Jharkhand
Visit Ranchi
City of Waterfalls — capital of Jharkhand
Ranchi sits at 651 metres on the Chotanagpur Plateau — a cooler-than-the-plains climate, surrounded by waterfalls, hills, and tribal heritage. It is the capital of Jharkhand, home to Birsa Munda Airport (IXR), BIT Mesra, and an IT industry that has grown fast since statehood in 2000.
Population
~1.12 million
Elevation
651 m
State
Jharkhand
Airport
Birsa Munda (IXR)
Famous for
Waterfalls, MS Dhoni, tribal art
Best time to visit
October – March
Top attractions
Places to visit in Ranchi
Pre-book a CityTaxis cab for any of these — same driver, multiple stops, fixed fare.
Hundru Falls
98-metre waterfall on the Subarnarekha river, 45 km from Ranchi. Best between July and November.
Jonha Falls
A 43-metre cascade known as Gautamdhara, 40 km from Ranchi with a Buddhist-temple descent to the base pool.
Dassam Falls
A 44-metre spectacle on the Kanchi river, 40 km out. Loudest in monsoon — bring waterproof bags.
Patratu Valley
Hill drive 40 km from Ranchi with hairpin bends, a lake at the bottom, and Instagram-grade viewpoints.
Tagore Hill
A hilltop retreat in Morabadi where Rabindranath Tagore's brother lived. Sunset views over Ranchi.
Rock Garden
A landscaped garden in Kanke with sculptures, a Gonda Hills viewpoint, and a cable car for kids.
History
How Ranchi got here
The Chotanagpur Plateau has been inhabited since Neolithic times by the Munda and Oraon tribes. The Nagvanshi dynasty ruled the medieval period, building landmarks like the Jagannath Temple. The British made Ranchi a divisional headquarters in 1869; tribal leader Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan Movement (1899–1900) for tribal rights. Post-independence, Heavy Engineering Corporation (1958) put Ranchi on the industrial map. The state of Jharkhand was carved out in 2000 with Ranchi as its capital — and the city has been growing as an IT and education hub since.
Culture
Festivals, art, and life
- Sarhul (spring) — celebrating the bloom of sal trees with dance and song.
- Karma — community festival around the sacred Karma tree.
- Sohrai painting — intricate murals with natural colours from flowers and soil.
- Paitkar scrolls — narrative tribal art on cloth.
- Chhau dance — semi-classical martial-art dance from the region.
Cuisine
What to eat
- Dhuska — fried rice cakes served with chana ghugni.
- Pittha — steamed rice dumplings, savoury or sweet.
- Litti chokha — local riff on the Bihar classic.
- Handia — rice-based fermented drink, integral to tribal hospitality.
Get around Ranchi with CityTaxis
CityTaxis covers all of Ranchi from Main Road to Ormanjhi, plus airport (IXR) pickups and full-day waterfall sightseeing packages. Local rides start at ₹600; sightseeing packages (8 hr / 80 km) start at ₹2,800 hatchback.
See Ranchi cab faresMore guides
