Explore the serene Pona Parwat Dham in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, known for its Lord Jagannath Temple, spiritual significance, breathtaking natural beauty, and cultural heritage. Discover trekking routes, religious festivals, and local traditions at this sacred hilltop destination.
Brief introduction of Pona Parvat Dham
Pona Parvat Dham is situated in Badkipona under Chitarpur block of Ramgarh district of Jharkhand state. Pona Parvat Dham was established in 1957 and operated by Shri Ramsharan Giri. This place is about 15 km from Ramgarh district headquarters.
Which is located in Barfi Pona Panchayat in the rural area. The atmosphere here is very calm and peaceful. The view from the top of the hill in the evening is very soothing. Huge crowds from nearby places come here to celebrate Rath Yatra.
During Rath Yatra, this place looks like a fair, mainly famous for buying mangoes and darshan of Lord Jagannath. Apart from this, some rituals are performed here for newly married couples which are called “Maursiri”.
Geographical location
Barfi Pona Panchayat, Ramgarh Cantonment, Jharkhand, Pin No. – 829122. You may have to cover a distance of about 1 km from Ramgarh Railway Station. From the height of this hill, the entire Ramgarh can be seen from one place. The nearest village is Badkipona, which is located at some distance from the temple.
Mythological and religious significance
In religious belief, it was said by Pandit Baba Ji here that all the marriages that take place in Ramgarh district, after the completion of every marriage, the groom’s peacock (crown) is tied on a bamboo tree on top of the hill in Pona Parvat Dham.
It is said that by tying it on a bamboo tree, the husband and wife stay together for life. There is never a divorce.
Spiritual significance
In the year 1957, the families of the Giri clan used to meditate and do yoga in this temple cave. To please their gods and goddesses spiritually, Shri Ramsharan Giri and Goswami Bhuvaneshwar Giri, the ashramacharya used to do yoga for the welfare of the self-aware human society.
They believed that there can be no shortage of any kind due to the peaceful atmosphere in the cave. Meditation and yoga can be done with the mind in a peaceful environment.
Religious places and major attractions
The main attraction here in Pona Parvat Dham is the cave temple and the temple of Lord Jagannath Ji on the top of the hill. The members of the Giri family take care of it. The villagers here have collected donations from each other to build this temple.
The statue of Lord Hanuman is located at the main entrance near the cave. Inside the cave, the statues of Shiva, Parvati, Mata Durga and other deities have been installed. A water pond is located inside the cave, which has water throughout the year.
The beauty of this place also remains a center of attraction. Jagannath fair is organized here every year. In which the program of Rath Yatra is organized. At that time, the maximum crowd of devotees is seen here.
Apart from this, Kanwar Yatra is organized on Shivratri and in the month of Shravan. Tourists keep coming every month to visit this temple. Most of the students of schools and colleges come here to visit.
Natural Beauty
The climate changing with altitude leads to a variety of vegetation and trees. The lower parts have dense forests of deodar, pine and bamboo, while the higher elevations have snow-capped surfaces. The greenery on the mountains becomes more vibrant during the monsoon.
The water flow of the waterfalls and the green velvety grass give a magical experience. The rock formations, which are formed by natural processes over the years, leave the onlookers awestruck. The first rays of the sun at sunrise paint the entire landscape in golden color.
At sunset, the sky’s mix of orange, pink and purple colors creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The natural beauty at Pona Parvat Dham not only soothes our eyes but also provides peace to our mind.
The greenery of the mountains, rock formations and the views of sunrise and sunset fill a new energy and inspiration in our lives.
Tourism and Travel
Ramgarh Cantt Railway Station is the nearest station to reach Pona Parvat Dham, which is connected to major cities. From here one can travel to Badkipona village by auto or private vehicle. Birsa Munda Airport of Ranchi is the nearest airport, which is located at a distance of about 70-80 km from Pona Parvat.
Badkipona village located in Chitarpur block can be reached via bus or taxi. This place is about 25 km from Ramgarh district headquarters and is connected by paved roads.
Auto-rickshaws and motorcycle taxis are available around the village, which take passengers to the entrance of Pona Parvat. The weather here is cool and pleasant in winter, which is the ideal time for trekking and enjoying natural beauty.
Wildlife and Biodiversity
No dangerous animal of any kind is seen around the cave and hill of Pona Parvat Dham. Small village pets and wild animals can be seen. Birds can be seen flying around the temple. Which are local birds. If we talk about flora, then many types of rare herbs are found here. Which is used in making medicines.
Historical journey of Pona mountain
Before climbing the hill, there is a cave. Where the statues of many gods and goddesses have been installed. The founder of this cave is Goswami Bhuvaneshwar Giri, Ashramacharya Atmadarshi Manav Samaj Pona Parvatdham was established in 1957 by Shri Ramsharan Giri.
The water in this cave pond never dries up. Be it any season or summer season, the water of the pond does not dry up here. The statue of Shri Hanuman ji is installed at the entrance of this cave.
Apart from this, the statues of Mata Durga, Shiv Parvati, Ganesha Bhagwan, and other gods and goddesses are present here. Worship has been done in the cave since 1957. Since not many people know about the bar here, mostly local people come to eat.
Who are the people of the local city or village. Poona Parvat Dham temple is situated on the highest peak of the hill. Lord Jagannath is worshipped here. This temple on the hill is also known as Poona Parvat Dham. You can climb the hill by stairs from the side of the cave.
The road to reach here is a bit bad. You may feel tired by the time you reach the top of the hill. But as soon as you reach the top, all the tiredness vanishes as soon as you see the views. Forgetting all the sorrows, the mind becomes happy in the beautiful environment here.
Contribution of local community
Santhal, Munda, Oraon, and other tribal groups are prominent in Ramgarh district, whose rich cultural heritage further enhances the religious and cultural significance of Pona Parvat Dham.
Local people of Badkipona village of Chitarpur block play an active role in their traditional festivals, such as Sarhul, Karam, and other worships. The local community plays an important role in the maintenance of Pona Parvat Dham located in Badkipona.
They regularly run cleaning drives to maintain the cleanliness of the mountain. Community members are active in protecting trees and plants and planting new vegetation, which preserves the greenery and biodiversity of the area.
Local villagers and environment lovers of Pona village are striving to declare Pona Parvat as a protected area. The responsibility of regular cleaning and worship of the temple located at Pona Parvat Dham is taken up by the local residents.
Economic impact of Pona Parvat Dham
Working to preserve Pona Parvat and the surrounding environment. Although education and health services are limited in some parts of the district, local people are trying to improve these facilities with the help of the government and organizations.
The villagers here mainly make their livelihood from agriculture and animal husbandry. Also, collection of herbs and wood is also done in the mountain areas.
Mountaineering and adventure activities
Popular routes for trekking can be found by climbing stairs and other paths of the hill. Many tourists come here for thrilling experiences and adventure activities. Coming to the sides of the hill is strictly prohibited here.
Keeping safety in mind, the villagers have built stairs here. Safety instructions are not seen anywhere. Take measures for your own safety. Camping is prohibited here on the hill. People above 50 years of age and below 15 years of age are prohibited from climbing the hill here. Its height is more than 800 feet.
Photography and memory making
An excellent location is available for photography in Pona Parvat Dham. No fee of any kind is charged here. Photography is free. There are many beautiful places located near the height of the hill and the cave for photography. It can be considered a center of attraction mainly for vloggers and social media lovers.
Best time and events
If you also want to visit Pona Parvat Dham temple, then come here on any special festival. At that time there is a crowd of devotees here. You will not feel tired while climbing the hill. Apart from this, avoid coming here in summer and rainy season.
There can be some trouble here during summer and rainy season. Do bring food items with you. There is no facility of any kind of food and drink here. Some shops come during festivals. But on other days the shops are not there.
Guidance for foreign tourists
If you come from any other state or country just to see this temple, then in my opinion you should not come here. Because there is no facility of any kind available near the temple. Most of the local people and local tourists come here to visit.
Visit this place only if you have come to Ramgarh for some work. Climbing the hill here gets exhausting. However, you can reach near the cave by car or bike. The roads can be rough and uneven.
Development and future plans
The idol of Lord Jagannath is made of neem wood here. The idol is replaced every year. The cave temple below the temple and the Lord Jagannath temple on top of the hill were established in 1957 by Shri Ramsharan Giri.
People of Giri clan are coming to build the Jagannath temple on top of the hill. The Giri family and their descendants are still doing this religious work by taking care of the temple.
Talking about development, the villagers here say that they have built a staircase to climb the hill to Lord Jagannath temple from their own funds. The villagers have built this staircase by collecting funds.
In today’s time, this staircase is the only main way to reach the temple and the peak of the mountain. The local residents believe that the attention of the Jharkhand government should be drawn to the development work of this place. Because there is no main road to reach the temple and the cave. There should be many facilities here which are not there.
The villagers say that this place has been declared as a tourist place, but the development work has not started here yet. Roads are being built in the village at various places, but the development work of the temple is not being done.
The maximum number of devotees are seen here during the Jagannath fair. On other days, local tourists come here to visit. This place is about 15 kilometers from Ramgarh district headquarters. Which is located in Barfi Pona Panchayat in the rural area.
Here in 2018, there was talk of doing development work of this temple and Pona Parvat Dham at a cost of about 60 lakhs. In which money will be spent on stairs, temple, road, cave and other works.
FAQ’s
1. Where is Pona Parvat Dham located?
Pona Parvat Dham is located in Badkipona village of Chitarpur block of Ramgarh district of Jharkhand state. This place is about 15 km from Ramgarh district headquarters.
2. When and who established Pona Parvat Dham?
Pona Parvat Dham was established in 1957 by Shri Ramsharan Giri. Lord Jagannath and other deities are worshiped here.
3. What is the main attraction here?
The main attraction of Pona Parvat Dham is the temple of Lord Jagannath situated on the hill, the cave temple, and the peaceful natural beauty here. Statues of Shiva, Parvati, Durga and other deities are also installed inside the cave.
4. How to reach Pona Parvat Dham?
Railway station: The nearest railway station is Ramgarh Cantt. Airport: Birsa Munda Airport of Ranchi is about 70-80 km from here. By road: Badkipona village can be reached by bus or taxi.
5. What religious and cultural events take place here?
Every year Jagannath Mela is organized here, in which Rath Yatra is the main attraction. Apart from this, Kanwar Yatra is also organized on Shivaratri and Shravan month.
6. How is the natural beauty of Pona Parvat Dham?
This place is famous for natural greenery, unique structure of rocks, and amazing views of sunrise and sunset from the hill. The beauty of this place becomes even more enhanced during monsoon.