[haisaikat]

EDIT 2022 April: Maithon Rediscovered

The Planning
March means the advent of spring and spring brings new hope and new plan for the rest of the year. 2019-2020 gave us ample of winter in Bengal. So much so that folks like me became tired and terrified of running noses and woolens.

So March was breaking free from the winter bondage and sailing ahead with a perfect vacation to the Spring time wonderlands of Puruliya, a district in Bengal. This place is famous for having hills, forest, dams and the sight of blooming Palash flowers this tie around March which attract many tourists from around the globe.

The initial plan was to have our good old team of dependable roadworthy gangsters who made Bishnupur (A trip to Bishnupur : Revisiting the history of the epicentre of Mallabhum) a success, but clash with the school exam schedules split us up since there was only one long weekend in March and April would be too hot.

Looking at accommodation availability, the final itinerary was planned like this

Day 1 / Friday 6th March - Kolkata to Garh Panchkot
Day 2 / Saturday 7th March - Baranti and JoyChandi
Day 3 / Sunday 8th March - Garh Panchkot to Maithon
Day 4 / Monday 9th March - Maithon to Kolkata

The planning was done in December but even then when we tried to book hotels we found most of the good hotels have almost filled up. Nevertheless we were able to get some decent accommodation as below

At Garh Panchkot - Garpanchkot Prokriti Bharaman Kendra (booked online from the state government forest department website https://wbfdc.net/)
At Maithon - Muktadhara Tourism Property (booked online from the state government tourism website https://www.wbtdcl.com/)

We had considered accommodating Ayodhya hills in our plan but it was a day's drive back and forth from Garh Panchkot so decided to drop it from this schedule as we seemed to be running short by a day.

After months of eagerly waiting finally the day arrived, I had to ditch other important engagements to ensure this much awaited vacation does happen.

Here are some spoiler shots in advance

Moments before an evening storm,Garh Panchkot


Panchet Dam with the Panchet Hill at the background


Sunset on the Maithon Dam


A narrow forest road at Garh Panchkot


Tree of the Flames - Palash flowers


Pancharatna Temple, Garh Panchkot


Colors of Holi by nature, Maithon Dam


Boats parked by the Maithon Dam

[haisaikat]

Day 1 - Kolkata to Garh Panchkot

We started from our home a little before 6 am while it was still a tad dark and headed to pick up our friend. The empty roads eased our drive and by 6-45 am we went past the Vidyasagar Setu clearing the city limits with our friend on board.

There was not much hindrance at Santragachi and thereafter we took the Delhi road bifurcation. Soon after we met a diversion before Dankuni Toll Plaza due to emergency road repair work so with Google Map's help we took a detour from the highway and again merged back to NH2 near Singur.

At around 8-30 am we halted at Hindustan Dhaba for the breakfast and spent around an hour to recharge ourselves. Washrooms were not that great, maybe our expectations have been spoilt by Express Food Plaza of Kolaghat.

Thereafter we continued on NH19 towards our destination, however, we were considerably slowed down by too many slow-moving trucks on either lane so had to wait patiently for safely dodging them and moving ahead.

After an hour we went past Durgapur and the sight of malls and high rises actually was like an Oasis in the desert and made our desire of visiting this place sooner than ever.

Our next stop was a tea break near Asansol around 11-30 am and post that we resumed again. At around 12 noon we made a left turn towards Asansol Chittaranjan road and by 12-30 pm we halted at a fuel station in Sitalpur while being en route to Garh Panchkot.

Eventually at around 1-15 pm we arrived at our hotel in Garh Panchkot. The entrance, however, needs more maintenance.

The staff was helpful and assisted us to our rooms post-check-in, the place being full of tall trees and garden around creates a perfect forest ambience with the wonderful sight of the Panchet Hill at the background adding to the wow.

The restaurant is an annexed building inside the premises. Lunch is available with certainty if there is a pre-order, we nevertheless managed to get something humble although had not ordered earlier and took some rest for the evening tours.

We started again from the hotel around 4-30 pm, encountered some very nice narrow forest roads on our way to the Garh Panchkot tourist spot

At around 5-15 pm we reached the base of the Panchet Hill where there was the Pancharatna Temple, renovated and repaired a couple of years back from the ruins, the work by Government has also converted the place into a small tourist spot with a paid parking lot and some shops. Got one beautiful handcrafted memento made from tree leaves sold by a few local kids there.

There are a few ruins around and even a resort with tents in the vicinity. We found a few shops selling colourful handcrafted masks and hot snacks together. We bought some masks for our homes (the photo of the mask is taken after being hanged in a wall at home) and relaxed on the Khatiya (cot) outside the shop while snacks (Aloo-r Chop) were served hot and crisp.

But suddenly there were dark clouds seen on the sky and the wind started to blow stronger, with the locals anticipating the advent of a storm and started packing up. I noticed the top of the Panchet hill has started becoming blurred. Needless to say, we hurriedly came back to the car and before we could leave took a few departing clicks of the lit-up temple and the surroundings moments before those lights were turned off.

Attachment 1980979

We left the place at around 6-15 pm when the stormy winds have started blowing in and returned to our hotel before 7 pm.

Thankfully it started raining only after we reached our hotel and continued till 8 pm. It changed the weather from being pleasant back to being chilly once again.

Nevertheless, we headed out for dinner by 8-30 pm considering the limited menu in the WBFDC restaurant and settled for some good food and service at the Garhpanchkot Eco-Tourism hotel just a few minutes drive from our place. They did promise us the availability of Tandoor dishes over the weekend, what else can be a better thought to go to sleep with on a Friday.

But before we could head back to our hotel, we made a short night drive to the Panchet Dam, while we could not fathom the water much but did enjoy cruising on the open and empty road with the trailing sight of the series of street lights.

[haisaikat]

Day 2 - Roaming around the place
It was a nice and sunny day and after a late breakfast by 10 am we were ready to set out for Baranti. It had rained heavily throughout the entire night resulting in a cool weather. But a stroll in the walkway of the WBFDC hotel among the greens and under the sun was enjoyable

We set out for Baranti at around 10-30 am but Google showed us a bad shortcut where I found myself driving an Innova in unpaved narrow roads and through disgusting crowded markets where only 2-wheelers seems to be ruling the terrain.

Eventually after much struggle arrived at Baranti Reservoir by 12 pm where we halted for some time to enjoy the scenery around.

We were in search of a hotel for lunch and started looking around, but all of them turned us down citing their arrangement are limited as per their occupancy. One such place was the Baranti Wildlife and Nature Study Hut close to the lake and although we did not get a table for lunch, yet they did not object to us roaming around inside their well maintained premises filled with green and had a pair of caged Emu bird too.

We strolled around for some time in the village nearby and found some good Palash trees with blooming flowers

Eventually after taking guidance from Google Maps and driving through village roads we arrived at Spangle Wings Resort at around 1 pm where finally we completed our lunch. It is here we found locals selling Palash garlands

Finishing lunch we started off towards JoyChandi Hills by 2-15 pm. With a small power nap break and going through some narrow residential streets eventually arrived at JoyChandi by 3-30 pm.

However our first stop was the Amusement Park adjoining the JoyChandi Hill Resort where we had some really good time with the kid and the park even had a Cafe too.

Thereafter we came to the base of the Joychandi Hills where we parked our car and advanced towards the steps of the hills, heard they are in hundreds, so climbed 10 and came down again

It was 4-30 pm and we had at this point two possible options for consideration, either we head towards the Panchet Dam for the sunset which seemed unlikely considering the time left in our hands. So we decided to go for the other option of visiting Panchkot Palace which was around 40 mins away from Joychandi hills.

The road was not bad at all with the glimpse of the hills and the setting sun. We met with some heavy traffic around the Joychandi Pahar railway station crossing and eventually arrived at Panchkot palace by 5-15 pm.

However we were disappointed to know that the Palace only opens during Durga Puja and otherwise remains closed for the rest of the year. So we returned empty handed.

It was getting dark so we drove back to our hotel by 6-30 pm and went in for our long awaited Tandoor dinner at Garhpanchkot Eco Tourism Resort and called it a day.

[haisaikat]

Day 3 - Maithon
We checked out from our hotel at Garh Panchkot at around 10 am and headed for Panchet Dam on our way to Maithon, its on the usual route from Garh Panchkot to Maithon

The Dam, the Panchet hill in the background looked stunning

There was a road going down from one side of the Dam to the power plant below, being curious we tried to follow it only to find out that it leads to a restricted gate at the end which is the checkpoint entry of the power plant. Back on the road at the top, there are several check posts on the road with one of them indicating the border between Bengal and Jharkhand. The folks at the check post are quite polite and they mostly observe and never did I see them stopping any cars unless they felt the need. Photography at the centre of the road just above the lock gate is restricted, so several people actually left their cars before approaching the centre and roaming around on foot. I did not see the police / guards objecting to tourists parking car.

After crossing the Dam we landed in Jharkhand and met some moderate to bad roads with some junctions very congested with overflowing two-wheeler traffic near diversions due to repair works. Eventually entered back into Bengal while crossing the road along the edge of the Maithon Dam.

By 12 pm we reached the WBTDC Maithon Lodge. The hotel was neat and tidy and on top of a small elevated hillock but had parking. Our room was on the 1st floor with great view of the Dam right from the room and the corridor in front and a gardened lawn at the backside on the ground created an excellent view.

Lunch was served at the restaurant on the ground floor, and the staff here seemed more capable and professional than the previous hotel.

We recharged ourselves for a couple of hours although our little one did not allow us to close our eyes even if for 5 mins

At around 430 pm we set out for the boat ride at the Maithon Dam. There were multiple ghats and the one closest to our hotel was around Majumdar Niwas (it is a old holiday home of this area on a small island in the dam and one needs to go there walking over a narrow foot bridge). Parking seems to be a big problem over here unless you are walking or have hired a ride. Eventually after 2-3 times of circling the place got a place to park.

There are regular hand rowed boats resembling Shikara's costing less meant for rides over a shorter distance and there are motored speed boats which cost double but can go over longer distances. We took the 4 seater speed boat and took a very enjoyable fun filled ride for the next 20 mins enjoying the blue water under the golden tinge of the setting sun. We spotted a small amusement park on an island on the Dam, but skipped going there considering it was getting dark already.

https://youtu.be/StYmaeq-tuA

After enjoying the sunset over the Dam we headed for some evening snacks at a nearby hygienic roadside shop, there were several of them just next to the Ghat and learnt they serve very good breakfast too.

We headed next for the Kalyaneshwari Temple for the darshan and reached. Considering Friday evening may be there was very less crowd in the temple and the darshan happened smoothly. Parking here was also not a problem with ample closed shops in the evening to chose from.

Eventually we returned to our hotel by 7pm and concluded our day. Chinese menu for dinner at the hotel was not bad for a WBTDC hotel.

[haisaikat]

Day 4 - Back to Kolkata
After 3 days of nurturing ourselves in the lap of nature, it was our final day of return and we were not feeling like leaving even if it was the day of Holi.

Left our hotel by 11 am and headed for a short roaming tour of the area on the right side of our hotel and came across another edge of the Dam that allowed even better view of it with many trees having blooming Palash all over the place, somewhat resurrecting the Holi feeling. We could not venture this area completely as roads were not that great in some parts

We stayed there for around 30 mins and resumed for our next interim halt, Durgapur, after all, it was the promise we made to ourselves.

The highway was completely deserted with very less to no trucks or cars and allowed us to reach Durgapur within an hour. We had aimed to go to the Junction Mall just next to the highway but found out it is closed on account of Holi and will open at 6 pm only. Everywhere else it was empty streets and on areas, there were open playgrounds dedicated for celebrating Holi with youngsters, wish I could take some pictures. Most of the restaurants and shops were closed. After a lot of inquiring around and calling up contacts from Google search, around 1-30 pm we found a place for us in the restaurant of the Citi Residenci Hotel near to the Junction Mall only. Thankfully, it was here that we ate the best food in this vacation, from excellent starters to mouth-watering desserts with excellent service staff. What I liked overall about Durgapur is its an Oasis amidst boring highway where you can get anything from great food to medical supplies, malls everything.

Around 4 pm we resumed our journey back to Kolkata. Near Panagarh we saw several army planes doing quick take-off and landing. Next halt after an hour was at Shaktigarh for some Langcha and Mihidana and as expected the shops were very crowded. Noticed two BHPIans in their cars going past me around this time, a Honda City and a green Chevrolet Beat. They did not notice me though in spite of me honking several times. There were no further stops or hindrance on the highway probably because of Holi, even Santragachi in the evening was smooth.

Around 7 pm we dropped our friend in Kudghat and finally at 730 pm we arrived at our home. An excellent journey therefor came to en end with some of the best sights of nature we have witnessed in the past several years.

[haisaikat]

Some useful points from the Trip

Food

• Barring the host of options available at Durgapur, Garh Panchkot has the most option in terms of eateries be it restaurants attached to hotels or standalone ones if one is willing to venture out in the nearby areas and has own transport at disposal to make that happen.
• Keep in mind that many hotels order their raw materials based on occupancy and prior order based demand so for outsiders there would be limited / no options.

Medicine Shops

• Because we needed them on the go, we observed that Durgapur being the city has the advantage of extensive medicine shops with good stocks comparable to Metro cities.
• Garh Panchkot had limited options but in Maithon near Kalyaneshwari Temple or towards Jharkhand there are some good pharmacy options.
• Even en route to Jaichandi Hills we found some places with ample shops. Baranti was the worst and that is why I would not recommend staying there with patients or who have a high dependency on medicine.

Palash

• We picked up the Holi weekend for this tour thinking while March brings the relevant season for sighting Palash, early in March the weather should be pleasant. While we were correct on the weather part, but we were not completely correct on the Palash as due to changing seasons for this year with a prolonged winter, everything seemed to be pushed out. Even folks who visited a week later on the next weekend just days prior to the lockdown got to see way more abundance of Palash.

Other things

• Network reception is average in all the places with Vodafone and inside the hotel rooms, Jio reigns with the exception of Garh Panchkot where even Jio was intermittent inside the room.
• At the Maithon WBTDC hotel some of the staff offer themselves as Tour Guides after their day's duty is over.
• Insist for proper life jackets that have sturdy locking belts while making the boat ride on Maithon Dam, they otherwise tend to overlook on this aspect unless you say so.
• Make sure wherever you get on a boat ride they have a proper counter issuing printed tickets and otherwise, you would not be able to get hold of them if touch wood something goes wrong.
• We covered a total round trip distance of 710 KM obtaining a mileage of 12 km/litre including power mode sprints and total toll tax paid was Rs. 395 (ideally this would have been 480 had we not skipped Dankuni Toll Plaza during the onward journey)

[Sheel]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[AJ-got-BHP]

An extensively detailed Travelogue on the forgotten jewels of West Bengal. The captures are awesome ! Keep writing and keep sharing ! Rated a 5* for the pictures

[sayakc]

You always seem to be on the move! Another great travelogue with facts and figures!

Purulia is my favourite jaunt during the winters though in 2019 winter I gave it a miss. Even 4-5 years back, I used to refer to the http://weekenddestinations.info/ site for the hidden places in Bankura and Purulia.

I have been to some places around those areas, the travelogues of some of which I have written earlier. Presenting the links below:

• Murguma (Dooars & Purulia)
• Doladanga (Winter wanderings - Rural Bengal & Meghalaya!)
• Baranti (Winter wanderings - Rural Bengal & Meghalaya!)
• Joypur/Bishnupur (West Bengal - A treasure for tourists)
• Matha (A Rhymelogue: Drive to Ajodhya Hills, Purulia)

[ABHI_1512]

Your travelogue is just as wonderful as the pictures are. Going through your travelogue in these lockdown days gives another perspective to the meaning of freedom we take so lightly. The places have changed a lot specially the Garh area which has now been beautified. It’s been a decade or more almost since I last visited those places, thanks for bringing back the memories, regards.

Sharing few pictures from my side, hope you won’t mind.

The sunset at Baranti is one of the most beautiful sights


Garh as it used to be during the earlier days

[haisaikat]

Originally Posted by AJ-got-BHP

An extensively detailed Travelogue on the forgotten jewels of West Bengal. The captures are awesome ! Keep writing and keep sharing ! Rated a 5* for the pictures

Thank you AJ for the kind words, it means a lot. Hope to see another Rajasthan trip this year of your Endy when the dust settles.

Originally Posted by sayakc

You always seem to be on the move!

I used to refer to the http://weekenddestinations.info/ site for the hidden places in Bankura and Purulia.

I have been to some places around those areas, the travelogues of some of which I have written earlier. Presenting the links below:

Next year mid kid is supposed to start Primary School and I am certain that his flexibility of play school will be gone, so wanted to make the most of it this year. Thank you for the link to that website, I did not know of it, will be very helpful in planning a few more trips. I liked your approach of visiting some of the lesser known villages in this area which offer stunning sights of nature. Many thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Your travelogue is just as wonderful as the pictures are.

It’s been a decade or more almost since I last visited those places, thanks for bringing back the memories, regards.

Sharing few pictures from my side, hope you won’t mind.

Thank you very much for the appreciation and your pictures. I liked them thoroughly. It shows how the place has now transformed. Now whether its for good (more attractive to average tourists) or bad (lost a little originality of the history) that people will decide but at least from your picture it seems to be thrill visiting something amidst untamed nature, good for adventurists.

Regarding sunset, a matter of circumstance that our plan did not allow us to be at Panchet or Baranti dam during sunset, may be next time we would plan differently while covering Ayodhya and one of the villages as suggested by @sayakc.

[ABHI_1512]

Now whether its for good (more attractive to average tourists) or bad (lost a little originality of the history) that people will decide but at least from your picture it seems to be thrill visiting something amidst untamed nature, good for adventurists.

Well, for me the original charm is gone but if that’s the way it is for the future generations to know of the place then so be it. I remember there was a road uphill as well of around 8 kilometres from Garh which went towards the top of the Panchet hill and sunset views from the spot was supposed to be awesome. After driving my Figo for around 5 kilometres uphill, I found the boulder laden path too close for comfort for the undercarriage and I had to come down but that drive was one of the most thrilling drives ever till date in somewhat fading light and amidst the jungle. I am sure many from here know of that road uphill, not sure that road still exists though!

Sharing a picture here from the point where I had to make a u-turn!



Keep traveling and writing Sir , regards.

[haisaikat]

Rediscovering Maithon - Day 1

It was an opportunity to revisit Maithon after our last visit back in 2020 (To the Spring time Wonderland of Garh Panchkot, Baranti and Maithon in an Innova Crysta) along with Garhpanchkot and Baranti. This time it was an all family trip with the in-laws.

It was just a one night trip which meant we could manage with lesser luggage, so with all 3 rows up in the Crysta the boot was still sufficient to carry the luggage for 7 onboard. We started on Saturday from Kolkata by 7 am and after picking up everyone we took the Nivedita Setu route to exit the city in no time and met the NH-19 / Durgapur Expressway.

Our first stop was around 830 am at Nabanna Restaurant near Singur on NH-19. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet, they put up only on weekends and holidays.


Father-in-law was overjoyed to be part of this outing after a long period of confinement in the monotony of our usual lives. Within an hour we resumed again for our destination


The progress on the Durgapur expressway was smooth and by 12-45 pm we arrived at the parking of the West Bengal Tourism Lodge of Maithon. We checked into the ground floor cottages which offered uninterrupted view of the Maithon Dam. Lunch was done at the in-house restaurant; it was simplistic and we rested for a while thereafter to re=energize ourselves


By 3-30 pm we decided to set out for the local tour, only difference from last time was this time we banked on the expertise of a local guide who took us along, the Crysta carried everyone easily.


We wanted to make this tour in locally hired Toto Rickshaws but our guide suggested that Totos would not be fit for some of the places, this we soon understood why. Our first stop was at the Hydel power project, rather the side where the water gushes out. The approach road was pretty bad (to the extent of a few stretches not qualifying as roads) with big boulders here and there, was cautious of avoiding side wall damages to the tyres but with 8 on board the Crysta remained planted quite well on rough roads.


A great sight indeed, the waterfall although artificial heightened the tone of our expedition.


A video clip of the waterfall

https://youtu.be/cN8RQ3vdw-o

We had plans to visit Kalyaneshwari Temple for offering Puja in the evening, but we came to the adjacent Sitala temple in the interim which had a calming ambience inside including a meditation ground. We met a local priest named Pahari Baba who agreed to offer Sankalpa puja in the early morning auspicious hours at the Kalyaneshwari temple. We had plans to come back anyway in the evening so we wanted to make use of the remaining daylight to our advantage in covering some of the other places.

We headed for the last village of Bengal named Hadla bordering Jharkhand. The concrete tarmac was narrow so we drove slow and steady enjoying the natural beauty of the surrounding.


Observed several Mahua trees on the way, the local villagers are fond of this gift of nature, for its multi faceted use from medicinal, calming effect to even fermented alcohol making


The village roads continued to be narrow and had to drive carefully considering the safety of the livestock that kept crossing roads randomly


We entered a mud hut which was next to the ruins of a yester year building.




The locals were highly hospitable and made tea for us in their earthern stoves . . .


. . . while we sat out in the open lawn on traditional khatiyas enjoying the mud hut ambience


We left after some time and headed for the sunset point at Bathanbari




We passed through a jungle locally known as Sonajhuri forest




Drive through the sonajhuri forest, we slowed down deliberately

https://youtu.be/VlSmiE-WbpI

Arriving at the Sunset point of Bathanbari was smooth except the last 500-700 metres which was over undulating grassland without well defined roads for regular automobiles, our guide guided us carefully through the safer route.


The visit was worth as we stood in the cold water coming ashore and enjoyed the sunset




We headed back after the sunset towards Kalyaneshwari temple


We arrived at Kalyaneshwari temple by 6 pm and got our Pujas duly completed to our satisfaction


After the puja was over, we halted for some refreshments at a roadside dhaba on our way back and arrived finally at our hotel by 730 pm. The hotel was lit up nicely in the evening and after some rest we headed for dinner at the in-house restaurant.


Nights were pleasant and calm at Maithon


The entire property was covered in silence post 10 pm and we called it a day planning to get up early on the next day for the boating tour

[haisaikat]

Rediscovering Maithon - Day 2

Bird chirping woke us up by 530 am, we came out in the balcony, witnessing the gradual awakening of Maithon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX6kPxjgFUY

The sky started to turn orange gradually


It was quarter to 6 and we sighted the first glimpse of sun from our cottage room




It was a nice experience enjoying our bed tea while watching the sunrise


The boating point next to our hotel is where we would be headed and by 7 am we started the short drive along with our guide


Arrived at the boating point in no time and hired a bigger boat to house all of us, they had 3 helpers on board to support provisions for elders to get on and off the boat easily


Except the irritating sound of the diesel motor and the harsh sun, it was pretty enjoyable


Can you spot the oil residue from the motor floating on the water?


We asked them to put the top cover on


We arrived at the Sobuj Deep (Green Island) that had rocky boulder laden bed and some small amusement amenties, we were told that when water level is high during monsoon, disembarking on the island is not allowed


We enjoyed our time on this island strolling carefully on all sides








We spent around 30 minutes at Sobuj Deep and headed for our next stop . .


. . Ananda Deep, it was bigger than the previous island and deserted like before, looked to be a popular picnic spot from some of the left overs at few places


We walked along the island and went to the other side with our guide navigating us, he had proposed the idea of having the breakfast here previously which we had just haha-ed and given a pass






My sister in law and her husband, while father in law. mother in law and kid and wife decided to wait on the boat


A short video clip of our walk on the Ananda Deep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQlSjqXJiQ

Spending around 30 minutes here we headed back to our boat


The return was quick and we were overjoyed by the early morning boat ride and island visits










We boarded our car parked on the shore and reached back to our hotel by 9 am


Breakfast was sumptuous at our hotel


Pieces of Mahua flower kept on the plate at the breakfast table


We checked out of our hotel by 12 pm and headed for Kolkata. We reached Durgapur by 1 pm and made a 2 hour halt at the ITC Fortune Park for a gala lunch. Their Live Band was the icing on the cake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckIg8-SO6CA

We started off from Durgapur and except another brief halt at Shaktigarh for buying some lyangchas we arrived home after dropping everyone off by 730 pm. Thus a 500 KM weekend trip came to an end with some good memories of Maithon to cherish.


Thank you for reading !!!

[Wason4699]

Sir Missed you by a whisker I was there in Siddhabari. Next time whenever you visit here Please be our guest.