The picnic season has set in and the popular tourist hotspots in Dhanbad are getting ready to welcome the weary souls dying to escape the madding crowd to nestle in the lap of nature. Praduman Choubey lists the places that can provide a perfect backdrop for a lunch with family and friends on a balmy winter afternoon

Maithon
About 48km from Dhanbad

Attractions: The 15,712-feet long and 165-feet high Maithon Dam situated over Barakar River and the Maithon Lake spread over 65sqkm are a picnicker’s paradise. Boating around islands such as Sabuj Deep and Chamoch Deep will help you realise while Maithon is called the “Kashmir of Koylanchal”. Located less than 100 metres away from the dam, Ma Kalyaneshwari Temple is also visited by a devotees from Jharkhand, Bengal and Bihar. You can visit the deer park of Damodar Valley Corporation before wrapping up your trip. Maithon is also a perfect getaway for bird lovers as a wide variety of migratory birds flock to the place from various Siberian and Mongolian countries during this time.

How to get there: Besides trains like Coalfield Express and Black Diamond Express, you can avail the recently launched tourist bus service by Dhanbad Municipal Corporation. 

Topchanchi
35km from district headquarters

Attractions: Nestled amid green hills and forests, Topchanchi Lake draws huge footfalls every year. The serene surroundings and the pristine water are particularly alluring for nature and bird lovers, who can spot a wide variety of migratory birds here. Wildlife enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary that houses barking deer, wild boar, mongoose, chital, langur and jackal.

How to get there: You reach the place in about an hour from Dhanbad in buses, auto rickshaws or hired cars.

Bhatinda Falls
About 15km from Dhanbad under Moonidih police station area

Attraction: A popular draw for the youth and college students, Bhatinda Falls at the confluence of Katri and Damodar rivers, is a visual treat. Water falling on the rocks from a height of around 10 metres gets accumulated in three ponds. Swings, slides and sea-saws installed near the fall keep kids engaged.

How to get there: Auto-rickshaws, buses and taxis are easily available.

Birsa Munda Park
6km from the district headquarters

Attractions: Equipped with swings, sliders, toy train, vortex (illusion ride), a dragon train, and sea-saws, the park will keep kids entertained for hours. Besides three eateries serving mouth-watering fast food and south Indian dishes, a new food court will do away with the need to come with packed lunch boxes. A musical laser fountain being installed at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore is also expected to become popular.

How to get there: Auto-rickshaw, bikes and taxis are available.

Panchet
About 50km from district headquarters

Attractions: The 22,155-feet long and 134-feet high Panchet Dam situated over Damodar River is a big hit with tourists from both Bengal and Jharkhand. If reptiles doesn’t creep you out, you can visit the snake park of Mubarak Hasan too. An inspection bungalow in the vicinity of the dam is a favourite accommodation option.

How to get there: Board a train from Kumardubi. Buses and hired cars are also available.