Pachmarhi
The only popular hill resort of Madhya Pradesh, Pachmarhi is a quaint small town with peaceful surroundings in Central India. Away from urban crowds and pollution, Pachmarhi is perfect destination for those who want to come closer to Nature. Situated at an altitude of 1,100 m in the Satpura Ranges, Pachmarhi get its name from the five Pandava Caves situated here. Deep ponds, tranquil forest and red lava hills lend incredible beauty to the place. The beauty of Pachmarhi lies in the fact that humans haven’t much interfered with natural creativity here. The rock-formations and temples seen here are mostly natural in form. Valleys, ravings and gorges and red sandstone cliffs retain the wondrous beauty in a pristine state.History
Discovered by Captain Forsyth of Bengal Lancers in 1857, Pachmarhi was once used by the British as military sanatorium. Its churches and cemeteries all reveal a colonial past of this lovely hill resort.
Prime Attractions
Pachmarhis rich in natural beauty, waterfalls, and stone caves. Some of the most popular tourist attractions here are:
- Apsara Vihar: A natural bathing pool at Pachmarhi, Apsara Vihar is especially popular among kids.
- Bee Fall: Also known as Jamuna Prapat, this waterfall is the supply source of potable water to Pachmarhi. The bathing pools near the fall act as magnets for tourists.
- Big Fall: Also known as Rajat Prapat, this 110 m high waterfall is a beloved place for adventure tourists to the city.
- Bison Lodge: Once home to Captain Forsyth, the Bison Lodge was built as a forest lodge in the woods of Satpuras in 1862. Now converted into a museum, it offers an insight into flora and fauna of the region. You can also watch an open-air theatre movie on wildlife here.
- Churches of Pachmarhi: The Catholic Church and the Christ Church at Pachmarhi are architectural marvels on their own.
- Duchess Fall: A paradise for mature lovers and adventure seekers, the first cascade of Duchess Fall can be reached after trekking for four kilometers. The place is also known as Jalwataran.
- Jata Shankar Cave: A trek for less than an hour can take you to the sacred Jata Shankar Cave, known so for the unique Siva lingam inside that seems to resemble the matted locks of Lord Shiva. It is also the origin point of the stream of Jambu Dwip.
- Pandava Caves: Five rock-cut caves here are believed to be more than 1000 years old. The local legends associate them with Pandavas, who are believed to have built them during their exile. One of the protected monuments in India, it is believed that during first century B.C., Buddhist monks took shelter in these caves.
- Priyadarshini Point: Once known as Forsyth Point, this beautiful vantage point offers commanding view of the entire region. The bird-eye’s view of the town and stunning sight of Handi Khoh ravine from here makes the visit to Priyadarshi Point worthwhile. Steep sides and a drop of 300 ft lend a bit of thrill and adventure to this point.
Adventure at Pachmarhi
Adventure enthusiasts love Pachmarhi for its excellent trails. Ranging from the short walk to the Jatashankar Cave to trekking to the hilltop temple of Chauragarh and more adventurous hiking trips to the woods of Satpuras, Pachmarhi is a trekkers’ paradise. Trained guides can help you notice interesting natural rock formation that might not be easily visible to an untrained eye. The gushing waterfalls, chirping of birds and valley scenes offer interesting vistas as you trek to the Dhoopgarh hilltop. Rocks in peculiar shapes and spectacular sunsets are other tourist attractions for rock climbers at Pachmarhi.
Fairs and Festivals
The most famous festival at Pachmarhi is Maha Shivratri that marks the occasion of Lord Shiva’s marriage with Goddess Parvati. Shivratri Mela is held in February or March every year to mark the occasion. The main attraction of the fair is the great procession of devotees with tridents that starts at the Mahadeo Temple, 10 km south of Pachmarhi, and marches all along the way to top of the Chauragarh Hill, where tridents are finally planted.
Nearby Excursion Points
There are several sites near Pachmarhi that offer delightful tourist attractions.
- Bhimbetka: Renowned for about 600 rock-cut caves with pre-historic drawings and paintings, Bhimbetka reveals the lifestyle of the Neolithic age.
- Bhopal: The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is within 200 km from Pachmarhi. There are historic monuments, nature parks, colorful markets, palaces, contemporary tourist attractions and mosques at Bhopal that are worth seeing.
Satpura National Park: Animal lovers will love to visit the Satpura National Park, where Nature displays its beautiful creations in the form of amazing variety of flora and fauna. Mountains covered with evergreen trees such as teak, bamboo, and sal, and harboring jungle beasts like tigers, leopards, blue bulls, bears, bisons, and four-horned deer are a pleasure for wildlife enthusiasts.
- Tamia: 78 km from Pachmarhi, it is a beautiful resort offering picture-perfect views of Satpura Ranges, Dudhi Plateau, and Narmada Valley.
Ideal Time to Visit Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi has a cool and pleasant weather conditions all around the year. Cool, fresh and crisp air of Pachmarhi provides relief from heat of the plains in summers and lovingly bites and pinches you in winters.
Where to Stay at Pachmarhi
Hill resort of Pachmarhi offers a number of accommodation options for people of all budgets, which include tourist bungalows, huts and cottages, holiday homes, hotels and resorts. These facilities are run by private operators as well as Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
How to Reach Pachmarhi
By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Pipariya, 47 km from Pachmarhi.
By Road: An excellent network of road connects Pachmarhi to significant tourist spots and important cities nearby. Private buses as well as buses operated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department link Pachmarhi to Bhopal, Chhindwara, Hoshangabad, Nagpur, and Pipariya.
Local Transport: At Pachmarhi, you can hire taxis, jeeps and buses for sightseeing easily. Bicycles can also be hired to ride through some of the best trails of the city.
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