About Bokaro

Bokaro City or Bokaro Steel City, as is commonly referred, is a major industrial centre in the Indian state of Jharkhand located in the eastern region of the country. Bokaro Steel City is the headquarters of Bokaro district which came into being in 1991 by carving out two blocks from Dhanbad district and six blocks from Giridih district. Being the fourth largest city of the state, Bokaro is the most important industrialized zone in India with several large, medium and small industries.

As of 2011 India census, while Bokaro Steel City had a population of 563,417 the district Bokaro with population of about 2 million ranked amongst the lading district in term of population growth. The name has originated from a river in the west side of the district. The region is rich in natural resources like coal, manganese and other raw materials.

Bokaro is famous for its steel plant and well-planned and systematic township. Urban intrastructure of the city is at par with many modern cities of the nation. Bokaro city is one of the three headquarters of the Police IG zone along with Ranchi and Dumka, covering seven districts i.e. Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Chatra, Bokaro and Ramgarh. The district is, at present, a part of the Red Corridor. The Chief Executive of the district is the Deputy Commissioner. Bokaro is a popular tourist destination for people belonging to the Eastern region and abroad. Many ancient temples and places are a part of this city. Bokaro, with a cosmopolitan culture and strong multi-dimensional economic base, has risen to become a regional urban center for lakhs of people drawn from various parts across the country.

Bokaro is situated in the eastern region of India at 23.29°N 86.09°E. It is located on the southern bank of Damodar river with one of its tributaries meandering along the southern and eastern bounds of the city. The district has a maze of valleys and sub-valleys formed by the river and its tributaries. The river is an important source of water for the industries and new townships which are located along the banks of the river. On the North, the city is enfolded by the high ranges of Parasnath hills and Satanpura hillocks, creating a panoramic landscape to view. Bokaro experiences tropic monsoon and hence, enjoys a tropical climate. Winter, summer and monsoons are dry and cold with a maximum temperature of around 28°C and a minimum temperature of 4°C to 6°C. The summers have a hot and humid climate while heavy showers mark the arrival of monsoons.

The district has a population of about two million (according to 2011 Census) and the population density is 720 per sq.km. The population of Bokaro constitutes 6.25 percent of total population of Jharkhand. The males constitute 53 percent while the females constitute 47 percent of the population. The average literacy rate of Bokaro in 2011 was 73.48 percent with male and female literacy were 84.50 percent and 61.46 percent respectively.

Bokaro city has a culture that reflects the rich and indigenous traditions and beliefs of the people. The festivals are celebrated with immense enthusiasm in this district and the main festivals here are Sarhul, Sohrai, Badna, Tusu, Karma, Eid, Holi, Chhath Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas and others. Songs and different dance forms are an integral part of the celebrations.

The people in this district speak different languages from local to national namely the Santhali, Mundri, Khortha, Kurukh, Hindi, Urdu and Bengali languages. The popular musical instruments used in this region are Bansuri, Shehnai, Dhol, Dhaak, Nagara, Arbansi, Kartal, Jhanjh, Manjhira, Tasa and more. The popular folk music of this district includes Domkach, Dohari, Jhumar, Faguwa, Udasi, Akhariya, Pratkali, Pawas, Jhumta and others. The famous folk dance is Paika Chaw Jadur Karma Nachni Natua Matha Sohrai Lurisayro. The famous paintings include Oraon Bhitichitra, Santhali Bhitichitra and Jado Patiya. Bokaro Sangeet Kala Academy not only offers immense learning opportunities in fine arts, especially classical music, but also provides opportunity for students to show case their talent and training. There is also Kala Kendra which is a centre for Arts and Culture.

Though a small city but Bokaro has many interesting places and religious places to visit, that not attracts people from other parts of the country but also from abroad. The several places of interests including the Steel Plant, Garga Dam, Parasnath hills, Jawarharlal Nehru Biological Park, Tenu Ghat City Park, Jagannath Temple and more. Tourism in Bokaro assures a memorable experience full of enjoyment and serenity. Bokaro district is well connected to other major cities via roadways.

Bokaro is well-connected to major cities by road and rail. By rail Bokaro connects with cities like Kolkata, Durg, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Surat, Coimbatore, Amritsar, Lucknow, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Patna and others. Bokaro Steel City is situated 12 km from the city centre and is the main station of the city. It is under the administration of the South Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways. The station is a stop for all mail and express trains including Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express and Jan Shatabdi Express. The other stations within the city limit are Radhagaon, Tupkadih, Ispatnagar, Chas and Chandrapura. By road, the options are unlimited. From government buses, private and Volvo buses, private cars, taxi facilities, all modes of transport are available everywhere in the city. Bokaro Airport is exclusively used by private aircraft of SAIL and visiting dignitaries. However, a new airport is coming up, as proposed by Airports Authority of India (AAI). The new airport would have the capacity to allow commercial airlines such as Airbus A320 to land and take off.

Bokaro is a well-planned city which has embraced urbanization and has all the basic amenities. The varied population has given a greater scope for cultural values and traditions. In all, Bokaro is a city which blends traditions with urbanization.

State: Jharkhand
Metropolitan Area: 183 sq. km.
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English, Bengali, Santhali, Bhojpuri, Khortha
Altitude: 210 m
Winter Temperature: 4°C to 28°C
Summer Temperature: 42°C
Best Time To Visit: September to March
STD Code: 06542
Website: https://bokaro.nic.in/
Major Tourist Attraction: Bokaro Steel Plant, Garga Dam, Parasnath Hills, City Centre, Jagannath Temple, Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park, City Park, Kali Mandir, Aiyappa Mandir, Bokaro Ispat Pustakalaya.
Major Festivals: Sarhul, Badna, Tusu, Durga Puja, Eid, Chhath Puja, Diwali, Holi, Christmas.
Major Fairs: Basant Mela