Padma Hazaribagh

Padma is a village in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, India, located in the Padma CD block within the Barhi subdivision. Historically, Padma is home to the Padma Palace (or Padma Fort), part of the Ramgarh Raj estate, featuring attractions like the Shivgarh gate and a photo gallery showcasing its history. The palace now houses a police academy, with its boundary wall and main gate situated on the Patna-Ranchi highway.

Geographically, Padma is located at 24.2113°N 85.3624°E, with the Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary about 5 kilometres away. The district is predominantly rural, with 92.34% of its population living in rural areas and 7.66% in urban areas. Forests cover around 45% of the area, while agriculture is the primary occupation. Coal mining, particularly in the southern part of the district, has increased employment opportunities, though modern mining operations are highly mechanized.

Administratively, Padma serves as the headquarters of its CD block and has a police outpost. As per the 2011 Census, Padma had a population of 7,896, with males constituting 55% (4,326) and females 45% (3,570). The village has 1,113 children in the 0-6 age range, and the literacy rate is 78.73%, with 5,340 literate individuals over the age of 6.

Transportation links include a railway station on the Koderma-Hazaribagh-Barkakana-Ranchi line and connectivity via National Highway 20. The Padma-Itkhori Road further connects the village to Itkhori.