In this blog post, we’ll talk about the 5 best hill stations in Jharkhand through the eyes of a Jharkhandi. So, if you’re planning your next trip towards a hill station, stop and read this post until the end. I’m sure you’ll be convinced to book your ticket to one of the hill stations of Jharkhand from this list.
Let’s start from here…
5 Best Hill Stations in Jharkhand
When we think about hill stations in India, we rush towards the north and northeast in the Himalayan Region. Well, do you know that many other underrated hill stations exist in different states of India?
One of those is Jharkhand – The Land of Tribals.
Jharkhand has many hill stations like Netarhat, Ghatshila, Ranchi – the capital of Jharkhand, Parasnath Hills, Mccluskieganj, etc.
I have sorted out the top 5 out of them.
- Ranchi
- Ghatshila
- Netarhat
- Parasnath Hills
- Mccluskieganj
So, this season, let’s explore these underrated yet beautiful hill stations of Jharkhand.
The first one is my hometown ie;
Ranchi
Ranchi – the capital of Jharkhand is also known as the city of waterfalls having several mesmerizing waterfalls including, Jonha Falls, Hundru Falls, Dassam Falls, Remix Falls, and more.
I have covered the top 5 waterfalls in Ranchi in a separate article you must read.
Once, in British times, Ranchi was called the summer capital of Bihar because of its weather. Even today, in the summer, whenever the temperature goes up, we witness afternoon rain. However, the temperature is hot in summer so I don’t recommend you visit Ranchi in the summer.
But, in winter temperature falls to 10-12 degrees Celsius which is normal for this city. In the Kanke region, one day a year always falls to 0 degrees Celsius at night.
You will find budget hotels to expansive ones like Radisson Blue I(5 Star) in Ranchi. Also, there are many restaurants, clubs, and other things to do in this city.
But the beauty of this city is its waterfalls, mountains, dams, and forest. When you are planning to visit Ranchi. don’t forget to visit its waterfalls along with the temples like Surya Mandir, Deori Mandir, etc.
When it comes to connectivity, Ranchi is connected with all major cities of India via Train, Bus, and Flight. So, visiting Ranchi is not so complicated for tourists.
Ghatshila
Ghatshila is another top hill station in Jharkhand. It is located 47 km southeast of Jamshedpur – the industrial capital of Jharkhand.
Ghatshila has its own railway station so you can find multiple trains to this hill station. However, if you want to reach there via flight then you have to land in Jamshedpur or Ranchi and then book a cab to Ghatshila.
Surrounded by hills, forests, and waterfalls, Ghatshila is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Jharkhand. The highest hill of Ghatshila is Lugu Pahar which is 1,070 meters in height and the best location for picnics and outings.
In Ghatshila you can visit Galudih Dam situated on the Subarnarekha River. along with Rankini Temple in Jadugora and Duarsini Forest.
Apart from the Galudih dam, there are many other dams there to spend some beautiful moments with nature.
If you are searching for a calm and serene place to visit in the winter season then Ghatshila is a must-visit location in Jharkhand.
Ghatshila has the first copper mines in Asia. The majority of tourists visit Ghatshila from Kolkata and West Bengal.
You will easily find hotels and resorts to stay in Ghatshila from budget to expensive ones.
Netarhat – The Queen of Jharkhand
Netarhat is my favourite place to visit in Jharkhand. It’s 161 km away from Ranchi and can be covered by road via Lohardaga. Netarhat is famous for its sunrise. I remember when I witnessed the sunrise at the sunrise point of Netarhat. It was really a heavenly experience for me.
I have written a whole article about Netarhat that you can read to know more about this hill station of Jharkhand. Netarhat is called the Queen of Jharkhand due to its mesmerising scenery, forests, dams, and other locations.
Upper Ghaghri, Lower Ghaghri, and Lodh Falls are famous picnic spots for tourists from Jharkhand and outside of the state.
Jharkhand government built a resort-cum-hotel just below the sunrise point, which you can book to stay here. The best plan is to combine Ranchi, Netarhat, and Betla National Park in a trip.
A trip of 2 nights and 3 days of duration covers most of the parts of Ranchi, Netarhat, and Betla.
The best time to visit Netarhat is November to March. It’s one of the most famous tourist places in Jharkhand and neighbouring states. So if you plan to visit Jharkhand, don’t miss Netarhat.
Parasnath Hill Giridih
The historical place and most holy pilgrimage for Jains is Parasnath Hill. This hill is 4,478 feet in height and is straight from the Himalayas. It is the highest place in Jharkhand state and one of the famous hill stations of Jharkhand.
It has always been a great tourist spot to visit in Jharkhand. Well, you can’t stay on this hill at night, so you have to start your trekking early morning towards the hill because you have to return back before night.
There is a historical temple situated over the hill, which is actually a very beautiful and photogenic place. Whenever you go to Parasnath, whether it’s a summer season, you will experience a soothing environment like hill stations. That’s why it is one of the most visited in Jharkhand.
You can reach there from Giridih, Dhanbad, Hazaribag, and Ranchi. But the nearest big railway station is Dhanbad Station, which is connected to major Rail roots of India.
This hill is not only famous among the Jains but also loved by other religions due to its beautiful surroundings and weather.
If you are planning to visit Parasnath Hill in Giridih then you don’t need to worry about the Stay because there are countless hotels and resorts available nearby, Parasnath Hill. You can book them online or offline.
Mccluskieganj
Mccluskieganj is an underrated Hill station of Jharkhand. Once this place was the only Anglo-Indian village in India. Well, today, there are very few Anglo Indians living here, but still, it’s one of the beautiful small cities of Jharkhand.
Mccluskieganj is located 64 km Northwest of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, so reaching this town from Ranchi is not so exhausting. However, you need a private cab to reach Mccluskieganj.
When you enter Mccluskieganj you will start seeing old British-style bungalows outside the city, which realise that we are in the British period of India.
Most of the bungalows are vacant and not well maintained by the owners because the owners migrated from this city years ago.
But you still see some Anglo-Indian families in Mccluskieganj which is very rare in other parts of India.
If we talk about the attractions – McCluskeiganj Gurudwara and Temple, McCluskeiganj Gurudwara and Temple, and St. John’s Church are the ones that you can visit during your trip.
The best time to visit Mccluskieganj is winter from November to February.
Bottomline
Jharkhand is the plateau that’s why waterfalls, forests, and rivers are common here. Although in summer, Jharkhand is very hot and most of its cities go beyond 38 to 40°C, in winter, it becomes very beautiful to visit here.
Whether we talk about Netarhat, the Queen of Jharkhand, Parasnath Hill, or Ghatshila, all of them are beautiful hill stations to visit in the winter season.
In this article, I have also mentioned Ranchi and Mccluskieganj which should be on your priority list for the next vacation. As a Jharkhandi I feel it is one of the most beautiful states in India. Jharkhand government is developing its all tourist locations for the convenience of tourists, so it is now very safe to visit Jharkhand.
Let me know your experiences in the comments if you have visited any of these hill stations mentioned above.
Hi, I’m Gautam Roy, a passionate traveler, writer, and proud resident of the beautiful state of Jharkhand. Captivated by its natural beauty, rich culture, and untold stories, I’ve created a blog to share my experiences and uncover the hidden gems of this exotic state in India. Join me in exploring Jharkhand’s wonders and discovering its vibrant heritage!
