Ranchi, Jitendra Kumar : Every year on 27th September world tourism day (World Tourism Day) is celebrated. It is celebrated to promote tourism and understand its importance. Talking about Jharkhand, it is not only the choice of tourists for its water, forests, mountains, rivers and streams. It is also very important from the point of view of religious tourism. Now the state government is working towards the construction of two tourism circuits in the area around the capital Ranchi. The Tourism Department is working in a planned manner towards developing Ormanjhi Zoo, Getalsud Dam, Hundru Fall, Jonha Fall and Sita Fall as a tourism circuit. At the same time, Getalsud, Sikidiri Valley and Rajrappa Maa Chinnamastika Temple are being developed as the second tourist circuit. The Tourism Department has given directions to the Deputy Commissioner Ranchi, DFO Ranchi along with COs Angada and Ormanjhi for the said scheme. Instructions have been given to identify land for various constructions. Tourism Secretary Manoj Kumar himself is active in constructing both the tourism circuits, site inspection has also been done by him.
According to the Tourism Department, this area can become a big tourist destination like Patratu. It is notified as a B category tourist destination. Arrangements for night stay for tourists, ropeway, club, restaurant, playground, refreshment room etc. will be made in Jonha Fall and Hundru Fall. Expected cooperation has also been sought from the Forest Department in making the tourist circuit. The government believes that this area can take the form of a tourism industry, in which a large number of tourists will reach not only from Jharkhand but also from Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Due to which the revenue of the state will increase. Also, local people will be able to get employment. Here, Silli MLA Sudesh Mahato has demanded from the government to also include Sursu Valley in the tourist circuit. It is said that the beauty of Sursu Valley is amazing, with increased tourism facilities, Sursu Valley will be the first choice of tourists.
If the government pays attention to this, Johna Fall can get not only national but also international recognition. It can be identified as a center of Buddhism. It is noteworthy that the Youth Welfare, Culture and Tourism Development Committee of the Legislative Assembly had last year held a meeting with the officials of Tourism, Forest, Road Construction, Rural Works, Drinking Water, Rural Development, Land Revenue and Railways regarding the development of tourism in the area. During this period, possibilities for development of tourism were explored.
Sudesh Mahato, the then chairman of the committee, said that there is immense potential for development of tourism in this entire area including Jonha Fall, Sita Fall, Sursu Valley, Hundru Fall, Chhota Hundru, Chundri Fall, Getalsud Dam. This will provide revenue to the state as well as employment to the youth of the area. This area will be developed as eco community tourism. For this, participation of common people will also be ensured. The said tourist places will be developed with the joint efforts of the villagers and various government departments of the area around these places. There is a plan to make the area an eco-friendly economic zone.
It was told that to create a tourism circuit, first of all high level roads are being constructed, after this resorts, boat sheds, hotels, holiday cabins, house boards, shops etc. will be constructed in the Getalsud Dam area. Development of infrastructure as per the geographical structure, providing employment to the youth by connecting them with tourism, construction of film city, construction of telescope point, ropeway, construction of valley of flowers and gardens, construction of entrance gates for various places, construction of plastic and thermocol. Various topics were discussed including public awareness campaign against rape, jungle safari including shuttle services for visiting tourist places, parking area, construction of Jonha police station, picnic platform, renovation of Sita and Gautam Buddha temples.
Many symbols of Buddhism are present in Jonha Fall, located on Gautam Hill, 38 km from Ranchi. An ancient temple of Lord Gautam Buddha is situated on the hill of Jonha Fall. This temple was built hundreds of years ago by Raja Baldev Das Birla. This temple of Lord Buddha was built in the middle of the mountain by digging it. Many ancient inscriptions related to Buddhism are visible in Jonha Fall. In these inscriptions, Hinduism and Buddhism have been described as two branches of Aryan religion. Local villagers say that during the propagation of Buddhism by the Birla family, a temple and a dharamshala were also built on the side of the main road in Jonha Fall. Local villagers offer prayers daily in the temple of Lord Buddha. They believe that Lord Gautam Buddha had once come here, this fall was named Gautamdhara after his name. Gautamdhara is the old name of Jonha Fall.