Ranchi once was considered as a hill station and back in the golden days there were the rich and famous from Calcutta would travel to Ranchi to improve their health. No doubt Ranchi and its surrounding places have many tourist places but it really can’t be called a hill station any longer. My last statement however is not true when someone visits a place called Patratu Valley (Patratu Ghati) located just around 30 kilometers from Ranchi Railways Station (Ranchi Junction).
For an avid traveler like me even I had initially refused to believe the locals when they had told me about this place and compared it to a hill station. Last October (2023) I went for an extended weekend drive from Kolkata and drove my four-wheeler this time my first halt was Ranchi and from there planned to cover some nearby places. Somewhat reluctantly I decided to check out Patratu Valley entered the destination on the navigation app and started my drive towards Patratu.
Ranchi To Patratu Valley
The traffic around the main Ranchi town was chaotic as usual, please do not be alarmed if traffic signals are non-existent and traffic rules are more of an assumed thought and rarely followed. Adding to the misery was Durga Puja time numerous pandals were covering a significant portion of the main road and traffic was diverted to the other lane making it a painfully slow drive.
This however did not last long and once out of the main city area the traffic significantly reduced and very soon, I was cruising on almost empty roads. The road to Patratu Valley cuts across several horticultural farms thus do check out the roadside vendors selling flower saplings and other gardening materials.
Soon the surrounding view started changing and I could see the hill range in the distance, the weather also became significantly cooler. The roads instead of being straight started having multiple turns and this signaled the starting of Patratu Valley.
The scenery was just as I am used to when traveling from Siliguri towards Darjeeling, there were numerous hill ranges and trees with long trunks exactly what anyone would see at a hill station.
Patratu Valley is the point where one when travelling from Ranchi would drive down to lower altitudes towards Ramgarh. Ranchi is situated on a plateau (Chota Nagpur plateau) at an elevation of 651 meters above sea level.
What To See At Patratu Valley
Tourists usually make this first stop at the viewpoint. From here you can see the winding snake-like roads going down towards the plains of Ramgarh. In the distance you can see Patratu Lake and right next to it the chimneys of a cement factory.
The viewpoint can be easily spotted as you are sure to find several visitors posing for their mandatory selfie and numerous photographers approaching potential customers for a family photo. Along with this, you will surely spot several carts selling snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, candy floss, ice cream, etc. I found the prices out here a little exorbitant which is understandable considering this being a prime tourist spot. The souvenir vendors are at another level out here marking up the price of goods to almost a boutique type shop.
People usually spend around an hour out here just soaking in the beauty, I don’t think exploring the valley and forest is possible as I did not see any hiking tracks. This is also not a good idea considering the isolated nature of this place.
Tourist park their vehicles around the side of the road as there are no designated parking spaces. This is an expected norm but while parking do ensure to apply hand brakes and also keep the gears engaged as a backup (with engine off position obviously) to prevent the car from rolling.
The weather out here can be drastically low during the peak winter season often reaching a low of zero degrees Celsius thus dress accordingly. The best season would be autumn and right after winter when supper is approaching, during this time you will find a clear blue sky with a clear view of the hill ranges.
What To See At Patratu Lake
The second attraction out here which you would have already seen from the Patratu Valley viewpoint is the Patratu Lake. Tourists usually visit this place for some snack or lunch which are easily available across numerous restaurants that line up around the shores of the lake.
The lake also offers a chance to go for speed boat rides which take tourists for a quick spin around the lake. This place also offers other entertainment for children like merry-go-round (carousel) etc.
This place has paid car parking making it ideal for tourists who are visiting from the viewpoint.
The restaurants are located on either side of the main road and serve some delicious food. Do try the fish items which are sure to be fresh and tasty.
Swimming in this lake is not at all recommended, if you want to swim then do it at the swimming pool at Paryatan Vihar.
Paryatan Vihar At Patratu Lake
Jharkhand Tourism has in recent a few years back opened a large tourist complex out here at Patratu Lake. This place has excellent accommodation for tourists who want to spend a few days out here. This place has all the modern facilities of a star resort and has its lake-facing rooms, swimming pool, gardens etc.
Being near Ranchi this can also be an excellent choice in case you want to explore around Ranchi without actually stepping into the chaos of the main town.
Official Link – https://tourism.jharkhand.gov.in/hotelBookingDetails/2165
How To Visit Patratu Valley & Patratu Lake
The best and possibly the only option is either a two-wheeler or car which is self-driven or hiring a car for the trip. The roads out here have extremely sharp blind turns thus driving is both fun and not for the fainthearted. Don’t be surprised to encounter large goods vehicles (trailer trucks) chugging their way up or down the winding roads. Normally these goods vehicles move at a very slow pace thus when overtaking them do so by keeping a close watch on the road up ahead. Avoid any overtaking at sharp blind turns.
Visit the valley viewpoint during the day time and it’s not recommended to visit these places late evening as there are no street lights and driving the winding hill roads at night is not at all recommended.
There is ample opportunity for photography out here. It’s a paradise for selfie lovers and if you have a drone then you will truly get some majestic view, especially at sunrise or sunset.
The locals often refer to this place as Patratu Ghati instead of Patratu Valley.
Location Of Patratu Valley On Map
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