My Journeys to Religious Places

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Panchghagh Waterfalls (पंचघाघ झरने), Khunti/Ranchi, Jharkhand

Panchghagh Waterfalls, Khunti / Ranchi

It was a Sunday of February and we decided to visit Amreshwardham, Angra Badi in the Khunti district of Jharkhand. It is near Ranchi and about 50 km from here. It was a family trip and we started from Ranchi in a private car. The time was 9:45 AM and after four days of clouds and cold, the weather was clear and sunny. Ranchi is a plateau and whichever direction you go there will be downward, serpentine hilly roads with jungles on both sides. Khunti district is full of green forests and hills and hilly rivers. This hilly terrain gave Khunti one of the popular waterfalls which is "Panchghagh". We had visited Amreshwardham, Angra Badi many times but could not go to "Panchghagh". Even this time we had no plan to visit "Panchghagh", but after the worship and lunch, we had enough time in our hands to visit some nearby attractions. We searched on the google map and found that the "Panchghagh" waterfalls were only 17 km from there. But this road was through the villages while there was another route through Khunti town through highways but it was double the distance. We decided the shortest route and navigated through the terrain with the help of Google maps. The traffic was nearly zero and very few people in the sight. The Khunti area is also Naxal affected. We were advancing cautiously. The Google map is also not fully dependable as sometimes it leads to some very awkward situations. So we also tried to ask and verify the route from a few villagers. Finally, we reached the Khunti-Chaibasa highway near Murhu and breathed a sigh of relief.

Overflow water from the tank
at the foot of Panchghagh waterfalls

Further, on the highway, we saw the welcome gate of Panchghagh waterfalls. About one km from here we reached near a drop-gate where they were collecting money for entry and parking tickets. The ticket for each person is ₹ 7.00 and parking for the four-wheeler ₹ 25.00. When we reached there we had an idea of what the number of people was there. Many buses, cars, and bikes were parked. A big welcome gate was also under construction. Locals were selling groundnuts and other snacks. At Panchghagh, there are five branches of the Banai river. On this day only one branch was flowing. It was Sunday and students from many schools were there for a picnic. They were having lunch and enjoying music from big speakers. It is a perfect place for picnics with many spaces on the upstream as well as on the downstream side. Neither the height of the fall is much nor the water falls vertically creating deep and dangerous holes under it. It may be the safest of all waterfalls around Ranchi. For crossing the streams narrow concrete footbridges are made. There is a children-park at the beginning and a viewing point hut.

Upstream view of the Panchghagh waterfalls
from the viewing point

When descending beside the mainstream there is a resting place with concrete benches. The main enjoying point is at the foot of the fall where a 3 feet deep tank has been made by collecting the coming water. When we reached there many young men were playing with a ball, some bathing and some just posing for the pictures. The place is full of rocks and stones of different shapes and sizes. Even like hanging rocks, which are marvelous picture points. The development work is also under progress. The overflowing water from the above tank was again going down over the stones. We sat on these stones near the water and put our feet in the water. Many pics and videos were taken. The sunny weather made us thirsty. Purchased some bottles of water and returned back. It was 4 o'clock in the evening and we had to reach Ranchi preferably before it was dark. So we drove back in a happy mood.

For a video visit the Instagram link here.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Rajrappa Waterfalls, Ramgarh District, Jharkhand

Rajrappa Waterfalls, Ramgarh, Jharkhand

I have written about Siddhpeeth Rajrappa in my earlier post. It was mostly about the Chhinnmasta and other temples. But at that time of my visit, the water flowing in the Bhairavi River was very low and one can easily cross it near its mouth. This time I visited the place in the month of November and the water level in the Bhairavi river was good. Since it falls in the Damodar river here from a height of about 15 feet, the waterfalls thus created are awesome to view from the Damodar river.

Waterfall at Rajrappa, Ramgarh, Jharkhand

There is a facility of boating in the Damodar and they take the boat very near to the waterfalls that give you an excellent and memorable life experience. When I did the boating this time I realized what I missed in the earlier visits. The boating in the Damodar is generally a shared one with a charge of only Rs 30/- each person. First, they take you upstream through the serpentine rocky banks (average 15 feet high) up to a point where the width of the river is less and the flow of water is speedy. The boat can not sail further. Then the sailor will just stop the oars. The boat then just floats down on the water current and goes downstream till the confluence of the Bhairavi and Damodar.

Fascinating twinkling patterns on the Damodar river surface due to Sun

Here you see the awesome waterfalls at a close distance. In fact, you can feel the splash of waters. The boatman takes a slow U-turn here and it gives a few minutes to have you a good look at the falling waters and then the boat returns.

Upstream boating on the Damodar river

Though the height of the waterfall is not much like Hundru or Dasham, when there is water in the rivers this fall seeing is much more fascinating with a boat ride. I think October and November are the best months to see and enjoy the waterfalls here.

My friend remembered that in one of his earlier visits they had seen an Azgar snake clinging to rocks at one of the banks.

Three pictures of Lugu Ashram, Rajrappa

After having the waterfall visit we crossed the Bhairavi river. The flow of water below the causeway was very fast and lovely to see. We took some pics here and crossed the river. On the other side is an "Aashram" called "Lugu Aashram, Giri Baba Kutiya". It was full of social activities. Inside it, there is a statue of Lord Krishna holding up the Govardhan Parvat on his fingers. Another eye-catching thing was the exit gate on the backside. It is made like a monster (Rakshasa).
In this blog, I have given pictures only. For videos, you may visit my Instagram account at the link below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qNnetBCgk/

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Khutta Baba Mandir and The Tenughat Dam

Khutta Baba Mandir, Peterbar, Bokaro

I was discussing with my friend the places of interest around Ramgarh which we had not visited. He recalled visiting Tenughat Dam some 10 years back and it was an awesome visit. He also remembered that there is a temple about 9 km before the dam. This temple is Khutta Baba Mandir and it is famous for fulfilling wishes of the devotees. We decided to visit the Tenughat dam. When his parents knew it they asked him to sacrifice a rooster (Murga) in the Khutta Baba temple for a wish being fulfilled. We started around 11:30 AM from Ramgarh. Near Peterbar we took a left turn at Tenu Chowk and reached Khutta Baba Mandir traveling 48 km. The temple is on the roadside.

Garbh Grih, Khutta Baba Temple,
Peterbar, Bokaro.

We were a little late. The front verandah was being cleaned and there were only a few persons in the temple but all around the temple was crowded and full of activities. All the Jhuggi hotels were busy cooking mutton and chicken. Everybody was enjoying drinks. My friend had brought a rooster in a bag (Jhola) for sacrifice. This place is a tribal worship place and only their priest called "Pahan" can perform the worship and sacrifice. He asked a Pahan for sacrifice. Though it was a bit late he agreed but when he saw the rooster the Pahan refused. He said that the rooster to be sacrificed after the wish-fulfillment should be fully white and this one was not so. Also, a bottle of Daru is required. So he could not sacrifice it. As per the Sankalp, the devotees also sacrifice a white goat (Patha).

The surroundings of the Temple

When asked about putting a wish before the god (Manauti) he informed that it has also a process. You either bring a red rooster or a black hen and a bottle of Daru. Also, come before 1:00 PM. No ladies are allowed here nor they like to come here. Since the mutton, chicken, and Daru are Prasad here which should be consumed near the temple itself, the surrounding here is like a feast for all. You may say in Hindi as "Khane Peene ka Mela".

The awesome scene at Tenughat Dam, Bokaro
over the river Damodar

Since our purpose was not fulfilled we offered our Pranam to God (Khutta Baba) in the temple and went ahead towards the Tenughat dam. After a 9 km drive, we were on the dam. It was a bright day. On one side of the dam was a vast reservoir of water while on the other side the water gushing down from one of the ten gates was creating a mesmerizing scene with a lot of noise. It was creating a mist and due to the sun on our back, we could see a stable rainbow there. The dam structure and the pieces of machinery were things to be seen. This Tenughat dam is on the river Damodar.

Downstream view from the dam
at Tenughat, Bokaro

We wanted to see the splashing water at a close distance. Down there we saw some people near it. So we went back to the main road and taking a round road reached near the foot of the dam. It must have been a good park here that is not maintained now. From the long step near it, we reached near the water and saw the awesome scene of the waterfall. Few people were there. We took some pictures and videos on our mobile. We stayed there for some half an hour and then returned.

On the Tenughat Dam

Jharkhand has got nature's beauty spread across it and out of them the Tenughat dam is one of the lovely places to visit.
For the videos visit my Instagram link.

===<<<O>>>===