Get in
[edit]Maithon can be reached by train, bus or car, from Kolkata, and by road from Dhanbad or Asansol.
By train
[edit]From Howrah station catch trains heading for Asansol or Kumardubi (KMME). Maithon is 30 km from Asansol, local auto will charge approx ₹300-₹400. From Kumardubi, Maithon is only 9 km, local auto charges ₹100.
You can also go from Kolkata to Barakar (16 km from Maithon).
- 1 Barakar railway station.
By bus
[edit]By bus you can reach Asansol, from there go by auto or a hired car (₹500-₹600). There is regular mini bus service between Asansol main city bus stand and Maithon.
By car
[edit]Maithon falls on the historic Grand Trunk Road, which heads east to Durgapur, Bardhaman and Chandannagar before reaching to Howrah, and west to Dhanbad, continuing through the Plains before reaching Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The NH 19, previously NH 2, also runs through this town and largely overlaps with the GT Road.
See
[edit]
- 1 Bathanbari. A popular weekend picnic spot and its main attraction is the Barakar River. The Maithon Dam has created a massive reservoir with hills in the backdrop.
- 2 Begunia temple complex. The temple complex at the Barakar River consists of four temples, with the fourth being the oldest. It is amongst the oldest rekha-deul temples in West Bengal. The temples have Shivalingas and idols of Ganesha and Durga.
- 3 Kalyaneshwari Temple. A 500-year-old centre of Shakti worship. Legend has it that human sacrifices were offered at Kalyaneshwari in the remote past. The temple of Goddess Kalyaneshwari is believed to fulfill the wishes of childless women.
- 4 Maithon Dam. one of the four dams of DVC with a huge water reservoir. The Reservoir has small islands. These islands can be reached by row boats. The most famous island is Sabuj Dwip.
Do
[edit]Row boat - a seat rowing boat is ₹300 and additional ₹20-50 tip to the boatman allows you to experience rowing with your own hand. Also you have options to do paddle boating. Or take a hi-speed trip in a speed-boat by paying ₹500.
Buy
[edit]Eat and drink
[edit]On the Jharkhand end of the town, you can get a variety of chat, dhokla, golgappa, chana-bhatura etc. On the West Bengal end, try the Paneer Pakora & Chicken Pokora from Chittaranjan Debnath's shop near Mazumder Niwas.
You can enjoy thrills of three star dining at Maithon Hotel, Sanjay Chowk or try the chop/ cutlets in area 4.
- 1 Mirchi Corner, Main Gate, ☏ +91 89866 19139. Casual Indian that will satisfy your hunger but is often very crowded.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Asha Resorts (Lodging & marriage hall) (Near Kalyaneswari Temple), ☏ +91 341-2520135, +91 9732079996.
- 2 Hotel Barsha, ☏ +91 2520036 (Hotel), +91 9832130409.
- 3 Hotel Shantinivas (near maithon dam), ☏ +91 9830217777, [email protected]. Restaurant, Parking, Conference Hall, Children's play area, Beautiful Rock Gardens, Dense Forest view etc. Double-bedded air-con room: ₹800-1,000, Double-bedded non air-con room: ₹700, Dorm: ₹300 per bed.
- 4 Maithon Hotel and Restaurant, Sanjay Chowk, NH 2, ☏ +91 6540-270042, +91 9204483017.
- 5 Majumdar Nivas of DVC (On an island in Maithon Lake, connected to the mainland by a bridge.), ☏ +91 33 2333-2115. Main office: CPRO, DVC Towers, CIT Housing Complex, VIP Rd, Kolkata. Limited food menu.
- 6 Muktodhara Tourism Property (Maithon Tourist Lodge), ☏ +91 33 440126, +91 953412523894, fax: +91 33 22485168. Run by West Bengal Tourism. Double-bedded room: ₹1000-2000.
- 7 Sunny Hotel, GT Road, Egarkunr, Kumardhubi, ☏ +91 9801541566.
- 8 Hotel Surya Nivas, Maithon Road, Kalyaneswari,, ☏ +91 9641587777.
- 9 Hotel Yatri Niwas, Maa Kalyaneswari Temple, Hadla, ☏ +91 97321 48410.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Asansol
- Baranti - holiday resorts, about 38 km
- Biharinath - holiday resorts, about 50 km
- Durgapur
- Garh Panchakot
- Dhanbad
- Parasnath Hills