Ranchi Hill and Pahari Mandir, Ranchi, Jharkhand India

The temple of Lord Shankara (Shiva) is situated in the heart of the city on a hill called Pahari Mandir. It is a bare black land outcropping in the midst of a flat land. The age old Pahari Mandir is located 8 kms from the railway station and 12 kms from the airport. The 2140 feet Ranchi hill houses the temple at its summit. One needs to climb a flight of 468 steps to reach the summit.

This place is fast developing into a religious tourist site as this is the best place to have a bird’s eye view of the city of Ranchi and also attain some salvation by paying ones obsequies to the Lord. A huge crowd of Shiva devotees gather here between the months of February and October, during Shivaratri and other important days earmarked to pray to the Lord. The Lord also known as Pahari Baba is worshipped in the form of a linga. The hillock also known as Richi Buru is famous for its breathtaking views of the city and some spectacular sunsets and sunrises.

The temple also has the relation to some freedom fighters of Ranchi. The real name of this beautiful embedded old shiv mandir which is about 300 ft. high is 'Richi Buru'. The temple built on top of Ranchi or Fansi hill can be reached by climbing a flight of steps, numbering a few hundreds. From there the devotees can have spectacular views of the city and the Ranchi Lake which is flowing through the bottom of the hill.

It is a very charming and imposing temple of Lord Shankara which is another name of Lord Shiva. Ranch hill was earlier being known as Phansi Tongri and it was the place where freedom fighters were hanged to death. To remember the importance of this important hill in the freedom movement, tricolor flag is unfurled on the Independence Days and Republic days.