India > Jharkhand > Pilgrimage Tourism

Jharkhand Pilgrimage

(Rajrappa, Jaganathpur Temple, Bhadra Kali Temple, Angrabari, Trikuti, Basukinath, Mahadev Sal, Maa Giri Rajeswari, Kulbonga Mahadev)

Jharkhand houses some of the most renowned pilgrimages in India. The north-eastern state of India boasts about its enriched culture and heritage since the ancient times. Places like Deoghar, Rajrappa, Dumka, Bokaro and so on are popular for housing some of the world’s most ancient Shiva Lingams and Shakti Peeths. Besides the Shiva temples and shrines of Mata Adishakti, Jharkhand has its very own Jagannath Temple, Ram Mandir, Ayyappa Temple, Temple of Radha and Krishna at Naulakha shrine, the Satsang Ashram of Baba Anukul Thakur and more. Alongside the Hindu shrines, Jharkhand has several Jain and Buddhist shrines such as Parashnath Temple, Madhuban, Shikarji temple, Rijubalilka Jain Temple and so on.

The most famous Hindu Pilgrimages in Jharkhand

Rajrappa

Though the shrine is popularly known as the Rajrappa, the actual name of the temple is Chhinnamasta Mandir. The date of its origin is still unknown. It is believed that this shrine was established centuries before as the references of the shrine have been observed in many Puranas and religious books of the Hindus.

Location:
The Shakti-Pith of Rajrappa is located at a distance of 80 Km from Ranchi towards the Ramgarh Chitrapur Road. The shrine is situated at the confluence of the River Damodar and River Bhairvi also called as Bhera at a direction of 23°37′56″N 85°42′38″E in the district of Ramgarh, Ranchi. The shrine is mainly famous for practicing the Tantric rituals from the ancient times.

Address: Rajrappa Road, Rajrappa, Jharkhand 829110

For further information contact:
Department of Tourism
Govt. of Jharkhand
F.F.P Bhawan, 2nd Floor, Dhurwa, Ranchi-4

Phone: +91 651 2400981
Telefax: +91 651 2400982
E-mail : info@jharkhandtourism.in
Website: ramgarh.nic.in/Rajrappa.htm

The pilgrimage-In a nutshell
The temple is dedicated to Maata Chhinnamasta, the fifth incarnation of the Dashamahavidya. In different Puranas such as Narad Puran, Sanatan Dharm, Shri Markandeye Puran the temple name has been mentioned.

Per legend, it is said that once Maata Bhagwati along with Her two sahyoginis Jaya and Vijaya was busy annihilating the Asuras in a severe war. But even after killing so many Asuras and consuming their blood, the thirst of Jaya and Vijaya was not fulfilled. They wanted more blood to have and for that, they prayed to Goddess Bhagwati. The deity then cut off her own throat and offered them to drink Her blood. From then onwards, Devi Bhagwati was found in a new incarnation-Mata Chhinnamasta or Prachanda Chandika.

Even today, the temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims with the hope of fulfilling their desires. The place is famous for practicing the rituals of Tantra Sadhana and for healing the Rahu dasha through different pujarchana.

Best time to visit
Though, the shrine is visited by devotees all throughout the year- winter is the best time for the tourists to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place along with experiencing the religious fervor of Rajrappa.

How to reach
By Train: The nearest railway head to Rajrappa are the Ranchi Road Railway Station and Mael Railway Station. Tourists from any part of the country can avail trains reaching Ranchi.
By Air: Birsha Munda or also known as Ranchi Airport is 100 Kms from the shrine.
By Road: NH 23 and 33 connects Ranchi from rest of the country. Thus, reaching the temple via roadways is also possible. Daily buses ply from Hazaribag to Rajrappa as well.

Jagannathpur Temple

The temple is located on a hilltop at a distance of 10 Km from the main city at a direction of 23°19'01.0"N 85°16'54.0"E.

Address:
Jagannathpur Chowk, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834004

For more information contact
Contact Number: +91 6512400981
Website: www.jharkhandtourism.in/profiles/?url=ranchi.asp

Brief History
Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, King of Barkagarh Jagannathpur built the Jagannath Mandir for the deities- Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in the 17th Century. The temple was built in the style of the Puri Jagannath Dham. On the Christmas of 1691, the construction of the edifice was finally completed. Besides religious importance, the temple entices tourists along with the pilgrims for its architectural magnificence.

The temple of Jagannathpur Mandir collapsed on 6th August 1990, but gradually it was restored and reconstructed and was reopened on 8th February 1992.

Though the design and architecture of the temple have been followed by that of the Puri Jagannath Temple, but it is not as big as the Puri temple. Devotees get the fervor of visiting the Puri Dham in Jharkhand by visiting this wonderfully created temple of Sri Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.

The Kalinga styled temple made of white marble has the three sections just like the archetypal Kalinga temples. These include the main temple tower (garbha griha), the Jagamohana (bhoga served) and the Nata Mandir (where dance and music is performed to the deities).

The Ratha Yatra and Snana Yatra are the major festivals here.

How to reach
By Air: Birsha Munda Airport
By Train: Hatia Railway Station
By Road: NH 23 and 33 connects Ranchi with other states across India.

Bhadra Kali Temple

The Bhadrakali Temple/Itkohri Temple is located at a direction of 24°17'35.0"N 85°08'15.0"E. It is around 50 Km from the nearby railway head- Koderma Railway Station. The nearby Gaya Airport is situated at a distance of 70 Km. Frequent buses are available to Hazaribag from Ranchi.

Brief History
Bhadrakali Temple is also popularly known as the Itkohri Temple. Though the main deity is Mata Shakti in the form of Bhadrakali, but many relics of Buddhist and Jain remains are excavated from the temple grounds. Footprints of the Jain Teerthankar, Sheetalnath is enshrined here along with Buddhist stupas. Built during the 7th to 10th A.D by the Pala King Raja Mahendra Pal of Bengal, the temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths.

Once Lord Buddha rested in this temple and soon after His departure few of His relative and king’s men from Kapilavastu came there to find their prince Siddharth. But they had to return empty-handed because Buddha left the place before they arrived. Thus, one of the relatives uttered “Itkohri” which means “lost Him here”. From then onwards the temple of Mata Bhadrakali is also known as Itkohri.

Address
Bhadrakali Temple/Itkhori, Chatra, Jharkhand 825408

For further information contact-
Contact Number: +91 7666323611
E-mail : info@jharkhandtourism.in
Website: www.bhadrakali.in

Angrabari

Situated at a direction of 23°00'50.4"N 85°16'20.6"E the Angrabari Temple is also known as Baba Amareshwar Dham. Located at the Kunti District in Jharkhand this temple is a roofless shrine. Per legend, whenever anyone tried to construct a roof for the temple, Lord Shiva appeared in the dream, asking the person to stop such endeavor. Hence, the shrine is roofless.

Pilgrims can attend the special pujas during the Maha Shivratri. Besides, Mundan is a popular ritual that is undergone in front of Amareshwar.

Address
Angrabadi Temple Complex, Khunti Village, Ranchi
Jharkhand, 834002
Contact: +91 6512400981

Trikuti

Trikuti is a popular Shakti temples in Jharkhand located at a distance of 10 Kilometers from Deoghar on the road to Dumka. The three main peaks of the hills have made the name of the place Trikutachal. Among the three highest pinnacles, Trikuti is the place where many sages have attained salvation from the ancient times. This place is also known as the Garden of Shiva because of the abundance of wood apple trees. During the month of Shravan, devotees gather here to collect the leaves of the wood apple trees so as the fruits. Maha Shivratri is a famous festival here at the temple of Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple. This is a great picnic spot too for the tourists as well as the pilgrims visiting Trikuti.

For more information visit-
www.babadham.org/trikut.php

Baba Basukinath Temple

Built in 1596, the Baba Basukinath Dham is believed to be the courtroom of Lord Shiva. For centuries, the Shaivite followers believe that here the devotees arrive with their problems as cases to the Lord and He solves all their problems as soon as they pour water (Ganga Jal) during the Kanwariya Yatra.

One of the major pilgrims of Deoghar, Jharkhand, Basukinath is visited by people all round the year. Though, the Maha Shivratri and the Ram-Janki Vivah Panchami ceremony are the two major celebrations here.

Address:
Basukinath Village, Dumka, Basukinath, Jharkhand 814118

For more information visit:
Website: bababasukinath.com

How to Reach
By Air: Birsha Munda Airport
By Train: Basukinath Railway Junction
By Road: Deoghar - Dumka state highway

Mahadev Sal

This Shiva Temple is located nearby Goelkera, into the Saranda forest. Sharavan is the holy month for the Shiva bhaktas who flock here to worship the lord in large number. The Mumbai-Howrah train line passes by this place.

Maa Giri Rajeswaris

Maa Giri Rajeshwari Temple is one of the most ancient temples among the popular shrines in Jharkhand. The temple is offered to Maa Giri Rajeshwari situated 10 kms from Kiriburu. This shrine is located under the East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

Devotees visit this shrine especially during the big festival of Navaratri. Tourists and pilgrims will have to reach this place from Jamshedpur. Else they can also opt to reach the place directly via the roadways.

Kulbonga Mahadev

Kulbonga Mahadev, or popularly called as Kulbonga Mahadeo by the locals is a big Shiva Linga located at the village Kulbonga in Saranda, which is around 15 kms from Manoharpur. This is an important shrine of the Shiv devotees in Jharkhand. During Shivratri – a special fair is organized by the Kulbonga Mahadeo temple.

By exploring the Hindu pilgrimages in Jharkhand, pilgrims and tourists will not only meet with the enriched religious heritage of this Indian state but will also get the opportunity to wander around the socio-cultural aspects of Jharkhand.