Ranchi is located on southern part of the Chota Nagpur plateau which forms the eastern edge of the Deccan plateau system. The area surrounding Ranchi has been endowed with natural attractions and it is referred to as the "City of Waterfalls". The most popular waterfalls are Dasham, Hundru, Jonha Falls, Hirni and Panchghat, which are all active perennially.

Jonha Falls : Jonha is a waterfall located some 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from Ranchi in Jharkhand in India. It is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the Ranchi - Purulia highway. These falls are also named Gautam Dhara after Gautam Buddha. There are two Buddha temples near the Jonha falls, which were built by the king Baldev Roy. It is located on 23.23ºN latitude and 85.23ºE longitude.

Rajrappa Mandir : About 65 km from Ranchi for the worship of Goddess Kali, known as Chhinnamastika. Also a tourist place; has great picnic spots.

Jagannath Temple : Jagannath Temple in Ranchi was built by Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, of Barkagarh Jagannathpur principality. It was completed on 25th December 1691. About 10 km from the main town, the temple is on top of a small hillock.Similar to the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa, this temple is built in the same architectural style, although smaller. And similar to the Rath Yatra in Puri, an annual fair cum rath yatra is held at this temple too, attracting thousands of tribal and non-tribal devotees not only from Ranchi but also from neighbouring villages and towns.

Festivals :Ranchi is home to people of many castes, creeds and sects. All festivals are celebrated with pomp, glory and in harmony. People from nearby as well as far off places visit Ranchi during the holidays.

Sports :Cricket is a popular sport in Ranchi. M. S. Dhoni, the captain of Indian Test, One Day and T20 Team, was born and brought up in Ranchi. He led the team to win the T-20 cricket world cup 2007. The popularity of cricket in the state has grown by leaps and bounds, after Dhoni was made captain of the Indian Cricket Team.