Ranchi to Parasnath (Madhuban) cab - 160 km, fares and drive time
Ranchi to Shikharji (Madhuban, Parasnath Hill) is 160 km by road and takes 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes by cab via Ormanjhi, Gola and Dumri; Raahi Saarthi one-way fares start at ₹3,799.
Ranchi to Parasnath Hill is 160 km on the short road - NH-20 to Ormanjhi, then Gola, Peterwar, Nawadih and Dumri, and NH-114A to Madhuban More and the last 4 km into Madhuban - and takes 4 to 4.5 hours. The other road, through Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Bagodar and then the GT Road to Dumri, is about 183 km and takes about as long because more of it is four-lane. Neither goes through Giridih town, which is 30 km beyond Madhuban, or Isri Bazaar. The cab drops at Madhuban, the base village for Sammed Shikharji - the holiest pilgrimage site in Jainism, where twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras attained moksha. The full vandana is about 27 km on foot and starts between 2 and 4 AM, so most pilgrims book a 2-day package and sleep in Madhuban the night before.
What you'll pass on the way
- Ormanjhi - where the short road leaves the four-lane NH-20, about 20 km out
- Gola and Peterwar - the two-lane middle section
- Nawadih and Dumri - Dumri, at the GT Road crossing, is the last proper town and fuel stop
- Madhuban More - the turn off the Dumri-Giridih road (NH-114A), about 4 km before Madhuban
Things to do there
- Shikharji vandana - about 27 km on foot: 9 km up, 9 km along the tonks on the summit ridge, 9 km down
- Bhomiyaji Temple at the Madhuban base
- Madhuban dharamshalas and the Jain temple complex
- Topchanchi Lake - on the GT Road east of Dumri, a detour if you return via Dhanbad or Bokaro
Fixed fares
| Car type | One-way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchback (4 pax) | ₹3,799 | ₹6,999 |
| Sedan (4 pax) | ₹4,299 | ₹7,499 |
| SUV / Ertiga (6 pax) | ₹5,099 | ₹8,999 |
| Innova Crysta (7 pax) | ₹5,899 | ₹9,999 |
| Tempo Traveller (12 pax) | ₹9,499 | ₹15,999 |
Every fare is all-inclusive - fuel, the 3 tolls on this route, parking, driver allowance, inter-state permits and 5% GST. A one-way booking carries no empty-return charge.
- Distance
- 160 km
- Drive time
- 4 hr - 4 hr 30 min
- Highways
- NH-20, NH-320, NH-114A
- Via
- Ormanjhi → Gola → Dumri → Madhuban More
- Toll plazas (one way)
- 3
- Best time to visit
- October to March
- Best departure time
- 12:00 PM on day 1, to reach Madhuban by evening
- Cheapest one-way
- ₹3,799
Frequently asked questions
How far is Parasnath Hill from Ranchi?
Parasnath Hill is 160 km from Ranchi by road to Madhuban, the village at the base of the trek - 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes by cab via Ormanjhi, Gola, Nawadih and Dumri. The other road, via Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Bagodar and the GT Road, is about 183 km and takes about as long. Neither road passes through Giridih town or Isri.
What is the Ranchi to Shikharji distance by road?
Ranchi to Shikharji is 160 km by road to Madhuban, where every road ends - the shrines on top of Parasnath Hill are reached only on foot. The short road runs NH-20 to Ormanjhi, then Gola, Peterwar, Nawadih and Dumri, and NH-114A to Madhuban More. Published figures run from about 160 to 190 km because there are two roads (160 km and about 183 km via Hazaribagh) and some sites measure from Birsa Munda Airport, which is about 165 km from Madhuban.
How long is the Shikharji trek from Madhuban?
The full Shikharji vandana from Madhuban is about 27 km on foot: roughly 9 km up to the first tonk, 9 km along the tonks on the summit ridge and 9 km back down. Most pilgrims take 8 to 12 hours (elderly walkers longer) and set out between 02:00 and 04:00. The tonks are on the ridge at the top, not along the climb, and their count differs by tradition - 20, 25 or 31.
Is doli (palanquin) service available at Shikharji?
Yes. Dolis carried by bearers are available at Madhuban for elderly and differently-abled pilgrims doing the Shikharji vandana. The June 2025 rate card charged ₹2,300 for a two-bearer doli for pilgrims up to 49 kg and ₹2,760 for 50-69 kg, and ₹4,600-9,200 for a chair doli by weight. Book a day ahead in peak season from November to February.
Which is the nearest railway station and airport to Shikharji?
The nearest railway station to Shikharji is Parasnath (PNME) at Isri, about 23 km from Madhuban by road via Dumri - 30 to 40 minutes by taxi; the 10-11 km sometimes quoted is the straight line. The nearest airport with flights is Deoghar (DGH), about 99 km by road; Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi (IXR) is about 165 km, Durgapur about 170 km and Gaya about 179 km. Dhanbad airport has no scheduled flights, and Bokaro's was still awaiting its licence in July 2026.
Are Parasnath and Shikharji the same place?
Yes. Parasnath Hill and Shikharji (Sammed Shikharji) are the same hill in Giridih district, Jharkhand: Parasnath is the hill's name, after the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanath, and Shikharji is the Jain pilgrimage on its summit ridge. At about 1,350-1,365 m it is the highest point in Jharkhand. Madhuban is the village at its foot where the cab drops you and the walk begins, and Parasnath is also the name of the railway station at Isri, 23 km away.
Travelling the other way?
Nearby places to visit
Other routes from Ranchi
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