Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

Jagannath Temple in Ranchi, built in 1691 by the local Nagvanshi chieftain Ani Nath Shahdeo, is a 17th-century shrine dedicated to Lord Jagannath and modelled architecturally on the much larger Jagannath Temple in Puri — a resemblance that has earned it the local nickname 'Mini Puri'. The temple sits atop a small hillock roughly 10km from central Ranchi, reached either by a flight of stairs or a motorable approach road.

The temple's annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, is by far its biggest draw, pulling large crowds from across Ranchi and the wider region as the temple deities are paraded on a grand wooden chariot in a scaled-down echo of the famous Puri procession. Outside of festival season, the temple offers a quieter hilltop visit, its long history and hillside setting making it one of the more historically grounded stops within easy reach of the capital.

Constructed in 1691 under the patronage of Ani Nath Shahdeo, a local Nagvanshi chieftain, the temple has functioned as an active place of worship for over three centuries, its design deliberately echoing that of the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

About 10km from central Ranchi, well connected by road.