Some of the more interesting facts about Maithon are that it is a town on the West Bengal-Jharkhand border, and that it is literally split in two between the two states, across Dhanbad and Bardhaman districts, to be precise. While the township and reservoir are largely in Jharkhand, the hydel power project is in West Bengal. The other unique aspect of Maithon is that it is one of the rare locations to accommodate a hydel plant, a thermal plant, and a gas plant.
The reservoir created by the Damodar Valley Corporation’s hydel power project is one of the largest in India, and its breath-taking beauty has made Maithon an extremely popular picnic spot and weekend getaway. There are also a couple of Flower Parks nearby, justifiably famed for their magnificent display of numerous floral species.
You can enjoy all this and much more during your stay at the beautiful Muktadhara Tourism Property (formerly Maithon Tourist Lodge) run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (WBTDCL). The view from the lobby and the cottages consists of the reservoir and the islands, while the view from the spacious and well-maintained rooms is magnificent too. Maithon’s famed Kalyaneshwari temple is just about a five-minute drive from the property, while the boating jetty is a few minutes’ walk.
According to one school of thought, Maithon got its name from ‘Maikasthan’ or ‘maayer sthan’ in Bengali, a phrase that translates into mother’s abode, in honour of the Kalyaneshwari temple built by the king of Barakar in the 16th century. The temple is a little over 2 km from the dam, in the West Bengal part of Maithon, and is very crowded at certain times of the year. As a rule, it is best visited very early in the morning or very late at night if you wish to avoid crowds, particularly during weekends.
Of course, there are many other attractions in the area apart from the temple. The good news is that the limited radius within which these attractions are situated makes it possible to view most of them on foot. The slightly less good news is that owing to security reasons, many of these spots prohibit photography, a rule that is fairly strictly enforced.
Once you have had your fill of the dam, take in the Deer Park right on the border of the two states, surrounded by streams flowing from the dam, and the dam itself. Then there is the famous Chammach Pahar or Spoon Island, called Sabuj Dweep in Bengali. Situated on the reservoir itself, the island literally looks like an inverted spoon, and is accessible courtesy government-operated boating services. Completely free of human habitation, the island is home to several animal species, which is why visitors are advised not to go in too deep.
At the end of a day’s sightseeing, come back to Muktadhara for some mouthwatering food, which even the locals who are not staying at the property come in for.
It is best to drive down to Asansol from Kolkata, a distance of roughly 220 km, and from there a further 30 km to Maithon. You could also take a bus from Kolkata to Dhanbad and get off en route at the Maithon bypass, from where you can take an auto to the dam area. There are no major bus stations in Maithon, but there are regular bus services from Asansol, including a minibus service.
You could also, of course, take a train to Asansol from Kolkata. The nearest airport is Bhagwan Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, approximately 190 km from Maithon.
For further details and bookings, kindly visit the WBTDCL website.
Bengal Beckons 