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Voykit pocket guide · India
Maithon
Spend a half‑day at Maithon Dam and temples; add one night if you want lake sunset or boat trips.
Maithon is a small town in northern Jharkhand on the Grand Trunk Road. The dam, riverside temples and cheap boat rides fit a day visit; a night adds relaxed sunset on Sabuj Dwip.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Sep (hot, monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹1,800 excl. bed · High ₹1,800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local auto (30 km (19 mi))Local auto (19 mi (30 km)) | ₹300–₹400 |
| Row‑boat seat | ₹300 (+₹20–50 tip) |
| Speed‑boat ride | ₹500 |
| Dorm bed (Hotel Shantinivas) | ₹300 per bed |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXR · Birsa Munda Airport (Ranchi)
- ≈ 150 km (93 mi) by road via NH 19≈ 93 mi (150 km) by road via NH 19
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
- ≈ 200 km (124 mi) by road, main international gateway≈ 124 mi (200 km) by road, main international gateway
Typical fares
- Auto Asansol → Maithon
- about ₹300–₹400 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local auto rickshaws from Asansol or Kumardubi cost ₹300‑₹400 (check). Mini‑bus runs to Asansol; hire a car on NH 19 for flexibility.
See and do
Known for
- Maithon Dam
- Kalyaneshwari Temple
- Begunia temple complex
- Row‑boat rides on the reservoir
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Asansol | Train to Asansol (30 km (19 mi)) then auto ₹300‑₹400Train to Asansol (19 mi (30 km)) then auto ₹300‑₹400 | ≈1 h |
| Baranti | NH 19 bus or hired car, about 38 km (24 mi)NH 19 bus or hired car, about 24 mi (38 km) | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Asha Resorts
- Near Kalyaneswari Temple; basic rooms
- Hotel Barsha
- Standard hotel on NH 19
- Hotel Shantinivas
- Double‑bedded AC ₹800‑1,000; non‑AC ₹700; dorm ₹300 per bed
- Muktodhara Tourism Property
- Double‑bedded rooms ₹1,000‑2,000; run by West Bengal Tourism
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?kya card se bhugtan kar sakta hoon? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Auto fares vary; confirm price before boarding.
- Boat operators expect a ₹20‑50 tip.
- Dam water level can affect boat access; check locally.
Generally safe; watch traffic on NH 19, keep valuables secure, and avoid isolated spots after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maithon yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maithon Dam
- Kalyaneshwari Temple
- Begunia temple complex
- Row‑boat rides on the reservoir
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Jharkhand Tourism – Maithon: tourism.jharkhand.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage: Maithon, revision 5242250 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242250
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Maithon
कृपया इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All services112
US consulate in Kolkata; other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/maithon). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.