Netarhat, Queen of Jharkhand

 

                                         Netarhat Queen of Jharkhand

            One fine morning of early June 2019, one of Photographer friend Ratan rang me and said that he is going to Netarhat with his family can I join him? As I have heard more about that pristine place but never had been, so seeing a golden opportunity I immediately grabbed the offer and accompanied him.  Later I came to know that other people of his family are not going only his daughters Saloni and Raina who are college going students have shown interest for this trip and are going. I offered my vehicle and Ratan took over the driving seat and in the whole trip he drove the vehicle very meticulously and effortlessly so that the occupants of the car didn’t get any jerk and scare in the long three hours arduous drive of which the last leg of the journey was really scaring as there were many twists and turns and very deep George sideways as the vehicle was passing through very rough and tough hilly terrains. I consider myself a good driver but that leg of the journey really developed Goosebumps. But the trip was really very much interesting and exciting the young ladies were also enjoying the pristine and beautiful natural scene.

    In this way enjoying the spectacular views of the surroundings and the hilly terrains we reached Netarhat which is a sleepy small town and finishes off within few kilometers. There we checked into a small but nice accommodation and after taking rest and cup of tea for a while we set out for the sun set point at Magnolia, which about 10 Kms west of Netarhat. Which attracts much crowd and is very much exciting? A small but with beautiful surroundings of Sal and Eucalyptus trees a thin road leads to this point where tourists were humming and eagerly waiting to see the enchanting view of Sunset. As the sun going down tourists exclaiming in ecstasy and some youngsters became frenzied. 

    Thereafter we came to the township of Netarhat, it was little dark now and we all set out on foot to see the small town which is not bigger than a bastee (Big village) and surrounded by the jungle of high trees. In the mean time my friend Ratan searched a dhaba which a lady was running and ordered food for dinner and we came back to our accommodation for relaxation. While relaxing I and my friend Ratan gulped few pegs of quality whisky and after that we set out for dinner at the Dhaba where the lady served us desi chicken curries and hot tawa chapaties(breads) with crushed onions and green chilies, which was of rustic tinge and  was very much palatable to all of us and we discussed that even the meals of a 5 star hotel is no match of this rustic meal. Here I want to add that this place is less visited and never overcrowded, so it is an excellent place for relaxation and enjoyments. Summer is the best season but if any tourist wants to see the clouds kissing the earth and create dense fog then rainy season is the best.

       This pristine place of Netarhat falls in the Latehar district is 6.4 Kms long and 4 Kms broad, of Jharkhand and is the highest point of Chotanagpur consists of crystalline plateau covered with Pine and Peer trees which are planted by the forest department and forest consists of Kendu, Sal, Mahua and Eucalyptus trees which make the surroundings of Netarhat very enticing. Its highest point is 3696 feet height. Popularly called Queen of Chotanagpur and its main attraction it offers is sunrise and sunset points during summers. As travelling by road is the only option from Ranchi to Netarhat tourists will cross seven hills and about 96 miles (156 Kms) from west of Ranchi, 210 Kms from Daltonganj. It is better for the tourists to drop at Lohardaga Railway station which is ½ way from Ranchi. But it comes under lesser known tourist places. While going Netarhat it is advisable for tourists must to carry necessary medicines as there is verily low probability of getting any medicine shop nearby.

      Next day in early morning we all went to see the sun rise which is about ½ Kms from bus stand, just in front of Prabhat Vihar a Government hotel. Tourist make beeline to see that spectacular view of the sunrise which most of the time left the viewers spellbound, when the golden rays of the sun appears making the trees, shrubs and the surrounding hills in silhouette and slowly it becomes orange and then blue. This enchanting view has very short life but has intense magnetic attraction.  

        Another main attraction is its famous residential school of Netarhat, which was established in 1954 by an educationist Frederick Gordon Pearce who was the founder of the Indian Public School movement and was the one of the key pillars in the inception of Netarhat Vidyalaya. On the pattern of Gurukul it offers education to 10 and +2 students only. Previously it was under Bihar School Examination Board but after the bifurcation of the Jharkhand state in 2000, it has come under Jharkhand School Examination Board. It offers education in Hindi medium but English and Sanskrit are optional. Students of this school are still scoring high on national and international level. Later on this pattern lot of schools mushroomed all over India but the reputation of this school has no match so far.

    Netarhat is also surrounded by waterfalls such as Ghaghari waterfall, Sugga waterfall, Lodh waterfall and Sadani waterfalls which are within 40 Kms in radius and make like necklace of a queen who is luring her lovers (tourists) as a seductress. 

Text and Photo by- Ashok Karan,

ashokkaran@gmail.com

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