Districts of Jharkhand: Ranchi, Netarhat, Deoghar and Parasnath
Photo: Kingshuk Mondal, CC BY 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
The Chota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand, after the monsoon, when the waterfalls are full.
Jharkhand means "the land of forests", and between its mining towns, the forests are still there.
A plateau state
Jharkhand was carved out of southern Bihar in 2000 and has 24 districts. Most of it sits on the Chota Nagpur plateau, a land of low hills, red earth, sal forests and rivers that drop over rocky edges. It is home to many Adivasi communities, including the Santhal, Munda, Oraon and Ho, whose languages, harvest festivals such as Karma and Sarhul, and painted mud walls shape the countryside.
Ranchi and its waterfalls
Ranchi, the capital, is a pleasant plateau city. Within a couple of hours are several waterfalls: Hundru, where the Subarnarekha river falls into a gorge, and Dassam and Jonha, best seen after the monsoon. To the west, in Latehar district, Netarhat is a small hill station known for its sunrises and sunsets over the forest, and Betla National Park, part of the Palamu Tiger Reserve, has elephants, deer and an old fort.
Steel, coal and pilgrimage
Jamshedpur, in East Singhbhum, grew around the Tata steel works in the early twentieth century and is one of India's best-planned industrial cities, with parks and a lake. Dhanbad is the centre of the coalfields. In the north-east, Deoghar is home to the Baidyanath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, crowded in the monsoon month of Shravan with pilgrims carrying water from the Ganges. Parasnath hill, in Giridih, is one of the holiest places for Jains.
Getting around
Ranchi has an airport and a railway station, and Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Deoghar are on major rail lines. Roads between towns are generally good. October to February is the best season; summers on the plateau are hot, and the monsoon turns the forests deep green.
The five divisions
The state government groups the 24 districts into five divisions. South Chotanagpur, run from Ranchi, holds Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and Lohardaga: the capital, the waterfalls and Munda and Oraon country. North Chotanagpur, run from Hazaribagh, holds Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra, Koderma, Giridih, Bokaro and Dhanbad, with the coalfields, the steel town of Bokaro and Parasnath hill.
Palamu division, run from Medininagar, covers Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar, the forest west with Netarhat and Betla. Kolhan, run from Chaibasa, covers East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela Kharsawan, home to Jamshedpur and to the Ho people. Santhal Pargana, run from Dumka, covers Dumka, Deoghar, Jamtara, Godda, Pakur and Sahebganj, with Baidyanath Dham and the Rajmahal hills along the Ganges.
A week across the state
Spend two days in Ranchi. Dassam falls is 34 km out on the Ranchi–Tata road, Jonha about 40 km, and Hundru about 45 km on the Purulia road, where the Subarnarekha drops 320 feet. Then go west to Latehar for two days: sunrise at Netarhat and a morning drive in Betla.
Come back east by way of Rajrappa, then on to Parasnath in Giridih, the highest hill in the state, where Jains honour twenty of their twenty-four tirthankaras. End at Deoghar, described in the temples of Jharkhand. For more on the state, see the Jharkhand guide.
Districts to know
- Ranchi: the capital and the waterfalls around it.
- Latehar: Netarhat and Betla National Park.
- East Singhbhum: Jamshedpur, the steel city.
- Dhanbad: the heart of the coalfields.
- Deoghar: the Baidyanath temple.
- Giridih: Parasnath hill, sacred to Jains.
- Dumka: the Santhal Pargana region.
On the plateau, even a short drive passes a village where the walls are painted for the harvest.
Plan your visit
| Best season | October to February. The waterfalls are fullest in September and October, just after the monsoon. Avoid Deoghar in July and August unless you come for the Shravani Mela. |
|---|---|
| How to reach | Fly to Ranchi or Deoghar. Ranchi, Jamshedpur (Tatanagar), Dhanbad and Jasidih for Deoghar are all on major rail lines from Kolkata and Delhi. |
| Getting around | Hire a car from Ranchi for the waterfalls, Netarhat and Betla. Trains are handy between Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad. |
| Where to stay | Central Ranchi for the waterfalls; Netarhat village and the Betla gate area in Latehar; Bistupur in Jamshedpur; the temple town in Deoghar; Madhuban, at the foot of Parasnath. |
| How long to spend | A week for Ranchi, Latehar, Parasnath and Deoghar; add two days for Jamshedpur and the Kolhan. |
| Permits | No permits are needed for Indian or foreign visitors. Safari timings and fees at Betla change with the season; check at the gate. |
Questions people ask
How many districts does Jharkhand have?
Twenty-four, grouped into five divisions and 45 sub-divisions, according to the state government as of October 2026.
Which are Jharkhand's newest districts?
Ramgarh and Khunti, both created in 2007. Ramgarh was carved out of Hazaribagh, and Khunti out of Ranchi.
How far are Ranchi's waterfalls from the city?
Dassam is about 34 km, Jonha about 40 km and Hundru about 45 km, according to the Ranchi district administration. Each makes an easy half-day trip.
When is the best time to visit Jharkhand?
October to February, when the plateau is cool and dry. September and October are best for the waterfalls.
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Written by Muthu, editor of Aura of India. Sources: Government of Jharkhand: state profile, districts and divisions, District Ranchi: tourism. Last verified: 13 October 2026.
Your turn: Have you watched the sunrise at Netarhat? Was it clear on the morning you went?
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