Maithon~ Abode of Goddess
Hello Friends, after Panchet, Baranti and Jai Chandi, I have come with a new travel story for you. Hope you have enjoyed my previous stories and you will enjoy this too. Actually travelling in the Garh sector of Purulia remains incomplete without a visit to Maithon. So Friends, lets now have a trip to Maithon.
Maithon is situated at the border of the two states, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The maithon dam and DVC querters falls on Dhanbad Dist of Jharkhand but the tourist rest house and DVC guest house, that is the Majumder Niwas falls on Paschim Bardhaman Dist of West Bengal. Maithon dam is constructed over River Barakar, a tributary of River Damodar, just before the confluence of the two rivers near Kulti. The dam was inaugerated by PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957. This dam has an underground hydro-electric power station, which is first such type of power station in Asia. The main aim of this dam is flood control, pisciculture and power generation...
Maithon reservoir
The name Maithon comes from the word Mai ki Sthan, meaning Abode of Goddess. Actually about 2-3km away from the Maithon Dam, in the slope of Hangla Pahar, there is the famous Kalyaneshwari Devi Temple. This temple is a Shakti Peeth and it is believed that a Puja offering at the Kalyaneshwari Temple means the goddess will fulfill every wishes of the devotee. Local people of this area believes that Devi Kalyaneshwari fulfill wishes of Childless women.
Kalyaneshwari Temple
According to historians, Devi Kalyaneswari was the family deity of the Sena Kingdom of Eastern India who ruled over present West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar in 12th century AD. It is said that the original temple was built during Sena rule. But the present temple was built by the rulers of Panchkot kingdom of Kashipur.
The temple is situated inside a narrow lane by the side of the main road leading to the maithon dam from Barakar Railway Station. Both side of the lane you will find dali shops for devotees. So, you can also offer your puja in the temple. Other than dali shops you will also find toy shops, local sweet shops etc. If you want to offer Puja in the temple avoid morning hours when it is a bit crowdy.
Chalna Jhora in the lap of Hangla Pahar
beside Kalyaneshwari Temple
If you are not interested in offering Puja, don't miss the visit to this temple. After Devi darshan come to the backyard of the temple. You will see the beautiful view of Chalna Jhora, a tributary of Barakar river, comming down from the Hangla Pahar and flowing downstream with a good speed towards its confluence. You will be cherished by the view, specially in the rainy months of July, August or September. According to legends, Devi Kalyaneshwari bought sacred chank or Sankha bangles from a seller in this spot. So the temple has been founded in this spot.
Little egret in Chalna Jhora
After Mandir, puja, history, legends, you must be thinking that maithon has nothing for nature lovers. No, Maithon is really a nature lovers paradise. In fact, the main attraction of Maithon is nature. After visiting Kalyaneshwari, come to the dam, near Majumder Niwas Guest house of the DVC. Have a walk over the dam. Cool breeze over the reservoir will welcome you. Have a boat ride in the reservoir. Its a fantastic moment. Specially in the time of sunset. From the water of the Reservoir see the Dam. It looks gigantic. If you have enough time in your hand, hire a boat to visit Sabuj Dwip. It will take about 3hrs up and down and about Rs400/- for the trip.
If you are adventure lover, you can also have a speed boat ride. But the best way to enjoy the silence of the place is hiring a boat and enjoy the setting sun in the background with sound of water due to rowing of boat.
You can also enjoy the sunset from the Dam or from the walk-bridge leading towards the Majumder Niwas. You will really enjoy it here.
View from boat with Panchet Hill at the
distant background
View from the boat
After boating it is must to have a cup of tea at the stalls outside Majumder Niwas. You can also have your evening snacks here. The food is good in taste and price is reasonable. You will also enjoy adda with your friends and companions in this place. If you have transport with you then you can have
Playful chicks at the road to Tourist Lodge
Foot-bridge leading to Majumder Niwas
Maithon is specially roamantic in the monsoon, specially in July or August when the reservoir is full and the Chalna Jhora is at its full force. If you stay in the Tourist Lodge run by WBTDC the drive way to the Lodge is excellent. The Tourist Lodge is situated in the slope of the Maithon Hill. The meandering road leading to the lodge is sorrounded by thick woods. This path is most enjoyable is spring and Monsoon. If you are staying in any other hotels or resorts, don't miss a walk through this road leading to the lodge. The Tourist Lodge also provides a very good view and the restaurant there is good. Service of the Tourist Lodge is excellent.
Way to the Tourist Lodge
View from Tourist Lodge during heavy rains
So friends, How was my maithon trip? Hope you have enjoyed the story. If had enjoyed my trip very much. You can also add an extra day with you and have a visit to the garh circuit, which I discussed in my earlier stories. Let me know about your views regarding these stories through comment section. Also you can contact me in my facebook page Traveller Raja.
How to reach:- You can board any train from Howrah to Barakar or Kumardubi and hire a auto or car to reach Maithon. Maithon is 12km from Barakar Railway Station and 9km from Kumardubi Railway Station. Otherwise you can also board a train to Asansol and take bus from there to reach Maithon. It will take about 50 mins to an hour from Asansol by bus. Otherwise if you enjoy highway drive you can go by car from Kolkata via NH2. Distance is about 235km.
For today, its over. Will be right back with some new stories soon... Good night and stay safe...
Such a lovely place. Nice post.
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