Giridih

Giridh district was a part of Kharagdiha estate till the late 18th century. During the British Raj Giridih became a part of Jungle Terry. After Kol Uprising in 1831, the parganas of Ramgarh, Kharagdiha, Kendi and Kunda became parts of the South-West Frontier Agency and were formed into a division named Hazaribag as the administrative headquarters. The Kharagdiha Rajas were settled as Rajas of Raj Dhanwar in 1809, and the Kharagdiha gadis were separately settled as zamindari estates. Some of the notable Kharagdiha Zamindari Estates were Koderma, Gadi Palganj, Ledo Gadi, Gande Gadi, Ghoranji Gadi and Gadi Sirsia.[2] The town of Giridih was under the rule of the Khargdiha Zamindari Estate of Salimpur and the temporary settled estate of Karharbari.

Giridih district was created on 6 December 1972 by carving some parts of Hazaribagh district. In 1999 part of it became Bokaro district.[3]

It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.[4]

Land of Giridih is rich in coal, and once Giridih was boomed by mica industry which exported mainly to Japan. There are many small and big mines of coal found in Giridih.

Giridih is located at 24.18°N 86.3°E / 24.18; 86.3.[5] It has an average elevation of 289 metres (948 ft). Śrī Sammed Shikharji also known as the Parasnath Hills, located in Giridih is the highest mountain peak in Jharkhand. It is a conical granite peak located 4,477 feet (1,365 metres) above the sea level.[6][7]

Giridih District is geographically divided into two natural divisions, which are the central plateau and lower plateau. The central plateau touches the western portion of the district near Bagodar block. The lower plateaus have an undulating surface and an average height of 1300 feet.[7] In the north and north-west, the lower plateaus form fairly level tablelands until they reach the ghats when they drop to about 700 feet. The district has uniformly distributed and vast forests. Sal tree is the most famous and predominant trees here. Among other common trees are bamboo, semal, Mahua, palash, kusum, kend, Asian pear and bhelwa.[7]

Giridih district is divided into two main water heads – Barakar and Usri rivers. Giridih is rich in mineral resources and has several large coal fields with one of the best qualities of metallurgical coal in India. Mica is found in abundance near the blocks Tisri and Gawan. Mica is of importance not only to Jharkhand but to India and other countries as well.[7]

The climate of Giridih is generally dry. It is pleasant during winter season between October and March. Summer season starting April, is generally hot, with May being hottest when temperature rises up to 47C. Often high temperature is accompanied by high humidity levels, specially during June when premonsoon rain falls. It rains maximum during July and August, and rainy season continues up to mid October.

Nageshwar Prasad Sinha was the first MP from Giridih, when the town declared as separate district from Hazaribagh. Ravindra Kumar Pandey from the Bharatiya Janata Party won the 2014 Indian general election from Giridih (Lok Sabha constituency) and Chandra Prakash Choudhary is the present Member of Parliament. Giridih city forms the Giridih (Vidhan Sabha constituency).[8]Sudivya Kumar from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is the current MLA from Giridih legislative seat.

Giridih is connected by Road and Rail link.

This town used to bustle with economic activity in the period from the 1960s to 1980s when the mineral mica processing and export community reaped tremendous gains through exports to the USSR. However, since the decline of the USSR and its split into twelve CIS countries, the industry has slowly declined and is currently ailing.

On the southern side of Giridih, in Beniadih, are the coal mines of Central Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (a Maharatna and the world's largest coal miner). It is the largest industry in the Giridih district and major contributor to the economy of the town. Central Coalfields Limited itself is a Miniratna.

The Data Processing Center of Data Processing Division (DPD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) provides complete IT solution from sample selection, software development to processing and tabulation of data canvassed through various socio-economic surveys of National Sample Survey Organisation.

Mica business also contribute a lot in the trade data, mainly mica are exported to China, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, US the total value of mica exports are US$ 100 million, the main mica exporters are Jalan Mica Exports, Ratan Mica Exports, Jai Mica, Mount Hill Etc.

In 2006 the Indian government named Giridh one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[15] It is one of the 21 districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Presently, there are more than a dozen Sponge Iron and Rolling Mill Factories in Giridih. The name of few are Mongia Steel, SriBir, Siscon, Baba, Salasar, SriRam, Lal Steel, Saluja Gold, Gouri Shanker etc.

There is an Industrial Area adjacent to the city, which is full of small , medium and large Factories, these units provide employment to the locals and also to people from different parts of the country. These are namely Mongia Steel, Saluja Steel & Power, and Shivam Group of Companies.

However, pollution remains a critical issue in the surroundings of the Industrial Area which needs to be addressed by Municipal Corporation of Giridih, Chamber of Industries & Commerce and other authorities.

[15]

Kheer Kadam, Kalakand, Rajbhog (rasgullah), Tilkut, Ghewar and Piau are popular sweet here.Chhath, Durga Puja, Deepawali, Holi, Guru Purnima, Ram Navami,

Eid ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Moharram, Vishwakarma Puja, Saraswati Puja, Raksha bandhan, Karma Mahavir Jayanti, Shyam Mahotsav, Sarhool, and Christmas are among the long list of festivals celebrated in Giridih. After Chhath puja, a local village fair held is at Pachamba known as Gaushala (cow shed) fair.

Giridih has many prestigious colleges and schools.

The major colleges in this town include –

• Subhash Teachers training B.ed college, koldiha affiliated to [Vinoba Bhave University]
• Subhash Teachers training D.el.ed college, koldiha affiliated to [jharkhand academic council]
• Subhash Institute of technology, koridih affiliated to [state board of technical education]
• Giridih College affiliated to the Vinoba Bhave University
• Sri Ram Krishna Mahila College affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University.
• Langta Baba College affiliated to the Vinoba Bhave University
• Vananchal College affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University.
• GD Bagaria institute of management affiliated to the Vinoba Bhave University

Khandoli Institute of Technology affiliated to AICTE

Schools include –

• Candy Floss S Goenka School, Giridih
• Carmel School, Giridih
• BNS DAV Public School, Giridih
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Gandey, Giridih
• DAV Public School, CCL, Beniadih, Giridih
• Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, Barganda, Giridih
• St. Joseph School, Giridih
• Subhash Public School, Koldiha, Giridih
• Kiran Public School, Giridih
• Birla School, Giridih
• Honey Holy Trinity School, Giridih
• Shri Guru Nanak Vidhyalaya, Giridih
• Holy Cross, Giridih
• Sigman Mission School, Giridih
• Rani Laxmi Bai Middle school, Giridih
• Sir JC Bose Girls High school, Giridih
• Delhi Public School, Giridih

Hindi newspapers Hindustan Dainik, Dainik Bhaskar, Prabhat Khabar and Dainik Jagran are the popular newspapers as the local language is Hindi. The main English newspapers covering Giridih are The Telegraph, The Times of India and The Hindustan Times. City News (News line) channel for the cable network provides the local news from Giridih. Doordarshan Jharkhand is the official channel covering Giridih.

Giridih has several religious and scenic tourist spots, including the following:

Jal Mandir, Shikharji

• Sri Sammeta Shikharji (Hindi: श्री सम्मेत शिखरजी), also known as the Parasnath Hills, with the highest mountain peak in Jharkhand, 4480 feet above sea level, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world. According to Jain belief, twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras (teachers of the Jains), (including Parshanath) attained Moksha (Nirvana) from this place.[16][17]
• Rajdah Dham, sabalpur, उत्तरवाहिनी गंगा (प्रकृति की अनुपम भेंट ) also known as Rajdaha, is a temple of Lord Shiva. It is situated approximately 60 km Giridih and 5 km from Suriya. (Near nimatand sabalpur). It is situated on the bank or Barakar River.
• Langta Baba Samadhi Sthal This is located in Kharagdiha, about 30 km North West of the town on road towards Jamua. Langta Baba is revered both by the Hindus and the Muslims alike. People offer chadar to his samadhi as a ritual, and it is believed the wish made here by a true devotee always get fulfilled.[16]
• Usri Falls 13 km from town, on the Tundi road, it is one of the most famous picnic spots in Giridih. The Usri river falls a 40 feet steep gorge in three separate streams. The place is surrounded by dense forest of Parasnath Hills.[16][17]
• Khandoli Dam located 10 km North-East of Giridih headquarters towards Bengabad block, is a scenic water reservoir and a dam. The place has been developed as a tourism attraction. It is a famous spot for water related adventure sports and bird-watching. A watch tower and 600 feet high hillock offers a panoramic view of Khandoli site. A number of other amusement facilities are available there including boating, Rock-climbing, Parasailing and Kayaking.[16][17]
• Sri Kabir Gyan Mandir in Sihodih, some 2 km from Giridih headquarters, Founded in 1985, a motivational institution in headed by Sadguru Maa Gyan which spreads the message of Sant Kabir and Sanatan Dharma. It has a sacred temple Guru Govind Dham having beautiful idol of Sant Kabir and Lord Vishnu. It also has Kabir Gyan Darshan with worth to watch murals and paintings based on life of Sant Kabir, Vedas, Morality and paintings of famous Saints of India.[18]
• Surya Mandir is located in Mirzaganj, 33 km from Giridih Town. It is built in the middle of a lake in the shape of a Lotus flower. Pilgrims can visit here while returning from Langta Baba Samadhi. The temple has been declared Monument of National importance and is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.

• Anurag Anand - Born in Giridih | Director & Producer who has produced various documentaries and tele-shows for international giants like BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic & Discovery. He also owns a production house known as Inkingenious Media which is headquartered in London.
• Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose spent his last days in Giridih and the Sir J.C. Bose Girl's High School is named in his honour. He died in Giridih. His then residence is now known as "Vigyan Kendra" run by "Bihar Council of Science and Technology".
• Jnan Chandra Ghosh was born in Purulia and studied at the Giridih High School, from where he passed the Entrance Examination of Calcutta University in 1909. He was a famous scientist and played an important role in shaping science and engineering education in India. He was the first Director of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University.
• The literary figure and the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore also spent some time in Giridih. He wrote his Shivaji Utsav in 1904 while residing in Giridih. The house in which he resided, Dawasika Bhawan, still exists in Giridih.
• The film maker Satyajit Ray who is one of the Oscar recipients from India, spent his childhood in Giridih. He sketched his fictional character (appearing in a series of science fiction books), scientist Professor Shonku as residing in Giridih beside the Usri river.
• Krishna Ballabh Sahay was the elected member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Giridih Constituency for several terms, including the one in which he served as the chief minister of Undivided Bihar during 1963 – 67.
• Babulal Marandi was born in a remote Kodia Bank village under Tisri block of Giridih district.[19] He was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the founder of the political party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).[20]
• Kumar Gaurav was born in Giridih, Studied in Saraswati Shishu mandir and 1st Batch of B. N. Saha D. A. V. Public School is well known person for the people of Giridih and Resident of Krishna Nagar.

• Giridih district
• Kharagdiha
• India

• Official website of the Giridih district
• Giridih travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Vigyan Kendro