Jharkhand ("Land of Forests") is a state in eastern India. A movement for a separate state of Jharkhand began in the 1950s, but because there was no single dominant language in the region, India's government initially turned down the movement's demands. Eventually, a new state called Vanachal, made up of the Chhota Nagpur Division and Santhal Pargana Division of south Bihar, came into being in November 2000. The name of the state was later changed from Vanachal to Jharkhand.

Geography

Jharkhand is mostly hilly, with the Chhota Nagpur Plateau running across a major part of its area. In the far northeast, beyond the low Rajmahal hills, the River Ganges flows along part of the state's borders with Bihar and West Bengal. The Chhota Nagpur Plateau, containing rich reserves of   minerals, is cut through by several valleys, including those of the Damodar, Subarnarekha, Brahmani and Kharkai rivers.
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Jharkhand's river valleys have fertile soils, supporting agriculture, while the rivers themselves provide both irrigation waters and hydro-electric power. The uplands, thickly forested, are made up of a number of ranges, including the Parasnath Hills, a revered Jain pilgrimage site. Jharkhand is primarily rural, with less than a quarter of its population living in cities.

Climate

Jharkhand has a tropical monsoon climate in the north and a tropical wet and dry climate in the southeast. Summer lasts from March to mid-June, with temperatures climbing to 37°C (99°F) in May, the hottest month. The southwest monsoon blows from mid-June to October, bringing nearly all the state's annual rainfall. This ranges from about 100 centimetres (40 inches) in west-central parts to more than 150 centimetres (60 inches) in the southwest. Winter runs from November to February, where temperatures in central regions usually range between 10 and 24°C (50 to 75°F).

With its abundant reserves of iron ore, coal, copper ore, mica, bauxite, graphite, limestone and uranium, Jharkhand is the second highest producer of minerals in the country after Chhattisgarh. Coal and iron ore support concentrations of manufacturing industry in Jamshedpur (where Tata Steel is based), Dhanbad, Bokaro Steel City and Ranchi. Jharkhand is also known for its extensive forest resources.

Almost 80% of Jharkhand's inhabitants are farmers. They produce crops such as rice, wheat, maize, pulses, potatoes and oilseeds, along with vegetables such as tomato, carrots, cabbage, brinjal, pumpkin and papaya.

The region of present-day Jharkhand was ruled by many of India's great empires and dynasties, including the Nandas, Mauryas and Guptas in ancient and medieval times. In the 17th century Jharkhand came under the rule of the ​​​​​​​Mughals. Following Mughal decline, local rulers from the Chero, Nagvanshi, Ramgarh and Kharagdiha dynasties took over, before the British East India Company gained power in the late 18th century.

Under the British Raj, the region was part of the Bengal Presidency until 1905. Most of it was then transferred to the Central Provinces. The princely states known as the Orissa Tributary States later became grouped in the Eastern States Agency. After Indian independence in 1947, the region was split among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa (later Odisha) and Bihar.
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Facts about Jharkhand

Area 79,716 sq km (30,779 sq miles) Rank: 15th

Highest point Parasnath 1382 m (4534 ft)

Population 40,626,000 Rank: 12th

Capital Ranchi pop. 1,126,741

Largest cities Jamshedpur (pop. 1,339,438), Dhanbad (1,196,214), Bokaro (564,319), Deoghar (203,123)

Main languages Khortha (23%), Hindi (21%), Bengali (10%), Santali (9%), Nagpuri (7%), Urdu (6%)

Main religions Hinduism (68%), Islam (14.5%), Sarnaism (13%), Christianity (4%)

State bird Koel

State flower Palash

State mammal Asian elephant

State tree Sal