Ghatshila

Ghatshila
Town
Ghatshila Location in Jharkhand, India
Coordinates: 22°22′N 86°17′E / 22.36°N 86.29°E / 22.36; 86.29Coordinates: 22°22′N 86°17′E / 22.36°N 86.29°E / 22.36; 86.29
Country	India
State	Jharkhand
District	Purbi Singhbhum
Elevation	103 m (338 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	37,850
• Rank	Class III
Languages
• Official	Bengali, Hindi, Santali
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	832303
Vehicle registration	JH

Ghatshila (also spelt as Ghatsila) (Hindi: घाटिशला) is a census town in Purbi Singhbhum district in the state of Jharkhand, India. The city is located on the bank of the Subarnarekha River, and it is situated in a forested area. It contains a railway station on the main line of the South Eastern Railway. Ghathsila was formerly the headquarters of the kingdom of Dhalbhum.

History

Royal family of the Kingdom of Dhalbhum had originated from the north–west (Dhara and Mandu), located at the border of Rajasthan. They established themselves by conquest in western part of Bengal, the area commonly known as Jungle Mahals. These families kept up a sort of semi–royal state and dignified their heir–apparent and those in immediate succession with title of honor, which denotes precedence. Thus, in the Dhalbhum family, the oldest son of the ruling king (Rajah) took the title of Jubraj, the second that of Hikkim, the third of Barathakur, the fourth that of Kuar, the fifth that of Musib and the rest Babu.

The area of the kingdom of Dhalbhum was approximately 1,200-square-mile (3,100 km²). Raja Jaganath constructed the Rankini Mandir at Galudih. But due to some problem, he shifted the Kali temple along with all the associates and other people to Ghatsila and built up a temple of goddess Kali, which is known as Rankini Mata.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[1] Ghatshila had a population of 37,850. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ghatshila has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 65%. In Ghatshila, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Geography

Ghatshila is located at 22°36′N 86°29′E / 22.60°N 86.48°E / 22.60; 86.48.^[2] It has an average elevation of 103 m (338 ft).

Ghatshila is situated on the banks of Subarnarekha River, at a distance of approximately 45 km from Jamshedpur, the district headquarters. It is a located in the East Singhbhum district of the state of Jharkhand. There is a community development block named Ghatshila, which has its headquarters at Ghatshila. This block was established on 4 May 1962. Due to the natural beauty of Ghatshila, it is becoming a favorite tourist spot, especially for Bangalis from Kolkata and other places.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is located at Moubhandar, a mile away. This is the chief employer or indirect source of income for the people of Ghatshila, Moubhandar, Musabani and nearby villages. Ghatshila is best known for the HCL mines because they are Asia's first copper mines^{[citation needed]} and the world's second deepest mines^{[citation needed]}.

Transport

Ghatshila is connected to most of the important stations in Bihar and Jharkhand through rail and road network. Jamshedpur is at a distance of 45 km (by road)and 37 km (by railroad) west of this town. Most of the trains running from Kharagpur that goes to west towards Jamshedpur, have a stoppage here. Distance between Ghatsila and Kharagpur is about 98 km.

By rail

It is a railway station on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section of Howrah–Mumbai track, 215 km from Howrah. Notable trains which stop here are Ispat Express (train no. 12781/12782), Kurla–Howrah Express (train no. 18030/18029), Steel Express (train no. 12813/12814). It is well connected to 3 metros in India namely Mumbai (by Bombay Express), Kolkata (many trains starting from 6 o'clock in the morning by Steel Express to midnight at 1.15 by Samleshwari Exp) and New Delhi (by Neelachal Express, Purushottam Express and Utkal Express). There are many local Passenger trains connecting Jamshedpur and Kharagpur with Ghatshila.

By road

It is about 240 km from Kolkata. Those traveling from Kolkata first have to take NH 6 to Baharagora and then take the road to Jamshedpur. Buses plying between Kharagpur and Jamshedpur pass through Ghatshila. Buses plying from Bhubaneswar or Kolkata to Jamshedpur or Ranchi also pass through Ghatshila. By road Jamshedpur is 45 km away.

Places to see

• Rankini Mandir (Galudih)
• Burudih Dam
  

  Burudih Dam
• Picnic Spot
• Mosabani
• Moubhandar
• Tumandungri
• Fulldungri Hillock
• Dharagiri Fall
  

  Dharagiri,Ghatsila
• Pancha Pandava
• Hindustan Copper Limited
• The River Subarnarekha
• Ratmohona
• Purna Pani
• Kerukocha

References

External links

Ghatshila travel guide from Wikivoyage