Rajrappa
Encyclopedia
Rajrappa is a waterfall
and a pilgrimage centre in Ramgarh district
in the India
n state
of Jharkhand
.
Rajrappa stands at the confluence of the Damodar
and Bhairavi (locally called Bhera) rivers.
Rajrappa is located off NH 23
connecting Ramgarh
and Chas
. It is 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) from Ramgarh,65 kilometres (40.4 mi) from Hazaribagh
, 78 kilometres (48.5 mi) from Ranchi
and 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) from Bokaro Steel City
.
(also known as Chinnamastika) temple located here is the headless deity of goddess Chinnamasta which stands on the body of Kamdeo and Rati in the lotus bed. The Chhinnamasta temple is very popular for its Tantrik style of architectural design. The temple is very old but has that essence of enchantment. Apart from the main temple, there are ten temples of various gods and goddesses such as the Sun God and Lord Shiva. Animal sacrifice is still practised in the temple. The sacrificial animals are killed on Tuesdays and Saturdays and during Kali puja.
Rajrappa also is a pilgrim centre for the Santals and other tribals who come for immersion of the ashes of their loved ones in the Damodar. They come mostly during the month of December, in groups known as yatri. As per their mythology it is their final resting place. In their folk songs Rajrappa is referred to as "Thel Kopi Ghat" (Water Ghat) and they use oil after bathing. They come in significant numbers from the southern parts of Jharkhand state such as East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela districts.
(CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
. It is one of the biggest coal-fields in its region. It is widely known as the Rajrappa Project, which consist of the main quarry
(a huge open cast mine), offices, colonies, recreation facilities, shopping complexes, a police out-post and public utility buildings. It is a complete township in itself.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
and a pilgrimage centre in Ramgarh district
Ramgarh district
Ramgarh district is one of the 24 districts in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Ramgarh Raj:Ramgarh was the seat of a major Zamindari in the era of the British Raj....
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
.
Geography
Rajrappa is located at 23.632°N 85.711°E.Rajrappa stands at the confluence of the Damodar
Damodar River
Damodar River originates near Chandwa village, Palamau district, on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Jharkhand state in eastern India, and flows eastward for about 592 km through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the estaury of the River Hooghly...
and Bhairavi (locally called Bhera) rivers.
Rajrappa is located off NH 23
National Highway 23 (India)
National Highway 23 is a National Highway in India that connects Chas in Jharkhand with the village of Nuahata at the intersection of NH 42 in Orissa. The total length of NH 23 is . -See also:...
connecting Ramgarh
Ramgarh Cantonment
Ramgarh Cantonment is a cantonment town in Ramgarh district earlier a part of Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. On 12 September 2007, it became a new district taking the total count of district in state to 24....
and Chas
Chas
Chas is a 70 year old twin city with Bokaro and a municipality in Bokaro district in the state of Jharkhand, India. Chas is also included in the urban area of Bokaro Steel City having Population of More than 250000. Chas market is one of the biggest wholesale market in the region better known as...
. It is 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) from Ramgarh,65 kilometres (40.4 mi) from Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
, 78 kilometres (48.5 mi) from Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
and 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) from Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City is one of the largest Industrial city situated in the State of Jharkhand, in India. Bokaro is the 48th cleanest city in India and second in Jharkhand after Jamshedpur and one of the best cities to live in India...
.
Waterfalls
The Bhera or Bhairavi joins the Damodar, falling from a height of 9.1 metres (29.9 ft). It is a scenic spot.Geographical significance
Rajrappa Falls has tremendous geographical significance. The Damodar valley at Rajrappa is a typical example of polycyclic valley or topographic discordance which is characterized by two storey valley. The Damodar developed its broad and flat valley of senile stage before the onset of Tertiary upliftment. The river was rejuvenated due to upliftment of landmass during the Tertiary period (65 million to 1.8 million years ago) by the side effects of the Himalayan orogeny and thus the Damodar excavated its new deep and narrow valley of youthful stage within its broad and flat valley of senile stage. The Bhera river coming from over the Ranchi plateau makes a waterfall while joining the Damodar and thus presents an example of a hanging valley. The Damodar gorge near Rajrappa is a typical example of incised meander.Pilgrimage centre
Rajrappa is a Hindu pilgrimage centre attracting an estimated 2,500-3,000 persons daily. The main attraction of the ChhinnamastaChhinnamasta
Chhinnamasta , often spelled Chinnamasta and also called Chhinnamastika and Prachanda Chandika, is one of the Mahavidyas, ten Tantric goddesses and a ferocious aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother. Chhinnamasta can be easily identified by her fearsome iconography. The self-decapitated goddess...
(also known as Chinnamastika) temple located here is the headless deity of goddess Chinnamasta which stands on the body of Kamdeo and Rati in the lotus bed. The Chhinnamasta temple is very popular for its Tantrik style of architectural design. The temple is very old but has that essence of enchantment. Apart from the main temple, there are ten temples of various gods and goddesses such as the Sun God and Lord Shiva. Animal sacrifice is still practised in the temple. The sacrificial animals are killed on Tuesdays and Saturdays and during Kali puja.
Rajrappa also is a pilgrim centre for the Santals and other tribals who come for immersion of the ashes of their loved ones in the Damodar. They come mostly during the month of December, in groups known as yatri. As per their mythology it is their final resting place. In their folk songs Rajrappa is referred to as "Thel Kopi Ghat" (Water Ghat) and they use oil after bathing. They come in significant numbers from the southern parts of Jharkhand state such as East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela districts.
Economy
Rajrappa is a project under Central Coalfields LimitedCentral Coalfields Limited
Central Coalfields Limited is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited , an undertaking of the Government of India. CCL manages the nationalized coal mines of the Coal Mines Authority, Central division...
(CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited is an Indian state-controlled coal company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the world's largest coal miner with revenue exceeding 60,245 Crore . It was formerly owned entirely by the Union Government of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of...
. It is one of the biggest coal-fields in its region. It is widely known as the Rajrappa Project, which consist of the main quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
(a huge open cast mine), offices, colonies, recreation facilities, shopping complexes, a police out-post and public utility buildings. It is a complete township in itself.