East India · Jharkhand
Dhanbad, Jharkhand
Sources: open-meteo, wikimedia
About Dhanbad
- Inland
Where it is
Dhanbad is a city in Jharkhand on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, close to the West Bengal border between the Damodar and Barakar rivers, at the heart of the Jharia coalfield.
History
Dhanbad grew with the coal industry from the late 19th century, as mines opened in the Jharia coalfield to feed India's railways and steelworks. The Indian School of Mines was founded here in 1926, the district was formed in 1956, and after the coal mines were nationalised in the 1970s the city became the headquarters of Bharat Coking Coal.
People
Hindi is the main language, and Urdu, Khortha, Bengali and Santali are also widely spoken. Mining families from Bihar, Bengal and beyond live alongside Santal and other Adivasi communities, and Chhath, Durga Puja and Sohrai mark the year.
Known for
- Coal mines of the Jharia coalfield
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- Maithon and Panchet dams nearby
- Topchanchi Lake
- Its nickname, the Coal Capital of India
Did you know?
Underground coal-seam fires have been smouldering beneath the Jharia coalfield, on Dhanbad's doorstep, since at least 1916.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.