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Offbeat weekend in BETLA - NETARHAT - RANCHI

RANCHI weekend tour

Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand . In 2000, Jharkhand was formed as a new state, separating the Chota Nagpur Plateau and the Santal Parganas of southern Bihar from the state of Bihar. There are many places of tourist attraction in and around Ranchi. Apart from hilltop view point, hillview park, nature observation center and zoo etc, Ranchi boasts of several scenic waterfalls in its outskirts.

NETARHAT weekend tour

Netarhat, about 156 km west of Ranchi is a famous hill station in the state. The British cut down the hills and built roads in this once uninhabited area. Sal, Pial and Mahua were cut down to form the settlement. Fascinated by its beauty, the British called Netarhat “Queen of chota Nagpur”. Folklore has it that Lord Hanuman was born in a cave in a village called Anjani located here. It is believed that from here Hanuman took that giant leap towards the sun thinking it to be giant red fruit. Apart from these folktales, you will be captivated by the outstanding natural beauty of Netarhat. Many believe that the name Netarhat originates from the word “Near to the heart” or “nature’s heart”. This hill station is the best weekend spot for nature lovers. Located at an altitude of 1,071 m above sea level, Netarhat has many places to visit.

BETLA weekend tour

Betla is an outstanding tourist spot in Jharkhand with its dense jungles, hills, waterfalls, valleys and tribal villages. Located in the Palamu District, Betla is the main hub of the Palamau Tiger Reserve. Although Betla National Park is the main attraction of this place, it has many more places to see from here. Featuring small rivers, gushing waterfalls and historic ruined forts, Betla is located about 94 km from Netarhat

Tour Plan Itinerary

Offbeat weekend Exclusive Package
2 Night 3 Days

Day 1
Pick-up from Ranchi Station. We start our journey to Betla from Ranchi by road. The distance is 176 km and it takes around 4 to 5 hours through a scenic road via Latehar, Shahganj and Dubiakhar.  We will take a brief halt near the twin bridges on the Auranga River, which is pretty scenic. One bridge is for the roadways and the other is for the railways.
We cross the bridge and then take a detour of 1.5 kms to reach Kechki Sangam, the confluence of the Koyel river and Auranga river close to the Auranga bridge.
We will reach Betla at about lunch time.  After checking into our accommodation, post lunch and a bit of shut eye we will venture into the Beta forest which houses the Palamau tiger reserve for an afternoon jungle safari at about 4 p.m. Apart from the rare occasion of tiger sighting, one can spot elephants, hyena, wolf, jackal, nilgai, pangolin, mongoose, sambar and four horned antelopes. For bird lovers there are red jungle fowl, hornbill, black ibis, pied hornbill, forest owlet, etc. Post safari we will return to our accommodation for tea. Post dinner, we will return to our rooms early in order to awake early next morning. Night stay at Betla.

Day 2
Early next morning after breakfast, we will embark on our journey to visit the twin forts of Palmau which was once ruled by the Chero Kings.
The old fort spans about 230m from east to west and about 140m from north to south, with 25-foot-high walls that are about seven-feet thick. One can drive straight to the western side of the fort from Betla.
Located on the top of a hill, the new fort looks grand even from a distance. The rectangular structure spans about 230 metres from east to west but just over 90 metres north to south. The climb to the fort’s main gate has now been made easier with the construction of a motorable road right up to the gate. The main entrance to the fort, which is known as the Nagpuri Gate, extends about 80 feet beyond the fort wall. A Devanagari inscription on the side of the gate lists the names of Chero kings – the Persian inscriptions have long disappeared.
We return to our accommodation by lunch time after visiting the forts.  After lunch we leave for Netarhat which is around is around 120 kms south. Netarhat began gaining prominence as a summer retreat for British officials looking to escape the heat of the Indian summers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
On reaching Netarhat, we visit the Magnolia sunset point. After sunset, we return back to our accommodation located in Netarhat.

Day 3
After viewing sunrise in the morning from Netarhat, post breakfast we take a look at Koel View point, Netarhat Lake, Pear Garden and the Pine forest. Post Lunch we leave for Ranchi.
We bid goodbye and hope everyone enjoyed the tour.

Offbeat weekend Exclusive Package
3 Night 4 Days

Day 1
Reach Ranchi Station in the morning. we start our journey to Betla from Ranchi by road. The distance is 176 km and it takes around 4 to 5 hours through a scenic road via Latehar, Shahganj and Dubiakhar. We will take a brief halt near the twin bridges on the Auranga River, which is pretty scenic. One bridge is for the roadways and the other is for the railways.From the bridge a small pathway takes you the bank of the river.
We will reach Betla at about lunch time.  After checking into our accommodation, post lunch and a bit of shut eye we will venture into the Betla forest which houses the Palamau tiger reserve for an afternoon jungle safari at about 4pm. Post safari we will return to our accommodation for tea. Post dinner, we will return to our rooms early in order to awake early the next morning. Night stay at Betla.

Day 2 
Early next morning after morning tea, we will venture yet again into the jungle for the morning jungle safari. Good animal sighting is possible with at least two safaris. Apart from the rare occasion of tiger sighting, one can spot elephants, hyena, wolf, jackal, nilgai, pangolin, mongoose, sambar and four horned antelopes. For bird lovers there are red jungle fowl, hornbill, black ibis, pied hornbill, forest owlet, etc.

After jungle safari we return to our accommodation and have breakfast. Post breakfast we visit the Kechki Sangam, the confluence of the Koyel river and Auranga river close to the Auranga bridge.

Post lunch, we embark on our journey to the visit the twin forts of Palmau which was once ruled by the Chero Kings.
The old fort spans about 230m from east to west and about 140m from north to south, with 25-foot-high walls that are about seven-feet thick. One can drive straight to the western side of the fort from Betla.

Located on the top of a hill, the new fort looks grand even from a distance. The rectangular structure spans about 230 metres from east to west but just over 90 metres north to south. The climb to the fort’s main gate has now been made easier with the construction of a motorable road right up to the gate. The main entrance to the fort, which is known as the Nagpuri Gate, extends about 80 feet beyond the fort wall.
We return to our accommodation in the evening after visiting the forts. After dinner we retire to our rooms.

Day 3
We leave for Netarhat from Betla after having an early breakfast by car.
On the way visit Suga Bandh Waterfalls and another is Lodh Falls. It is a short walk from the car to the waterfalls. We will reach Netarhat by lunch time. After lunch and a bit of rest we will visit the Magnolia sunset point, we return back to our accommodation located in Netarhat.

Day 4
After viewing sunrise in the morning from Netarhat, post breakfast we take a look at Koel View point, Netarhat Lake, Pear Garden and the Pine forest. Post Lunch we leave for Ranchi. We bid goodbye and hope everyone enjoyed the tour.

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Places to see at Ranchi

Rajarappa is located in Ramgarh district, 70 km from Ranchi. The place is famous for the temple of Goddess Chinnamasta and Rajrappa Falls.
Rajarappa Falls: The river Bhairabi or Vera joins the river Damodar here. As a result, an impeccable rock formation has been created. The Vera River falls about 30 feet from the top while meeting the Damodar river creating the Rajrappa waterfalls.
The headless goddess Chhinnamasta is standing here between the lotus flowers on the bodies of Kamadeva and Rati. According to Hindu religious texts and tantric rituals, this temple has special significance. In addition to the main temple, there are ten more temples of different deities. Many tourists come here every day to enjoy the natural beauty of Rajrappa.
The Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park or Ranchi Zoo is a special attraction in this city. Built in 1994 with an area of ​​about 104 hectares, the biological park has two sections. One is the zoological section and the other is the botanical section. The zoo has 27 species of Mammal, 39 species of bird and 17 species of snakes. Birsa Biological Park is located on the side of Getalsad Reservoir, about 30 km from Ranchi.
Located about 9 km from the city of Ranchi, this Rock Garden is a special sight. The rock garden is decorated with small and large fountains on the hill and various sculptures made of stone. The proximity of Lake Kanke has multiplied the beauty of this garden. Situated on a hill, the vast expanse of Lake Kanke and pristine natural scenery will not disappoint you.
Tagore Hill is located at a distance of about 7 kilometers from the city of Ranchi. Earlier, there was an ashram of Jyotirindranath Tagore, the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore. The house of Jyotirindranath Tagore still exists here. Just below the hill is the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram. From the top of the hill one can view scenic sunrise and sunset.
Jonha Falls is located about 45 km from Ranchi on the Purulia-Ranchi Highway. A long staircase has been built for visitors to descend down to the waterfalls. Very close to it is a temple and an ashram of Lord Buddha on the top of Gautam hill. That is why another name of this falls is Gautam Dhara.
Hundru waterfalls is located 47 km from Ranchi on the Purulia road. It is one of the highest waterfalls in Jharkhand. The Subarnarekha river falls here from a height of about 322 feet. Any nature lover will be mesmerized by the view of the waterfall coming down from so high. There is a waterbody at the bottom of the waterfalls which is ideal for a swim.
Located 62 km from Ranchi off Ranchi- Chaibasa road around Bandgaon, the Ramgarha River plunges down 121 feet to form the Hirni Falls. Located in a dense forest area, Hirni has been favoured by nature lovers for its scenic beauty.
Located about 40 km from the city of Ranchi, this little known water falls in Ranchi is located within dense greenery. The Radhu River falls about 144 feet from the top of the hill to create the waterfalls. Situated close to Jonha falls in a dense jungle, this waterfall is a favorite of hiking lovers.
About 37 km from Ranchi, Dassam waterfalls is located in a secluded environment near Tata Road surrounded by greenery in the lap of nature. The Kanchi River falls from a height of about 144 feet to create these waterfalls. A visit to this place is worthwhile when the endless sound of Falls is echoed in the secluded forest environment. A closer look reveals that ten separate streams have flowed down the hill.
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Places to see at Netarhat

This sunset point is located 10 km from Netarhat. In the afternoon many people gather here to enjoy the sunset moment. Another name is Magnolia Point. The sunset moment from this place will mesmerize you as well as thrill if you know a little history. In colonial India, Magnolia, a British woman, fell in love with a local tribal young man who was a shepherd by profession. But social inequality hindered this relationship. Thus the love between Magnolia and the shepherd boy also came to a tragic end. Magnolia, who was ridiculed in her own society for her romantic relationship with a tribal, committed suicide from this place. This place remained a silent witness of that event. Since then the place has been known as Magnolia Point. At present the place is beautifully decorated as it offers the best sunset view of Netarhat.
To enjoy a spectacular view of the rising sun, one has to reach the sunrise point in front of the tourist bungalow, Hotel PrabhatVihar. Viewing the rising sun with the cascading hills is a treat to the eyes.
Another view point near Sunrise point is Koel View point. Here you can see the waves of the mountain on the horizon and the river Koel flowing through the gap of the hill below. It is located 3 km from Netarhat bus stand.
This reservoir is located at a distance of 2 km from the bus stand of Netarhat. The reservoir was built by the British and has been the main source of water supply in the area ever since. Locally it is known as Badka Bandh.
Very few people are aware that Netarhat has a pear garden spread in acres. Though you can visit it in any season, the monsoon is the best season to watch pear laden trees. It is 4 km from the bus stand.
Several patches of pine jungles are scattered around in Netarhat. One can spend some quiet moments walking around these trees and collecting scattered pine fruits as souvenirs.
This small water falls is located inside a forest 4 km away from Netarhat Bus Stand. Although small in size, surrounded by lush green forests and located in a secluded environment, this waterfall is very beautiful to see. The chirping of birds and the sound of endless flowing water, all combined in a natural nature, this falls is a special sight of Netarhat.
This waterfall is located about 10 km from Netarhat inside a dense jungle where at some places even sunlight does not dare to venture.. Originating from the Ghaghri River, the falls drop from about 100 feet. The falls are located about 3.3 km north east from Magnolia sunset point. In enormity it is much larger than the Upper Ghagri. One should venture to the place only with a local guide who knows the area as it is not an often visited spot and is difficult to locate.
Located 62 km North from Netarhat, Lodh WaterFalls is the highest waterfall in the state of Jharkhand. The Burha River falls to the surface 468 feet below the top of the hill. The scenic beauty of the falls and the roaring waterfalls will make you speechless. Many separate streams of this waterfall flows down the hill.The local name of this waterfall is Burha Ghag. One has to hike on foot inside the jungle for a couple of minutes to reach here.
Surrounded by mountain ranges and dense green forest, this little known waterfall is located about 70 km North from Netarhat. Here the Koel River falls about 90 feet down the hill to create the Suga Bandh waterfalls. Another name for it is Sadni Ghag Falls. Tourists rarely visit this waterfall, which is why it has a pristine atmosphere around it.
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Places to see at Betla

This national park is located across 226.32 sq km. In 1974, it was incorporated into the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Betla National Park is recognized as the first Tiger Reserve in India. The forest is located at an altitude of about one thousand feet with trees like Sal, teak, bamboo and various medicinal plants. The North Koel River flows through the northern part of the forest, which is surrounded by vast grasslands. There are many species of wild animals in Betla National Park. In addition to the large number of elephants, sloth bear, hyena, panther, wolf, jackal, four horned antelopes, nilgai, kakar, sambar, mouse deer, pangolin, mongoose, etc. can be found here. Occasionally there are reports of tigers spotted near villages. So if you are indeed very lucky, you may spot a tiger. There are also numerous species of birds including the main red jungle fowl, hornbill, peafowl, white necked stork, partridge, black ibis, pied hornbill, crested serpent eagle, wagtail, harial, forest owlet. Knob billed duck, geese, common whistling etc. are found in the wetlands.
Two forts are located in the outskirts of the jungle of Betla National Park. A fort built long before the Chero Empire was later rebuilt by King Medini Roy. Situated in an area of ​​about 3 square kilometers in the dense jungle, this huge fort still bears witness to its history. In the south-western part of the fort there is a lake (Kamadah lake) where a large number of aquatic birds congregate.
The second fort is at the top of a hill to the west of the old fort. The fort was built by King Medini Roy in 1673. But the fort remained incomplete. The gate of this fort has beautiful design engraved on it which is known as Nagpuri Gate. Earlier one had to brave through this jungle to reach this gate , but in recent times a motorable road has been made to reach here.
Located about 10 km from Betla, this place is joined by two rivers, the Koyel and the Auranga. In the rainy season, the appearance of this place is impeccable. The confluence of two rivers on this almost flat place, the mountain range in the distance and the greenery along the river bank bring Kechki to another level in terms of beauty.
Located about 6 km from Betla tourist lodge inside dense forest, this reservoir is famous for its lotus flowers. A large number of lotus flowers can be seen in this lake from where the name originates. This reservoir was excavated during the reign of King Medini Roy and is near to the old fort. The experience of coming here through the dense jungle and mountain path is also thrilling. Occasionally elephant herds emerge from the Palamau Reservoir Forest to drink and crave water. This lake attracts a lot of migratory birds in winter.
There are many trains from Kolkata to Ranchi. But the best train to start the tour is Kriya Yoga or Shaktipunj Express. Ranchi is located at a distance of 410 km North West of Kolkata. Betla National Park is 159 km North West of Ranchi. Netarhat is 94 km North of Betla.
Betla The best place to stay here is Van Bihar of the Jharkhand Tourism Department. There are also several hotels and lodges.
Netarhat There are several private hotels to stay here and there is Prabhat Bihar of Jharkhand Tourism Department.
Ranchi There are numerous small and large hotels of different budgets in the bus stand area of ​​Ranchi city. There is also the Jharkhand Tourism Department Residence Birsa Vihar.

You would love the restaurant if you are a Bengali as the in-house restaurant serves with all kinds of sumptuous Bengali food. Apart from that you can also try out Chinese and Moghlai food. 

2 nights 3 days

  • AC Room
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Snacks, Dinner
  • Pickup and drop from Ranchi

*Excluding First day Breakfast,Guide and Porter charge

2 nights 3 days

  • AC Room
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Snacks, Dinner
  • Pickup and drop from Ranchi

*Excluding First day Breakfast,Guide and Porter charge

Best time to visit

Except April to June when summer is at its scorching best here and during monsoons when the forest remains closed, any other time is perfect for visiting these places.
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