Colonial architecture reminiscing the glory of British, American and Indian confluence, this city boasts to be India’s first Industrial City. Despite being labelled as an industrial city it is fueled by surreal natural beauty. It is surrounded by hills and is located at the confluence of Kharkai and Subarnarekha River. It is also the country’s first planned city, so there are plenty of parks, lakes, picnic spots and scenic locations within its vicinity. Let me take you on a journey to this lesser-travelled Indian city.
The Pittsburgh of India - Tatanagar
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata wanted to build India’s first steel plant, after consulting a geologist in Pittsburgh on where the best place to set up one would be, he ended up in Jamshedpur (formally a village called Sakchi). He then went on to set up Tata Steel and the city was named after him. Jamshedpur is 12 years younger than the plant that Tata had originally set up, and the city has played an important role in both World Wars.
1. Jubilee Park
Situated in the heart of the city, the Jubilee Park encompasses an area of approximately 238 acres (96.3 hectare). It is a man-made paradise gifted by Tata Steel to the citizens in its Golden Jubilee Year. The entry to the park is free but some attractions within the park have entry tickets. You must remember to take a camera while visiting to capture the natural flora and fauna of this park. There is a Mughal Garden aka Rose Garden, which displays more than a thousand varieties of rare roses of all colors and sizes. The park also has a stream of colorful musical fountains and charges 35 INR (.50 USD) per person to watch the laser show organized on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
The other prominent attractions within the Jubilee Park are the Jubilee Lake (Jayanti Sarovar), Jubilee Nicco Amusement Park, Foliage Park, Tata Steel Zoological Park and Smriti Udyan.
If you enjoy boating then you can also hop-on a boat with your partner and enjoy the views of the park from a distance. Boating in the Lake is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and can be done at a very nominal price of 20 INR (0.30 USD) for two people for 20 minutes.
The Jubilee Nicco Amusement Park is open from 10:00 am till late evening. There is a 100 INR (1.5 USD) entry ticket charge per person. There are exhilarating rides for all age groups so if you are traveling with family and have kids, they are going to love it!
The Jubilee Park is famous among joggers and cyclists, so morning is the idle time to visit if you would like to breathe in some fresh air and rejuvenate yourself. Sit by the Jayanti Sarovar (Jubilee Lake) and embrace the essence of roses around you.
The Smriti Udyan of Jubilee Park is an ideal picnic spot and is suitable to spend some time with family and friends.
2. Tata Steel Zoological Park
India’s first and only private zoo, this park has various attractions inside such as Bat Island, Butterfly Park, Nature Education Centre, Nature Trail and Safari Park. The park is spread over 37 hectares and is famous for its Safari Park in which animals roam freely. You can also walk along the Nature Trail for spotting different flora and fauna of the park.
Tata Steel Zoological Park
Address: Sakchi Sonari Rd | Inside Jubilee Park, Jamshedpur 831001, India
Price: from 20 INR (0.31 USD) per child (above the age of 3 years), 30 INR (0.46 USD) per adult. The entry is free for children below the age of 3 years and also for disabled or handicapped people.
Opening Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Closed on public holidays.
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Access: Its entrance is opposite to Jubilee Park
Contact: +91 6576508011
Near by Food: Plenty of street food vendors available outside. Within 1 mile (1.6km.) several restaurants are also present.
Website: Tata Steel Zoological Park
3. Dimna Lake
It is an artificial lake situated around 8 miles (13 km.) from the city. The drive to Dimna Lake is very scenic as it crosses hilly areas and the lake itself lies at the foot of Dalma Mountain Ranges. The lake is surrounded by a variety of flora and owing to the large number of tourists that come here, boating can be done all throughout the year at a minimal price. To reach Dimna Lake you need to hire a private taxi or you can go by local bus. It is recommended to carry water and packed food if you do not like street food, as there are no restaurants in this area. One interesting fact is that it was also built by Tata Steel and the entire Jamshedpur City, including the steel plant, gets its water supply from this lake.
4. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary & Dalma Hills
Termed by the Government as ‘Paradise of Elephants’, Dalma Sanctuary is located at a height of 3,000 feet (914m.) above sea level surrounded by the majestic Dalma Hills. It is a short distance of about 8 miles (13 km.) from the main city and can be reached by a private taxi. Although it is famous for elephant sightings, it also houses several rare and endangered wildlife species such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, barking deers and porcupines. If you get lucky you might come across a big parade of elephants.
5. Domohani
Jamshedpur is situated at the confluence of two rivers or “Domohani” as the local’s call it. A delight for nature enthusiasts, the marine drive of Jamshedpur is from where this convergence of the Subarnarekha River and Kharkhai River can be seen. It is a rejuvenating experience with a unique sunrise point amidst tall Eucalyptus trees.
Best time to visit
The city has a tropical wet and dry climate so it is advised to avoid visiting during the months of May and June, as summers can be extremely hot and the temperatures can rise up to 120°F (48°C). Also from July to September it experiences heavy rainfall so that is also better if avoided. The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is tolerable and there is not much rainfall. However, if you intend to spot elephants in the Dalma Sanctuary, then the best time to go is between May and June as that is when the migration begins and the herds of elephants can be spotted.
Insider tips
Street food is quite popular and can be seen in plenty of areas in the city especially around Jubilee Park. You must try Jhal Mudi (spicy puffed rice mixed with onions) and Litti Chokha (whole wheat balls served with mashed potatoes and brinjals). For shopping and eating, the most famous areas are Sakchi and Bistupur, so it is advisable to book your hotel accommodation in these areas.
Please note that the only local transportation available is auto-rickshaws. If taken from an auto-stand they have fixed price and you do not need to negotiate, it is still advised to use GPS or Google Maps to navigate around the city.
How to reach?
By air: the nearest airport is located around 93 miles (150 km.) away from Jamshedpur City, in Ranchi. Cabs or buses can be availed from Ranchi to reach Jamshedpur. Next in proximity is Kolkata Airport at a 5 hour drive.
By rail: Tatanagar, one of the major railway stations of the country, is located in Jamshedpur. As all important express and mail trains have regular service to Jamshedpur, it enjoys an excellent rail connectivity with cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, Amritsar, Chennai, Dhanbad and others.
By road: buses go regularly between Kolkata and Jamshedpur, thus increasing connectivity between the two places. Other places like Ranchi, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Patna and Hazaribag are also linked with Jamshedpur by regular buses.
Experience the perfect blend of industrialization & natural beauty
Delve in the history of this small town, away from the tourist circuit of the country to experience first-hand the amalgamation of natural and man-made beauty coexisting in India.
Happy Traveling! Do share your best travel experiences with us.
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