The name Hazaribagh means a thousand gardens. It is believed that the name must have originated from the mango groves which used to serve as camps for troops and travellers travelling from Kolkata to Varanasi. However, the route was replaced by the Grand Trunk Road in the mid-eighties. Nevertheless, tourists can still see the old watch tower that guarded the old military road.
Hazaribagh is situated along the River Konar. The place was believed to be covered in thick forests and was inaccessible as it was home to a number of independent tribes. Formerly known as Chotanagpur, Jharkhand was then aloof of all external influence. The Mughal Emperor Akbar on ascending the throne forayed into Jharkhand and established his rule there. In the 19th century, a small coterie of Bengali settlers set base in Jharkhand and played an instrumental role in the development of the region.
Some of the important places of tourist interest in Hazaribagh include the Lake of Hazaribagh which is a popular picnic spot in the town, the Chawda Dam, another popular picnic spot; the Konar Dam; the Panchmandir; the Buddhwa Mahadev Temple; the Rajrappa Mandir; the Barso Pani Caves. Of these the Hazaribagh National Park is by far the most popular. The National Park is blessed with scenic beauty and rich flora and fauna. It is home to a number of bears, chital, sambhar and sloth bears. Hazaribagh is also situated near the Surajkund Hot Water springs which are believed to have medicinal properties and have the capability to cure many skin diseases.
The nearest airport to Hazaribagh is the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi. The airport is situated at a distance of 91 km from the town. When travelling by rail, the nearest railway station is the Koderma Railway Station. The town is well connected to cities such as Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Gaya by the National Highway 33.
