokaro

Bokaro Steel City is situated in the state of Jharkhand in eastern India. Bokaro Steel City is an industrial city that abodes the largest steel complex in India.Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru with the help of Soviets planned to build the first Swadeshi steel plant of India. Bokaro Steel Plant was conceived in 1959 and it flourished in 1965. Bokaro Steel City has a strong multi-dimensional economic base that attracted people from all over India. Today, Bokaro Steel City has become the educational hub of Eastern India.  Bokaro Steel City is located on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau which has picturesque valleys and streams.


How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest domestic airport is at Ranchi, which is around 120 km from Bokaro.

By Rail: Bokaro City is well connected through trains, and has an extensive railway network with trains that connect all major cities in India to Bokaro City. You will be able to get regular trains from the Indian cities of Ranchi (Shatabdi Exp), Howrah (Shaktipunj Exp), Patna (Barka Rjpb Exp), Dhanbad (Shaktipunj Exp) and Kolkata (Shatabdi Exp).


Best time to visit: September to March.


Languages spoken: Hindi, English, Bengali.


Places you must visit: 

Jagannath Temple in the Bokaro Steel City is a popular tourist attraction, which looks exactly like the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orrisa. The temple has been recently constructed by the Bokaro Steel Plant Management and has become a prominent place, where devotees come to pray to Lord Jagannath.This place is famous among locals and tourists for its beautiful architecture and peaceful ambience. Every day, aarti is done in the mandir, near dusk.









Kali Mandir, popular temple situated in Sector-5, is dedicated to goddess Kali, who is personification of power. Apart from being the holy premises, the temple serves as a socialising centre for Bengalis residing in Bokaro Steel City. An annual painting competition is organised in this temple, which is attended by many school students of the city.








Chas served as the administrative headquarters of Bokaro during the time when the city was part of the district of Dhanbad. Later, Bokaro itself was designated the status of a district and headquarters was shifted to the Steel Township.




Siwandih is a tourist attraction located near Garga Dam, which is inhabited by natives of Bihar working in the steel plant. The place is home to two popular mosques, one in Millat Nagar and other in Azad Nagar. Moreover, tourists visiting this place also head towards the popular nearby places, such as Islampur, Bansgora, Makhdumpur and Haisabatu.



Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park is a huge zoological park, which was established in the year 1989. Home to varied species of birds and animals, this park is the biggest zoological garden in the state of Jharkhand. The biggest attraction of this biological park is huge population of big cats, which is owing to the successful multiple breeding. The park is home to many white tigers, asiatic lions and royal bengal tigers.The park premises consist of many interesting things for kids, such as kid’s corner near bear cage, boating in the artificial lake and a small dam. The park also has a small toy train for kids, which is operated inside the park premises. The toy train is known as the Mowghli Express.








Garga Dam features beautiful green surroundings and plenty of aquatic animals. This natural site is venue for many school outings and biological tours. This dam plays a vital role in catering to the water requirements of the steel plant as well as households of this area.






City Park is situated in Sector 3 of the city of Bokaro. The park has an artificial lake, which is thronged by visitors especially on weekends for picnic. The lake also has three Japanese styled artificial islands. There is also a small guest house and a restaurant near the lake, which is visited by tourists coming to the park. a small beautiful park was opened on 1st January 2007 to further add to the beauty of the City Park. The park also hosts Basant Mela in the month of February every year, attracting several tourists. This park is also used as a venue for the Chhatth Puja, in the month of October or November.

Ram Mandir at Bokaro is managed by the Shree Ram Mandir Trust, which organises around 250 marriages of the poor people, every year at low cost. The temple was constructed in the year 1967 by labour leader Pt. Parma Nand Tripathi.The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, but also has various small temples of Radha Krishna Mandir, Hanuman Mandir and many more. There are also Lord Venkateshwar Mandir, Kali Mandir, Sheetala Mandir and Shiva Mandir located within the premises. The temple also houses a rishi niwas and a holy library.

Bokaro Ispat Pustakalaya is managed by the Bokaro Steel Plant. This library features collection of over 40,000 books mainly comprising manuscripts. 

Mohan Kumar Mangalam Stadium is managed by the Steel Authority of India (SAIL). This stadium possesses the capacity of holding 30,000 visitors at a time. Schools of Bokaro arrange various cultural, colorful dance program mes and functions on 14th November every year at this stadium. The stadium has a training center and is headquarter of the SAIL Football Academy.




Noori Masjid is situated in Sector 4 of the Bokaro City. The mosque is biggest of all the existing mosques in the city. Tourists across the globe come here to attend tabliqs.  

Aaiyappa Mandir is situated in Sector-5 of Bokaro. This is a prominent place for religious, cultural and social events organised by the people belonging to Southern India. The temple features idols of Lord Aaiyyappa, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and many other Gods and Goddesses. Inaugurated on 11th July 1983, the temple is managed by the Ayyappa Seva Sangham of Bokaro. Every year Prana Pratishta activities are performed in accordance with the Tantra Samuchchaya by priests of the temple. The whole event is organised under the guidance of traditional priests named Sri Kandararu Parameswararu and Sri Kandararu Maheswararu.

Day 109 - Dhanbad

The ‘Coal Capital of India,’ Dhanbad is considered the 79th fastest growing city in the whole world and the 35th city in the Indian sub-continent with above 1 million people. The city is also the second biggest Rail Division of Indian Railway when it comes to revenue generation. Dhanbad is famous for coal mining and other industries and it is home to some of the biggest names in the coal mining industry like IISCO, BCCL, Tata Steel and ECL. Apart from coal mining, coke making and coal washing industries are also found in the city.Dhanbad coalfields are widely known as Jharia coalfields and cover a total area of 448 km with a total reserve of coal being 5,000 million tonnes.


How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest airport connected to Dhanbad  is Ranchi

By Rail: Dhanbad is an important railway station on Eastern Railway and is very well connected with Patna, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other important cities of India.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Places you must visit:

Topchanchi has  an artificial lake that was excavated along the base of the slant of the Parasnath Hill in 1915. This lake was created to supply water to Jharia.Visitors can also go to Gomoh, which is 6 km from the Topchanchi Lake. Gomoh is the place where on 18th January 1941 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose embarked on the train for his departure from India.






Panchet dam is built across the Damodar River in Dhanbad District’s Panchet area in Jharkhand. Inaugurated in 1959, Panchet dam is the fourth of the 4 multi-purpose dams that fall under the first phase of Damodar Valley Corporation.The backdrop of the dam is the Panchet hill, which makes this place a great picnic spot for travelers, especially around the Christmas and New Year days.








The Shakti Mandir is located in the center of the Dhanbad city, on the Joraphatak Road. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, where devotees regularly perform bhajans, kirtans and jagrans.The Shakti Mandir houses an Akhand Jyoti that has been brought from the Jwaalaji pilgrimage in the Himachal Pradesh. This temple receives its name from Goddess Durga’s form of Shakti, which means the Goddess of Power.

Parasnath Temple at an elevation of 4431 ft, Parasnath Hill or Samved Shikar is Jharkhand’s tallest hill. As per the scriptures of Jainism, it is said that out of 24 Tirthankaras, 22 from both the sects of Jainism have attained salvation on this hill. There are many temples of the Jain Tirthankaras from both the sects of Digambar and Shwetambar on the Parasnath Hill.

Maithon Dam is located 48 km from Dhanbad. The name Maithon stands for “Mother’s Home”, and is 165 ft high and 15,712 ft long. It is made over the river of Barakar to control flood and generate 60,000 KW of electricity.Stretched over an area of 65 sq km, this reservoir lake offers fishing and boating facilities. This dam has a power station located underground. It is the only dam to have such a facility in entire Southeast Asia. To see this power station permission must be secured beforehand.In the centre of the lake, there is an island with a rest house in it for tourists. Other than visiting here, visitors can also go to a nearby bird sanctuary or the deer park or an ancient temple at Kalyaneshwari, known as Awake Temple.

 

Chati Gobindpur falls under the development block of Govindpur. This village has two old pillars, which are associated with Sher Shah, the Afghan Chief and Emperor Ashoka by the locals.

Day 108 - Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, an important city in the state of Jharkhand in India, was established by Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata. Jamshedpur is located at Chota Nagpur Plateau and is surrounded by lush green forests of Dalma Hills. The city is bordered by the famous rivers Kharkai and Subarnrekha. The banks of these rivers offer the fertile fields and are vibrant with the natural beauties.  Acclaimed as first planned city in India, it is a major tourist location and a gateway to the tourists and pilgrims to the Himalayan ranges. As it is the home for the TATA group of industries, especially Tata Steel. The city is also known as Tatanagar. It was Lord Chelmsford in 1919 named the city as Jamshedpur to honor Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata. Jamshedpur, nicknamed as steel city, is a thriving industrial city with major industries including that of iron and steel, tin plate production, cement production and truck manufacturing.Jamshedpur is famed as the city having the highest per capita income in India and has been credited with the first integrated iron and steel factory founded by Jamshedji Tata in 1908. Jamshedpur is renowned for its dedicated efforts in reforestation and pollution control.


How to reach here:

By Air: Nearest airport to Jamshedpur is Ranchi, which a domestic terminal at a distance of nearly 150 km.

By Rail: Jamshedpur has its own railway station, known as Tatanagar, and is well connected with other major cities. Direct trains to Jamshedpur are available from many stations including Delhi (Purushottam Exp), Kolkata (Samaleshwari Express), Mumbai (Gitanjali Express), Chennai (Alappuzha Alleppey Express), Guwahati (Dibrugarh Weekly Express) and Trivandrum (Chennai-Amethi).


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Bhojpuri, Hindi, Maithili, Bengali, Hindi, Santhali, Oriya.


Must eat: Sattu, Pua.


Famous Restaurants: Equinox, Tahiti Cafe, Zirca, Yo China, Dosa King, Little Italy.


Places you must visit: 

The emerald green Jubilee Park, spread over 225 acres & adorned with flower beds, gardens and illuminated fountains, was a gift by the Tata Steel Company in its Golden Jubilee Year to the citizens of Jamshedpur. There are three water showers in the park, which has a glittering look on the day of lighting.This park has special look on 3rd of March the birth date of Jamshedji Tata. People come from different places to have a glimpse of the special beautification of this park.Jubilee Park is a replica of the famous Brindavan Gardens of Bangalore. This park is spread in approximately 225 acres, dotted with flower beds and illuminated fountains to add to the beautiful decor maintained.









Dimna Lake And Dam is located at the foot of the Dalma Hills, its wondrously attractive surroundings are ideal for picnic and boating. TATA Steel has constructed    Dimna Lake in the Mirzadih  panchayat of  Patamda  Block.







Dalma Wild Life Sanctuary is at an altitude of 3000 feet. Lurking in the thick cover of its jungle (193 sq. km.) are elephants, barking deer, sloth beer, porcupines, leopard, tigers etc.  Small hideouts have been made at several places in the sanctuary where one can see wild animals in their natural habitat. On the mountaintop are the guesthouse of Tata Steel and Forest Department. There is also a temple of Hindu deity Shiva on the mountain top where devotees throng to it during “Shivaratri”.







Tata Steel Zoological Park is located at the confluence of the rivers Kharkai and Suvarnarekha, the Safari Park enables visitors to take a drive through a wooded area where animals roam free. Supplementing the flora and fauna in the zoo is a Nature Education Center  Boating on the tranquil waters of Jubilee Lake adds a thrilling experience to the visitors. The picnic spots and the Nature Trail in the zoo provide unique outlets to relax and spend hours in natural surroundings. he park has a beautiful lake, which has the provision for boating. The migratory birds fly in during the winter.







Sir Dorabji Tata Park is named in the memory of eldest son of J N Tata. Manicured lawns and flower beds and brilliantly lit fountains provide a delightful touch of color to the park. The highlights are manicured lawns and flower bed and there is also an elegant fountain. Sir Dorabji Tata Park hosts Jamshedpur annual flower show in December. When you reach the park, the well-manicured lawns and flower beds and beautifully lit fountains will mesmerize you.





Hudco Lake is nestled in the picturesque and hilly terrain of Telco Colony, the lake is a delightful retreat for those desirous of being in-nature within the city precincts. A wild hill besides the lake has been specially renovated into a scenic park known as Sumant Mulgaonkar Park. One can feast his eyes with the panoramic view of Steel Industry and equally appealing sight of Tata Engineering, Lafarge Cement and Tata Powers from the hilltop. A look from the top says the complete story on why Jamshedpur is called the “Green City” first and then the “Steel City”.





JRD Tata Sports Complex is the modern sports complex located in the middle of the city. This sports complex features an international football ground along with eight-lane mono synthetic track. The Tata Sports Complex is well equipped with modern facilities to organize sports such as volleyball, hockey, handball and table tennis.There is an advanced gymnasium in the complex which also consists of contemporary equipment. This modern sports complex also features the Tata Archery Academy and the Tata Chess Center  Established in 1937, this sports complex was started to encourage different sports and sports person belonging to Tata group and outside.



Rivers Meet in Jamshedpur is the best place to see the convergence of two rivers, Kharkhai and Subarnarekha. This place is also known as Domohani and is one of the attractive locations in the city. The entire place is surrounded by green fields and tall trees of eucalyptus.Domohani is also famous for its sunrise on the river side and peaceful surroundings.  Domohani is an ideal place to spend weekends with family and friends.






Keenan Stadium was built in memory of Mr. John Lawrence Keenan, who worked for over 25 years in Tata Iron and Steel Company. After Mr. John Lawrence Keenan's retirement, all the workers of the company decided to build a stadium after his name. On 26th December, 1937 when Mr. John Lawrence Keenan retired from the company, the local inhabitants and the employees of the company contributed for constructing this stadium. This stadium is situated in the North Park Ground of the city. The construction of the stadium ended in 1939 and was inaugurated by Mr. J R D Tata on 22nd November of the same year.This stadium has hosted both state and national level cricket matches. During 1983-84, this stadium hosted an international cricket match for the first time.




Bhuvaneshwari Temple is popularly known as Telco Bhuvaneshwari Temple due to its location on Telco hill top. The temple name can be spilt into two, Bhuvanam meaning the universe and Easwari depicting the ruler. Thus, Goddess Bhuvaneshwari is called as the ruler of the universe. There is a famous Guruvayur Temple inside the Bhuvaneshwari Temple complex.This Bhuvaneshwari Temple is situated on a mountain at about 500 ft. The location at the backdrop of a meandering river gives a panoramic view of the city including the TELCO factory. The officials of the temple have also launched a Vedic learning project which includes informal classes.