One of the oldest demands for a separate state was fulfilled when the Parliament passed the Bihar Reorganization Bill on August 2, 2000 to create the state of Jharkhand. The genesis of the demand can be traced to early 1900s when Jaipal Singh, the Oxford educated hockey Captain of the 1928 Olympics mooted the idea of a separate state consisting of the Southern districts of Bihar. After that there had been no looking back. Jharkhand Movement had begun.

The state comprises of eighteen districts of the erstwhile Bihar- Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardanga, East Singbhum, West Singbhum, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Kodarma, Chatra, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Palamau, Garhwa, Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Pakure and Sahebgunj. With an area of 79,714 sq km, the new state will be bordered by Bihar, MP, Orissa and West Bengal to its north, west, south and east respectively. 35% of the population of former Bihar is in the Jharkhand region.

Jharkhand is one the most industrialized regions of the country today. The region accounts for 35.5% of the country's known coal reserves, 90% of its cooking coal deposits, 40% of its copper, 22% of its iron ore, 90% of its mica and huge deposits of bauxite, quartz and ceramics. It is home to the largest steel plant in Bokaro, apart from Jamshedpur being practically the city of TISCO and TELCO.

With its huge reserves of forests and natural resources, things can look up in this predominantly poverty ridden region. With the total revenue of Rs 3,775 crores, Jharkhand may be able to alleviate its poverty. Its revenues can now be utilized for its own development and no longer be diverted to the state's coffers of Bihar as has been the case. Naturally the biggest loser is Bihar. Bihar will suddenly find its lifeline of revenues shrunk.

Just consider this, about 63% of Bihar’s total revenue comes from this region. With the creation of Jharkhand, the truncated Bihar will suffer a revenue loss Rs 1,500 crores annually. As the major contributor to the State's Exchequer, mines and minerals, and a large chunk of the commercial taxes will go to the newly formed State.

With everything in its favor, Jharkhand can well look forward to a bright future. It is poised to become the Industrial powerhouse of the country, that is, if its leaders set the wheel of development rolling.

Tourism in Jharkhand

Ranchi, the Capital of the State, is known for the Tagore Hill, Lamle Da, and the Kagammatj Temple, which is believed to have been built during the 17th centry. On Ranchi - Hazaribagh road is the War Cemetery. Ranchi offers an ideal opportunity to those interested in anthropology. The Tribal Research Institute and museum is well worth a visit for those seeking to know more about the tribal life of Jharkhand.

Mc Cluskieganj is a small village near Ranchi. It evokes nostalgia and one gradually discovers that the place was once popular with the Anglo-Indian community. Filmmakers have taken note not only of the spectacular natural beauty, clean air and extravagant greenery, but also of the village itself, a heady mix of the untamed and the sophisticated. Some of the houses here have retained their English names together with the epitaph of 'haunted house'. During the 1950s, there were no less than 100 Anglo Indian families with their typical cottages, clubs and shops.

The world's first tiger-census was done in the Palamau forests in 1932. There were around 54 tigers here in 1991. The park is spread over a core area of 250 square kilometers and is also known as the Betla National Park. The National Park is laden with severe biotic pressure from 107 villages in the buffer and three in the core region. Livestock dependence is also high. Peafowl, red jungle fowl, and partridges are the common birds here.

The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary is set in a similar ecosystem. Hence, most of the denizens of the wild found in Palamau can also be seen here. Sighting of wild boar, sambar, nilgai, cheetal, and kakar is assured especially near the waterholes at dusk. Tigers being less in number - 14 according to the 1991 census - are difficult to sight. The sanctuary is situated at an average altitude of 1800 feet and stretches over 184 square kilometers of undulating country and steep hills with dense tropical forests and grass meadows. The National Highway passing through the sanctuary is a cause of disturbance.

It is worth driving on a couple of hours through Betla to Netarhat, which is a pretty place at an elevation of 1250 meters. It is renowned for spectacular sunrises and sunsets plus the scenery. The Netarhat school here is very famous and has produced innumerable bright students.

Rajrappa, 90 km from Hazaribagh town is famous for "Ma Chhina Mastika" temple where River Bhera joins the Damodar from a height of 20 ft. The little waterfall offers boating facilities, which introduces some very spectacular rock formations in this area.

Graced with a pleasant climate and picturesque places, Hazaribagh plateau has on its eastern margin, Parasnath - the highest hill in Jharkhand, rising to a height of 4,480 ft. The loftiness here is of another order. According to Jain tradition, no less than 20 out of 24 tirthankaras or saints (including Parsvanatha) are believed to have attained salvation in the Sammeta shikhar or the Parasnath hills. The hill seems to have been an abode of Jains. Parsvanatha, the 23rd tirthankar was very popular among the tribal population of Chotanagpur. Both the Swetambara and Digambara Jains have many beautiful temples here on the hills.

Deoghar or Baidyanathdham is the most important Hindu pilgrimage site for the people of Jharkhand as well as Bihar. Lakhs of pilgrims visit this place on foot traveling for around 100 km during the month of Shravan to pay their reverence to Lord Shiva.

Hotels of Jharkhand

The State has hotels of star and non star category catering to the needs of the tourists visiting Jharkhand. Besides it has resorts, restaurants and cafés which cater to the needs of all segment of travelers.