# Bokaro Steel City

Bokaro Steel City is a city in Jharkhand and one of the most important industrial cities in the Eastern Region. Population of the urban area is more than 1,000,000 with area above than 200 km$^2$. The city is very well planned and systematic, with wide 4- to 6-lane roads across the city, a good sewage system, 24-hour electricity supply and the greenest environment in the region. Bokaro is famous for its steel plant, which is the biggest in Asia, as well as for its quality educational system. It is also a popular tourist destination for people from Eastern Region and also foreigners.

## Get in
### By train

Bokaro is well connected through rail to all parts of India. There few trains from southern states. The connecting trains are available.
* 23.65798486.0839811 Bokaro Steel City railway station. (updated Dec 2019)

### By car

Bokaro Steel City is at the junction of NH-32 and NH-23 which link it to the state capital Ranchi, Patna, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and other major towns. NH-2 (GT Road) is just 50 km away from the city. Other state highways connect the city to nearby regions. Bokaro is connected through direct 2 Volvo service providers to Kolkata. The city has 3 bus terminals from where more than 1,000 buses/mini buses arrive and depart in all directions.

### By plane

Bokaro has an air strip reserved for private use of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The nearest commercial airport is at Ranchi, a distance of 120 km. There is a civil airport at Dhanbad.
Best season: October to March.

## See

* 23.6655186.167551 Aaiyappa Mandir (in sector 5). It is an important social, cultural and religious meeting place for people from the south.
* Babudih. A village in Chas Block famous for 75 foot (23 m) high tower.
* Bokaro Ispat Pustakalaya (near Bokaro Hotel.). Has a collection of over 40,000 books (including some valuable manuscript) that meets the reading requirements of the people in the township. It is managed by the management of the steel plant.
* 23.6846886.101042 Bokaro Steel Plant. One of the largest steel mills in the country, with an output capacity of more than five million tonnes of salable steel. It's a fully integrated steel plant; hence, a visit here will give you a first hand experience of steel-making from raw material handling, coke ovens, blast furnace to steel melting shops and rolling mills where you see the finished product.
* 23.7853885.875813 Bokaro Thermal. This is the home of the oldest thermal power plant in Asia, started in 1952 in collaboration with USA and West Germany by the then Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
* Chandrapura. A town famous for Chandrapura Thermal Power Station, a unit of Damodar Valley Corporation. It was a big source of pollution for the adjoining areas owing to the coal based generators, but things changed after electrostatic precipitators were installed in the chimneys, and large scale afforestation was carried out. The town lies on the northern edge of the Damodar river. The Chandrapura Railway Station is a small but beautifully designed Railway Station.
* Chas. Once a small grain trading hub of the region, this town first became famous during the Second World War when the British Government used it as a base to supply soldiers fighting on the eastern front against the Japanese. After the decision of Government of India to establish the Bokaro Steel Plant it gained in stature. It was the administrative headquarters of the area when Bokaro was a part of Dhanbad district, and later when Bokaro became a district. The headquarters have been moved to the steel township. Chas continues to be a trading hub, but has declined in importance after the rise of the township to the west.
* 23.658386.176454 Chira Chas. This area is real estate hub for the City. Many New colonies came up at this place.
* City Centre, Sector 4. The city centre is the main shopping district of the city. The difference of this market and most other major markets in Indian cities happens to be the planning of the market. There is ample parking space, and the approach roads, as well as those inside the market are wide. The place houses almost all major Indian banks, has the best shops in the city for clothing, electronics, and the best food joints. You can find anything from a needle to a car in the market. It used to be home for the only cinema theaters in the city, but only two of them (Jeetendra and Pali Plaza) is operational now. The latest comers to the market are coaching institutes, small clinics, and hospitals. Their rate of growth shows the demand these services have in the city.
* 23.6547786.153555 City Park. Bokaro has a well maintained City Park with an artificial lake. Three artificial islands have been added. These islands were designed in Japanese style. The park used to have some small animals but they were all transferred to the Jawaharlal Botanical Garden in the early 90s. There is a small guest house that is used to host parties for visiting dignitaries. A small restaurant also stands at the eastern edge of the lake. There is a small toy train that is run for some time early every year. The park hosts an annual Basant Mela (Spring Fiesta) in early February. The southern part of the park is used by thousands during the annual Chhatth puja in October/November. A new small beautiful park was opened in 2007 to make city park more beautiful and make people more enjoy chat new year picnic.
* 23.6318886.069536 Garga Dam (near Bokaro Steel City (about 12 km from city centre).). It is a famous picnic spot for the denizens of Bokaro. Lustrous green surroundings and variety of aquatic habitat residing in and around Garga Dam lures the school excursions and biological expeditions to this place. This dam is constructed for the use of steel plant as well as for the water supply for its people.
* 23.6645686.074767 Gayatri Mandir (in Sector-9/A.). People use to visit the place during the morning and evening time for the daily prayer. Navmi puja at Gayatri mandir is also famous. Khichri is distributed as the prasad on the occasion of Navmi puja.
* Gawai Dam. A good picnic spot near Pindrajora on Purulia road. It is 15 km from the city. The picnic spot is likable because of the flow of a stream due to leaving of water from the dam.
* 23.6501386.169598 Ghaus Nagar (Ghousnagar Colony), Chas (Bokaro Steel City). This area is a suburb where people from different part of Bihar living and working in Bokaro Steel Plant. Some people who are retired from Bokaro Steel City are also settled permanently.
* Jainamore. One of the 42 villages in Jaridih block of Bokaro. It is on the NH-23 at a distance of around 7 km away from the Bokaro Steel City Railway Station. Close to Jainamore is the Garga Dam on the river Garga which passes through Bokaro. The dam is a popular tourist and picnic spot and known for its scenic surroundings.
* 23.6782186.153989 Jagannath Temple (Located in Sector 4). The newly built Jagannath temple is another attraction. The temple is a replica of the famous temple in Puri, Odisha.
* 23.6814886.1528110 Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park. The biggest zoological garden in Jharkhand was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It has animals and birds from different parts of the world, with the big cats being the biggest attractions. The zoo came into limelight after multiple breedings of white tigers, Royal Bengal tigers, and the Asiatic lion over a short span of time. The cubs were sent to different zoos in India and abroad, since the available resources were not good enough to cater to the needs of so many big cats. Boating is allowed in the artificial lake created within the park. There is also a kids corner near bear cage and adjacent to it is a small dam. Now the facility of toy train is also available inside.
* 23.6437286.1308911 Kali Mandir. Located in sector 8, it is one of the oldest temples of the city. As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to one of the incarnations of Shakti, Goddess Kali. Besides the religious activities it is also a major socializing place for the Bengalis of the city. The temple organizes an annual painting competition attended by hundreds of students from the schools of the city.
* 23.6674786.1567312 Mohan Kumar Mangalam Stadium. It is a very well maintained stadium by SAIL having a capacity of 30000. It is also the training centre and headquarters of SAIL football academy. It comes lively on 14th November when Children's Day function is celebrated on its grounds with colourful dance and cultural programmes from the various schools of Bokaro.
* 23.6552386.1670513 Noori Masjid (situated in sector 4). It is the biggest mosque in the city where the Muslims come for tubliq.
* Pupunki Ashram. The last Kasba in the Bokaro Dhanbad route is Pupunki. The village, along with its fields and captive fishery ponds is squeezed between NH-32, Bokaro-Chandrapura Railway line and the Damodar river. Opposite to this village across the NH-32 is the pious Pupunki Ashram "The Multiversity". Established by Akhanda Mandaleshwer Sri Sri Swami Swarupananda Paramhansha Deva, popularly Known as Babamani. This Ashram was an age old home for Gurus who used to harbour Gaushalas with 100s of students being imparted scientific and spiritual knowledge in the past. One can still see the remnants of the past with many rituals still intact in this Ashram. This place is also a popular picnic spot these days.
* 23.6513986.1386514 Ram Mandir (in sector 1). It is the most famous mandir dedicated to Lord Ram and other smaller mandirs. Other gods and goddesses include Hanuman Mandir, Radha Krishna Mandir, Shiv Parivar Mandir, Durga Mandir, Surya Mandir, Kali Mandir, Lord Venkateshwar Mandir, Shiv Mandir, and Sheetala Mandir. Ram Mandir was established in 1967-68 by the late Founder Secretary Pt. Parma Nand Tripathi, a great labor leader. The mandir houses a rich Dharmik library and Rishi Niwas. All festivals, pravachan, Kirtan, functions, and celebrations are organized by the Shree Ram Mandir Trust. Also, the poor arrange more than 250 marriages in a year in the Ram Mandir campus at a very low cost. The Ram Mandir market is also famous for its coffee house, batata poori, chat, samosa, phuchka, and famous egg-rolls. Ram Mandir houses one of the oldest markets of Bokaro. The airport is one kilometer from Ram Mandir.
* 23.6397786.1068715 Siwandih. A suburb which houses a large number of migrants from Bihar living and working in the Steel mill. The area is situated in western part of Bokaro near the Bokaro Railway Station. The Garga Dam is nearby to this place. Azad Nagar is area in Siwandih two mosques are there in this area. Two of big Idgah one in millat nager is also in this area for Muslims prayer for ID and IDU'L Zuha. Popular neighborhoods in Siwandih are Bansgora, Islampur, Makhdumpur,Millat nager and Haisabatu.
* Tenughat. Tenughat is famous for Tenughat Dam and Tenughat Thermal Power Station. A canal too runs through the region.

## Do

The best time to visit Bokaro is from October till March. One can enjoy the festivities through Durga Puja, Diwali, Christmas and the new year which the city celebrates with great fervour. Bokaro can boast of several beautiful lakes and picnic spots in its vicinity and citizens of Bokaro are known for their fascination for picnics, which are organized by Bokaro Steel plant Departments, housing societies and individuals in the months of December till January. The Garga Dam, in particular (Near Bokaro Railway station/Balidih) is one of the favourite picnic spots for city's denizens.
Nature lovers can find solace in the city's wide sprawling roads, lined with luscious green trees, and the city park. Those who love shopping can visit the vast shopping arcades of City Centre, Sector 4. Organizations such as Quality circle (BSL) regularly host plays at community centres, located in each of the sectors. If you want to get a taste of small town India, which is rapidly evolving along the by lanes of development and prosperity, come to Bokaro. You would not be disappointed.

## Buy

* City Centre, Sector 4 - The city centre is the main shopping district of the city. Other sectors have centre markets.
* Chas- The wholesale market of district.
* Cooperative colony- From electronics to medical store, from beauty parlour to restaurant every thing is here.
* Dhundibag- The wholesale market for vegetables, crockery and local and traditional utensils.
* Laxmi Market - 1 km from city centre is famous for fruits and non veg items.
* Ram Mandir- This market is in sector 1, 3 km from city centre.
* ROQ Star clothing, 1st flr. Avtar Hotel, near Garga Bridge, beside Dena Bank. Chas (On right hand after crossing the Garga Bridge while coming from Bokaro). Readymade garments: Jeans, t-shirts, trousers for men; Kurti jeggings & leggings for ladies.
* Sector-6 - Centre market of sector 6 4 km from city centre.
* Sector-9 - Centre market of sector 9 is also a busy market located northward of city.
* Sector-12 - Centre market of sector 12 6 km from the city centre.

## Eat

* BabarchiKhana, City Centre
* Khata Mitha, City Centre - Oldest and most trusted place in Bokaro to experience authentic Bengali sweets, north Indian chat & sweets and south Indian culinary delights.
* Kozi Corner, City Centre – A very popular eating joint at City Centre which specializes in Chaat and sweet meat items.
* Manpasand, City Centre
* Mirch Masala, City Centre
* Murg Mushlam, City Centre
* Rainbow, City Centre
* Sher –e-Punjab, City Centre – A bit claustrophobic restaurant, located at City centre, but specializes in great Punjabi food, and is managed professionally.
* Vasant Vihar, City Park - Beautiful restaurant, set by the City park lake. One of the most scenic eating joints, one can found in India. It is a favourite with tourists who visit City Park for boating and sightseeing.
* Ziraaf Chaw, City Centre

## Drink

Authorized Permit rooms at:
* Hans Regency.
* Hotel Classic.
* Hotel Blue Diamond.
* Hotel Reliance.
* Hotel Yamuna Villa, chas.
* Rainbow.
* Saki Restaurant, Chas.
* Vasant Vihar.

## Sleep

* Hotel Bue Diamond, Naya More, ☏ +91 6542 240199, +91 6542 240299.
* Hotel Classic, Sector 4, ☏ +91 6542 233138, +91 6542 233163. ₹1100-1700.
* Hotel Hans Regency, Sector 1, ☏ +91 6542 240909. ₹1825-2425.
* Hotel Limca, Sector 1, ☏ +91 6542 240896. ₹1225-1600.
* Hotel Reliance, Bus Stand, ☏ +91 6542 224848. ₹600-1600.
* Hotel Vaibbhav, Chas, ☏ +91 6542 235021. Dormitory ₹45, rooms ₹485-1250.
* Hotel Yamuna Villa, Chas, ☏ +91 6542-235664.

## Go next

* Dhanbad- Coal city of India.
* Parasnath Hills - Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in Giridih district of Jharkhand. The highest peak is 1350 metres. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centre for Jains. They call it Sammet Sikhar. The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill. According to some, nine Tirthakaras attained salvation on this hill. For each of them there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill. Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. However, although the place has been inhabited from ancient times, the temples may be of more recent origin. The Santhals call it Marang Buru, the hill of the deity. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Baisakh (mid April).
* Pindrajora - It is a small village around 20 km from Bokaro. It hosts the only Primary Teachers Training College of Dhanbad & Bokaro. It also has a State Government Basic School and a Sarvodaya high School.
* Rajrappa- Famous for its temples, particularly temple of deity. It comprises small hills with many temples situated on those hills. It is a popular place for religious worship for Hindus. The damodar river in the vicinity can be enjoyed on boats, providing a breath-taking view of the sharp landforms created by river action.
* Tenughat- 40 km away from Steel city is famous for Power plant and Dam on river Damodar. A beautiful place for tourists. Sightseeing of the Dam is just awesome.
* Topchanchi- 40 km away famous for its gorgeous lake. Migratory birds and pleasant environment makes it a lovable place.