Dhanbad, the mining town, is internationally famous for its rich coal fields. In and around Dhanbad is the richest mineral wealth of India. The collieries, various technical institutions and research centers of high order, attractive neighborhood and the landscapes are the attractions of this industrial city.

General Information

• Altitude: 840 ft. above sea level

• Temperature (Max./Min.) Deg C: Summer - 44/22 Winter - 22/08

• Rainfall:1418 mm (July to September)

• Best Season: October to March

• Clothing: Summer - Cotton/Tropical, Winter - Light Woolens

• Language spoken: Hindi, Bengali and English

What to See

Central Mining Research Station, Central Fuel Research Institute, Directorate General of Mines Safety & Indian School of Mines are some of the places to visit.

How to Reach
Air: Patna airport 325 km, Ranchi 169 km.
Rail: Dhanbad has an important railway station on Eastern Railway and is very well connected to Patna, Calcutta and other important Cities in India.
Road: Dhanbad is connected by road to Ranchi 169 km, Patna 323 km, Bokaro 84 km
Local Transport: Taxis, Scooters, Cycle Rickshaws are available
Conducted Tour: There is no regular trip but chartered buses or taxis are arranged from Ranchi and Patna by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.

Where to Stay

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation provides best accommodations, that suit all budgets, in its Tourist Bungalow Ratan Vihar.

Excursions

Topchanchi Lake (37 km): It is situated on national highway # 2. It is an artificial lake surrounded by green hills and forests and a wonderful place for picnics and spending quiet holidays.

Maithon Dam (52km): Literally meaning Mother's Abode, it is the biggest reservoir of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). This dam, designed for flood control, has been built on the Barakar river. It has a unique underground power station which is first of its kind in SE Asia. Just a little away from the dam lies an ancient temple at Kalyaneshwari. The lake at Maithon is spread over an area of 65 sq. km. There is a rest house on an island in the lake. Boating and fishing facilities are available. Close by, a Deer Park and a bird sanctuary are also situated.

Panchet Dam (50 km): Constructed on Damodar river, it is 22,155 ft long and 124 ft high. A hydel power station has also been constructed against the back ground of Panchet Hill in the eastern side of dam.

Jharia (10 km): A suburb of Dhanbad, it is a rich colliery center. There is a massive underground fire in the coal mines below the town for the last several decades.

Sindri (30km): There are fertilizer and other factories and a Govt Engineering College Bihar Institute of Technology.

Bokaro (47 km): Next door from Dhanbad is Bokaro, India's biggest steel complex. It is located on the southern bank of river Damodar along the Dhanbad - Ranchi highway and also on Delhi - Howrah railway line. Besides the steel plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), other places of interest are Garga Dam, City Park, Stadium, Cooling Pond, and a polytechnic. Hotels and guest houses are available here.