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McCluskieganj is a small hilly town in Jharkhand State, India, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of the capital, Ranchi. The town used to have a significant Anglo-Indian community.[2] It is now a tourist place for its British era old mansions, hills and streams.[3][4]
McCluskieganj | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: mini London | |
  McCluskieganj Location in Jharkhand, India  McCluskieganj McCluskieganj (India) | |
| Coordinates: 23.64°N 84.94°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Jharkhand |
| District | Ranchi district |
| Block | Khalari |
| Established | 1933 |
| Founded by | Ernest Timothy McCluskie |
| Elevation | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,000[1] |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Nagpuri, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 829208 |
| Vehicle registration | JH |
Ernest Timothy McCluskie, the Anglo Indian businessman from Kolkata visited the place and was impressed by the environment and climate of the area. He decided to build a town for Anglo Indian and purchased the lands from king of Chotanagpur, Udai Pratap Nath Shah Deo.[5] In 1932, he sent circulars to nearly 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India inviting them to settle there.[6] It was founded by the Colonisation Society of India in 1933 as a homeland or "Mooluk" for Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indians could buy Shares in this co-operative, the Colonisation Society of India - which in turn would allot them a plot of land.[7] It became home to 400 Anglo-Indian families within ten years.[8] Of the nearly 300 original settlers, only 20 families remain, as most of the Anglo-Indian community left after World War II.[6]
Now, the population of the town is around 3000.[1]
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McCluskieganj is located at the distance of around 60 km North West from state capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi in Khelari block. It is located at alltitude of 450 metre.[9] It is located near the Dugadugi river which is a tributary of Damodar River.[10] Jhunjhunia waterfall located near Macluskieganj.[11]
Climate
The climate of McCluskieganj is ideal with low humidity. McCluskieganj witnesses frost during winter which cover grass, vehicles and roofs.[12] During cold wave, It records temperature around freezing points. In 2013, it recorded 1.5 °C in month of January.[13][14]
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Educational institution
National Highway 39 (Ranchi-Daltonganj), an important roadway in the Ranchi district, passes near McCluskieganj.[23] McCluskieganj railway station is located in McCluskieganj.[2]
McCluskeiganj Gurudwara and Temple: lying in the same complex is a place of integrity and shows the brotherhood of India.
McCluskeiganj Mosque: It is beside the Gurudwara and Temple complex.
St. John's Church: A historical place built by Anglo-Indians during British rule.
The town was the inspiration for the Hindi novel Maikluskiganj (मैकलुस्कीगंज) by journalist-writer Vikas Kumar Jha, which was translated into English by Mahasweta Ghosh in 2005.[24]
McCluskieganj is also the setting for the 2016 film A Death in the Gunj, which is Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial debut, and set in 1979.[25]
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