The Queen of Chotanagpur: a quiet plateau hill station 156 km west of Ranchi, known for its sunsets.
Lesser-knownHill-stationWaterfallVillage
Netarhat is the highest point of the Chotanagpur plateau and one of the few hill stations in eastern India. It is a thinly built place of pine and sal forest, a famous residential school, and two viewpoints that face opposite ways so you can watch the sun rise over one valley and set behind another on the same day. There is no resort strip and very little traffic, which is the appeal.
Trip planner
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| October to March | The season. Clear air, cold mornings, and the best chance of a sharp sunset from Magnolia Point. December and January nights can approach freezing. |
| July to September | The monsoon turns the plateau green and fills the Ghaghri falls, but mist often closes in and the viewpoints show nothing. |
| April to June | Warm on the plains but still pleasant up here, and much quieter. The waterfalls run low. |
The sunset viewpoint, named for an English girl in a local story about a shepherd boy. It looks west over the Ghaghri valley and is the thing Netarhat is known for.
The sunrise viewpoint, facing east over the valley of the North Koel river. A short walk from the road, usually empty at dawn.
A stream dropping through forest about 4 km from the town, reached on a short forest path. Full after the monsoon and thin by spring.
The larger of the two falls, about 10 km out, with a drop into a pool below. The last stretch is a walk down steps.
A boys' residential school founded in 1954 on the plateau, well known across eastern India. The campus and its grounds are part of the character of the place; it is a working school, not a sight to wander into.
The highest waterfall in Jharkhand, where the Burha river drops about 143 m in forest. A long detour on a rough road, usually a day trip of its own.
The plateau is planted with pine and there is an old orchard near the town, unusual at this latitude. Pleasant to walk in the late afternoon.
A tiger reserve of sal forest with elephants and the ruined Palamu forts, often combined with Netarhat on the way in or out from Ranchi.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Forest rest house and simple lodges in the town | ₹700 to ₹1,500 |
| Mid-range | State tourism rooms and small hotels | ₹1,800 to ₹3,500 |
| Luxury | The best available rooms locally, or a resort in Ranchi with a car | ₹4,000 to ₹7,000 |
Eating options are very limited and close early. Most visitors eat where they stay and arrange dinner in advance. Carry snacks for the drives to the falls.
Vegetarian food is the default in the small kitchens here and easy to get.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹900 | ₹350 | ₹400 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹2,500 | ₹700 | ₹1,800 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹5,000 | ₹1,300 | ₹3,500 per vehicle |
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No permits are needed for the plateau. Betla National Park charges entry and safari fees and has its own timings. Carry photo ID for hotel check-in.
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Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Nearby
Distance by road.
FamousRanchi, Jharkhand
Capital of Jharkhand on the Chotanagpur plateau, known as the City of Waterfalls.
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Hill-ringed old Magadha capital with Buddhist and Jain sites, near the ruins of ancient Nalanda.
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FamousVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh
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