Jagannatha Temple

Overview

The Jagannath Temple in Ranchi was built by the King of Barkagarh Jagannathpur Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, in 1691. It was completed on Christmas. The temple is on top of a small hillock.

About the Temple

This temple is built in the same architectural style, although smaller. And similar to the Rath Yatra in Puri, an annual fair cum rath yatra is held at this temple in the month of Aashaadha, attracting thousands of tribal and non-tribal devotees not only from Ranchi but also from neighbouring villages and towns and is celebrated with much pomp and vigor. The temple has been built on a hill top. To reach the top visitors can climb the stairs or take the vehicle route. There are many steps and the climber needs to rest intermittently before resuming. People also take the vehicle route leading directly to the top . To facilitate the arduous climb to the top the management of the temple have made provisions for fresh water and the shade of a huge tree that many tourists generally make use of once they reach the top. The view of the city from the top is breathtaking. The temple collapsed on 6 August 1990. With the active participation of the then State Government of Bihar, and some devoted patrons the reconstruction of the temple started on 8 February 1992 and has now been fully restored. The temple has regained back its former glory. And devotees and ardent worshippers make a beeline to the temple every year.

About the Deity

The main shrines are of Krishna, Balabhadra and Subhadra as the main shrines.

Legend and Stories

There are a few legends regarding the origin of the Jagannath temple at Jagannathpur. An Oraon servant of the Thakur of Barkagarh Estate, within which Jagannathpur falls, had accompanied the Thakur to Puri. The Oraon servant had become an ardent devotee of Lord Jaganath at Puri and fasted continuously for seven days and nights. After a week’s fast he felt hungry, it was mid-night when he asked for food when everyone was asleep. He muttered a few words that he was hungry and suddenly he saw a man bringing him food and water in gold vessels. Next morning the temple authorities found that the gold vessels, which were the property of the Mandir, were missing from the locked room. The servant came to know of the commotion about the theft and produced the gold vessels which had been left by his side. Every one understood that Lord Jagannath Himself had brought food to him in the gold vessels. Next night the Thakur had a dream that he must construct a temple of Jagannath and enshrine the images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subharda at Jagannathpur. On his return the Thakur did so. The second legend, which is more current among the non-tribal people, is that the Thakur was a devotee of Lord Jagannath and used to go to Puri frequently for darshan. He was being harassed by the horse-men of the Peshwas frequently and he prayed to Lord Jaganath for help. The enemies were routed and after this the Thakur built the temple at Jagannathpur. The third legend is that the Thakur had a dream in which Lord Jagannath Himself directed him to build a temple at Jagannathpur, which he did.

Accessibility

Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Patna have regular flights to Ranchi. National and private airlines fly to the city. Most of the major cities of India are connected by regular passenger and express trains to Ranchi. Government and privately operated buses link many states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa to Ranchi. Situated on National Highway 23 and 33, there is a network of good roads leading in and out of the city.

Temple Address

Jagannathpur Chowk Khataal,
Sector 1 Jagannathpur Hec,
Dhurwa,
Ranchi,
Jharkhand - 834 004.