Location

Area: Pachmarhi
Country: India
Situated at: Madhya Pradesh - State
Nearest Airport: Bhopal(220km)
Nearest Railway Station: Pipariya(54km), Itarsi(150km)
District: Hoshangabad
Elevation: 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Population: 18,642 in (2011)
Language: Hindi
Time zone: IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code: 917578
Vehicle registration: MP-05
PIN Code: 461881
Highest Peak: Dhupgarh(1,350 m).
Pachmarhi is a hill station in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It has been the
location of a cantonment (Pachmarhi Cantonment) since British Raj.[2] It is widely
known as Satpura ki Rani ("Queen of Satpura"), situated at a height of 1100 m in a
valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district. Dhupgarh, the highest point
(1,350 m) in Madhya Pradesh and the Satpurarange, is located here.
History
The name Pachmarhi is believed to be derived from the Hindi words Panch ("five")
and Marhi ("caves"). According to a legend, these caves were built by
five Pandava brothers of Mahabharatha era during their fourteen years of exile. The
caves are situated on a hilltop and provide an excellent vantage point.
British arrival, Pachmarhi region came under the kingdom of the Gond king Bhawut
Singh, although it was a populated village or town at that time. Captain James
Forsyth of the British Army along with Subhedar Major Nathoo Ramji Powar who was
later made the Kotwal (Incharge of the armoury (Koth)of Pachmarhi, spotted the
plateau in the Pachmarhi region in 1857, while leading his troops on the way
to Jhansi.[3] It quickly developed into hill station and sanatorium for British troops in
the Central Provinces of India.
The population in 1901 was 3,020, rising to double that number in the hot summer
months. Pachmarhi also served as the summer capital for the Central Provinces.
The forest around the town is home to many rare varieties of plants. UNESCO added
Pachmarhi park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009. The total area of
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is 4981.72 km 2. It is located at longitude 22 11 to
22 50N and latitude 77 47 to 78 52E. It covers parts of three civil districts, viz.,
Hoshangabad (59.55%),Chhindwara (29.19%) and Betul (11.26%). It includes three
wildlife conservation units viz., Bori Sanctuary 485.72 km 2), Satpura National Park
(524.37 km2) and Pachmarhi Sanctuary (491.63 km2).[4][5]
Town

The town is not very large, and most of its area is under the administration of the
Pachmarhi Cantonment Board, serving the Indian Army. The population of
Pachmarhi is about 10,000, most of whom are connected with the Army installations
in the area.
A rarely used airstrip is situated near Dhupgarh. It is overrun with grass and is
seldom used. Tigers are known to have been sighted near the airstrip. Panther
sightings are common along the edge of the Pachmarhi Cantonment. The Indian
army education corps is sited there.
Tourism

Pandav Caves Pachmarhi

Sunset Point at Pachmarhi

Boat Club Lake

Artificial cascade of water near Bee Fall

Catholic Church at Pachmarhi

Bee Fall

Famous sitting spot at Pachmarhi Lake

Orchestra of Pachmarhi Cantontment playing a melody

Pachmarhi is a popular tourist retreat. Tourists visit Pachmarhi throughout the
year.There are lots of hotel mostly situated in market like Hotel shri krishna only few
cottages and resort and mp tourism hotels are situated in peace full location of
pachmarhi 2 or 3 km away from bus stand.
Pachmarhi also has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been
estimated to be as much as 10,000 years old. Shown in the picture is the garden at
the base of a tourist attraction called Pandava Caves. The caves are Buddhist in
origin but the name persists. The place has rich timber reserves including teak, but
being a part of a reserve no new construction or felling of trees is allowed. Having a
rich and rare flora as well as fauna, Pachmarhi needs central and state government
approval for any new construction outside the town area.
Some of the places of tourist interest here are:

Rajat Prapat (large waterfall)

Bee Fall

Dhoot Akhilesh

Bada Mahadev

Gupt Mahadev

Chauragarh (Shiv devotees come here in huge numbers during Mahashivratri)

Dhupgarh (the highest peak of the Satpuras and Madhya Pradesh)

Handi Khoh (deep valley)

Apsara Falls (fairy pool)

Jatashankar (stalagmite-filled cave in a deep ravine)

Duchess Fall

Pachmarhi Hill (whole view of Pachmarhi City)

Pansy Pool

Waters Meet

Picadilly Circus

Patharchatta

Crumps Crag

Lady Robertson's View

Colletin Crag

Mount Rosa

Handi Kho

Reechgarh

Rajendra Giri (beautiful gardens with natural scenery)

Bansri Bihar

Little Fall

Naagdwari

Draupadi Kund

Mid Point of India

Pachmarhi is blessed with very rich flora and fauna. It has endless nature spots, lush
greenery, breath-taking views, waterfalls, mountain streams, rich and rare wildlife.
Wildlife[edit]
Large mammal species include tiger, leopard, wild boar, gaur (Bos gaurus), chital
deer (Axis axis), muntjac deer, sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), and rhesus
macaques.

The endemic fauna includes chinkara, nilgai, wild dogs, the Indian wolf, bison, Indian
giant squirrels, and flying squirrels.
Rich biosphere[edit]
The forests of Pachmarhi, particularly in summer, are full of fruit trees such as
mangoes, jamun, custard fruit and lesser known but very delicious local fruits such
khatua, tendu, chunna, khinni and chaar. The forest is also known for its richness in
medicinal plants and herbs.
Dhupgarh[edit]
Highest point of Satpura ranges. It is known for sunrise and sunset view point. At
night one can see the lights of the neighboring towns such as Itarsi. At the day time
the view of the lush green valley offers a captivating view. One can reach the top
either by road or by trekking.
Chauragarh[edit]
This the second highest peak. It is a pilgrimage site with Lord Siva's temple at the
top. There is a Chauragarh fort there built by the kingSangram Shah of Gond
dynasty It is also a very well known spot for sunrise viewing. The sunrising scene
seen here is breathtaking and climbing 1300 steps to reach the point makes it worth.
B-Hill and B-Falls[edit]
This is the highest waterfall in pachmarhi. It is named as such because from a
distance the waterfall sounds like a bee.
Duchess Fall[edit]
This waterfall is the remotest as well as the most beautiful. There are Doctor Fish in
the pool made by the waterfall. The road to this waterfall is extreme, with very steep
inclinations.
PanarPani[edit]
Panarpani has a natural fresh water lake with forest around.
Sangam[edit]
This is a conflux of mountain streams behind Dhupgarh. The water in these streams
is crystal clear in all seasons except of course autumn.
Jatashankar and Mahadeo caves[edit]
These are mountain caves with fresh water dripping from them. One can witness
ecosystem at work out here with mountains feeding the streams with fresh water, the
water that they soak-in during autumn. As the name suggests, these caves and
many others like these are abode of lord Siva.
Silver Falls[edit]
Also called Rajat Prapat/Big Fall. The falls comes 2800+ feet roaring down the gorge
creating a sliver streak that gives its name. The view of dense, serene, virgin forest
and stream is simply mesmerizing.
Apsara Vihar[edit]
This is a mountain stream that creates a beautiful natural water pool, cascades and
waterfall in its course.

Other waterfalls[edit]
Pachmarhi's ecosystem is blessed with many waterfalls. To name a few are Silver
Fall, B-Fall, Little Fall, Duchess Fall etc.
Access[edit]
Pachmarhi is well connected from Bhopal, Chhindwara, Indore, Jabalpur. Buses start
from Habibganj ISBT of Bhopal and generally take close to 56 hours and from
Indore it takes 1011 hours via Bhopal to reach Pachmarhi. The buses move through
different towns like Chhindwara, Babai, Babai, Sohagpur and Pipariya. Pipariya is
the nearest railhead.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation buses are available for
Pachmarhi from Indore, Bhopal. These buses are air conditioned

Situated at 1100 m, Pachmarhi, popularly known as 'Satpura ki Rani' (Queen of

Satpura), sits beautifully, embellished by nature and history, amidst the Satpura
range. Legend says the Pandava brothers visited Pachmarhi during their exile.
This beautiful region in the hills, was discovered by Captain James Forsyth in 1857.
This most popular hill station of Madhya Pradesh is a treasure with ancient caves of
the Buddhist era residing in harmony with serene waterfalls.
Pachmarhi is sure to make you feel calm, the way you felt when you put your bare
feet on the garden grass for the first time, as a child.
Pachmarhis vast land area and animal life is not the only thing that draws great
interest to it. It has lots of history behind its origins. Aside from its history there is a
great deal of human impact on this biosphere, and today many tourists can go get an
experience of the natural beauties and wonders of this particular biosphere.
It was established by the Indian government and EPCO as a biosphere on March
3rd, 1999. But it certainly existed way before because it was discovered in 1857 by a
Bengal Lancer by the name of Colonel Forsyth. This spot quickly became known as
Forsyth point. There is, however, human history as well; there are at least 500
villages with in the areas of the biosphere. One may run into one of two tribes for
example, the Gonds and Korkus are two primitive tribes that call Pachmarhi their
home. They are primitive because of the fact that they live in small cave or rock
shelters, huts, and are content with a simple lifestyle. Just like cave drawings, many
drawings and images were found depicting things such as war or hunting. Some of
these depictions can date back as far as 1000 B.C.
Pachmarhi has become a large tourist attraction in the past years. It has plenty of
sites and attractions specifically geared towards tourism. Some examples of sites
that are enjoyed by many are Apsara Vihar, Rajat Parbat, and Duchess Falls. The
Apsara Vihar is also known as the Fair Pool and may be one of the most beautiful
pools in the entire biosphere. The Rajat Parbat means large or big falls, and drops
water from height of three hundred feet. It has many spots for a diverse group of
individuals. There are places that people may enjoy a picnic

with an amazing mountain top view. There are even spots for mountain climbers;
Lanjee Giri is a prime example of an attraction for rock climbing. For many of these
attractions hotels, transportation, escorts, and expert guides are available to get the
full experience out of ones visit.
In fact educational programs can piggy back off of the tourism. Students who are
studying abroad may find this to be a useful tool in gathering information for
academic and non academic use.
Pachmarhi is with out a doubt a very interesting place with rich history but see for
your self, maybe one day you can see it with your own eyes.
Climate of Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi is actually one of the more popular places to visit, as it has fairly good
weather all year-round. It is about 3500 feet above sea level, and gets about
785.84mm of annual rainfall, mostly during the monsoon season. The summer
months have nice weather due to its elevation. The temperature doesnt exceed 35
degrees Celsius during the day, and makes for an ideal place to vacation. Winter
months can get down to 4 degrees Celsius at night, which is pretty good considering
the bone-numbing temperatures in the Himalayan foothills, which are usually shut
down during the winter. Winter air is cold and crisp, with beautiful mist-filled air, and
the reserve is still used for vacationing. The monsoon season is the only time when
people going on vacation are less likely to come here, since the rain is usually
pouring most of the time, and the sky is cloudy almost constantly. The heavy
precipitation gives the places seasonal waterfalls and lush plant growth, and after the
season ends the place erupts with flowers and new growth for the summer. Overall,
this is one of the more pleasant and stable climates in India, and is an all-year-round
vacationing spot.

Fauna of Pachmarhi
Like most of Indias wilderness, the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve has a healthy
population of animal life within its borders. It supports a large number of medium and
large-sized game animals, as well as large predators like the leopard and tiger. The
dense vegetation and forested hills make for an ideal habitat for all the animal life to
be found here. The area has a long history of wildlife conservation and seems to
have all the animals that are in the biogeographic classification of that region. As per
a 1991 consensus, they reported 42 tigers, 74 leopards, 3475 wild boar, 964 barking
deer, 1223 guars, 981 cheetals, 981 samphars, 1282 Rhesus macaque, and 6
crocodiles. I will talk a little bit about each in detail, but for the sake of space, I will
leave out the bird, insect and arachnid populations simply because the sheer number
of interesting and unique species that I would feel the need to include otherwise.
Suffice it to say that the Pachmarhi region has a huge and awesome variety of
insects and arachnids, and about 101 different species of birds.
I will start with the large hunters in the region, the leopards, and the iconic predator
of India, the Bengal tiger. The Bengal tiger is the largest tiger, and predator, in India.
An adult male Bengal can get around 8.8 and 10.2 feet long and from 419 to 569
pounds. It hunts just about every kind of prey animal in its territory, using its
coloration and amazing stealth to ambush its prey from the undergrowth. The attack
is usually an instant death where the prey has almost no chance of escape. Its diet
mainly consists of wild pigs, buffalo, and the several species of deer in the area.
Leopards are even stealthier, and can be difficult to spot even if they are near a

populated area. They are very good climbers, and will drag prey up a tree to rest and
eat it without fear of another predator trying to steal it. They usually hunt at night, and
are expert stalkers, walking right up to prey without them noticing and seeming to
appear from nowhere. They go for the throat and neck, either taking out the jugular
or severing the spine. They will eat just about anything, even scavenging tiger kills
when available.
As for the prey animals, Ill start with the deer. The Pachmarhi Reserve has several
species of deer living in abundance in the forests and hills. The most common are
the Muntjac, Cheetal, and Sambar deer. The Muntjac, or barking deer, is a very tiny
species, small enough and sweet enough that you can actually keep them as pets.
They are introduced, and have a rather wide range of population. It nibbles on roots
and nutritious plants and is usually found in small groups, pairs, or alone. Sambar is
found almost all over India, and is one of the larger species of deer. They eat mostly
leaves, and are more active at night. They have become less shy of humans
because of the protection of the reserves and national parks. This is one of the tigers
favorite prey animals due to its large size and population. For people out in the wild,
its alarm call should be taken seriously, as it is usually an accurate indicator or a
predator in the area. Cheetal, or spotted deer, have coats that are similar to an
American whitetail deer fawn. They are very nervous and are usually found in large
hers of 30 to 50 individuals, mostly does and a few bucks. They are usually under
trees where langur monkeys are at, since the monkeys drop tidbits of food and will
call an alarm if they see a predator. They mostly eat grass, so you are as likely to
find them in dense forest as you will in more open and grassy areas.
Indian wild boar is very wide-spread and populous. They are amazingly tough
creatures like any wild boar. They eat a wide variety of plant matter, focusing on
nuts, roots, and seeds. They also will eat insects, eggs, and carrion. Males are
usually solitary, but females are usually

found in groups of around twenty or more individuals, though some can have as
many as 100 members. They sleep in groups with bodily contact, and will use the
same resting spot several times before moving on.
The Gaur is a large bovine animal that has horns in both males and females. They
are usually diurnal animals, but when disturbed by human populations they tend to
become nocturnal to avoid contact with people. They mostly eat grasses, shoots,
and fruits, and usually in groups of anywhere from 2 to 40 individuals, though adult
males may travel alone. It is usually near water, but it will go rushing back to the
cover of the forest when startled.
One of the most common monkeys in India is the Rhesus macaque, and its not only
limited to India either. They have a range stretching throughout mainland Asia and
Afghanistan. They are very good at living near and with humans, and are found in
many cities in Asia. They are very enterprising and get most of their food from people
leaving them things to eat. In the wild their diet is as varied as any primate, mostly
eating berries and fruits as well as insects and other small animals. They are very
socially complex, and can be in groups of almost any size, though you seldom see
them as only solitary or a pair. They are also worshipped in some temples in India
and other parts of Asia, so they live in these temples and are given offerings of food.
They are prey for just about anything that can catch them, including birds of prey.
As you can see, there is a rich and healthy animal population in the Pachmarhi
Biosphere Reserve, and these are only some of the larger animals, only a small
number of species that co-exist here. They are all protected by the natural cover of
the forest and the government protection that India has placed upon the region.
Hopefully this biosphere will continue to enjoy the protection it has been given and
prosper as a place of wildlife refuge and environmental

BACKGROUND
Pachmarhi is the most beautiful hill station in Madhya Pradesh, India. Pachmarhi
is a combination of belief, past history and nature. It is also known for the
Pachmarhi Cantonment. It is situated at a height of 1000 meters in the Satpura
Range. The town is not very large, and most of its area is under the administration
of the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board, serving the Indian Army. The civilian portion
of the town is small, and lies towards the tip of a lake. It has some hotels and a
movie hall. A bazaar runs through the small town. An club and golf course exist,
for the usage of military personnel. The town has an area of about 1314.7
hectares. It can be subdivided into Cantonment area 758 hectares & Civil area of
556.7 hectares. Major portion of the population lives in area under the control of
Cantonment Board. Small part of the population is inhabits the SADA area.
Restricted defense area of Pachmarhi is also a part of the town.
This Saucer shaped valley was discovered by Captain James Forsyth of the
British Army in 1857, and built a sanatorium for British troops in the Central
Provinces of India. The reserve forest around the town Pachmarhi is home to
many rare varieties of "Flora and Fauna". UNESCO declared Pachmarhi park as
Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.
2. TOURIST PLACES
Some of the places of tourist attractions here are: Apsara Vihar, Bee Fall
Chauragarh, Dhoopgarh, Gupt Mahadev, Handi Kho, Irene Pool, Jatasankar,
Lanjee Giri, Pandava Caves, Priyadarshini Point & Rajat Prapat etc.
3. GEOLOGY
Pachmarhi comes under Hoshangabad district which can be divided into two
geological units. In the northern portion the Narmada alluvium, which are primarily
the deposits of Pleistocene age, longitudinally covers more than half of the district
2
and the southern portion of the district forms part of the Satpura range. In this
range Gondwana rocks are fully represented. The area exhibits a wide variety of
geological rock and soil formations. The Archean Phyllites and Schists, the
Jurassic Perian Gondwana sandstone formations of Bagna, Denwa, and
Pachmarhi series, the cretaceous-Eocene Deccan trapsills and dykes and recent
alluvium are all found in the area. Teak is found to be rich and abundant on trap
formations and absent from the Gondwana sandstones, which are covered by
mixed forests of deciduous species.
4. CLIMATE AND RAINFALL
Pachmarhi town being located on a slightly elevated plateau and surrounded by
thick forests has fairly pleasant climate throughout the year. Average rainfall
recorded at Pachmarhi is 1719.6 mm. Predominant wind direction during summer
season is from northwest whereas in winter and rainy season it is observed to be
very slow and therefore in this season maximum calm days are recorded.
5. POPULATION
As per 2001 census the population of Pachmarhi is about 14500.It has undergone
changes in population status and since 1961 it is showing an increasing trend.
Pachmarhi Population
Year Cantonment area SADA
Area
Pachmarhi
UA
1941 6200 500 6700

1951 4900 340 5240

1961 5490 660 6150
1971 8010 1210 9220
1981 9540 1540 11080
1991 10080 2410 12490
2001 11374 3000 14374
2011 16300 4000 20300
*Census of India 2011 projected
3
Floating population
Pachmarhi is the summer capital of Madhya Pradesh, it is a popular tourist
destination today, receives large number of tourists. During peak days, on
an average 3000 tourists visit the place. Apart from this, on the occasions of
religious fairs held on Nagpanchami and Mahashivratri nearly 3 to 5 lakhs
pilgrims come to Pachmarhi. Study of past data indicates that the number of
foreign tourist visiting Pachmarhi is negligible. Following table suggests
month-wise number of tourists expected to arrive in Pachmarhi by the year
2011.
Month Estimated No of
Tourists
Average number of tourists
per day
January 10555 681
February 14290 1021
March 15035 970
April 15940 1062
May 48750 3145
June 33945 2263
July 13375 863
August 10305 665
September 13260 884
October 32520 2098
November 22290 1486
December 34535 2228
Source: Master Plan of Pachmarhi, T&CP Department
6. EXISTING STATES
Solid waste generating from households, shops and establishments is getting
disposed of on the streets, footpaths, open space, drains and water bodies. The
waste should be stored at the sources of generation. Out of the waste generated
recyclable waste should be stored separately and primary collection system fails to
ensure either doorstep collection or community based collection. This collection
system is also not synchronizing with communal waste storage facility. Present
4
system of waste transportation demands multiple handling of waste, which should
be avoided.
Primary collectors, who work in unhygienic conditions, do sweeping of
roads and cleaning of drains manually. Although some equipments have
been provided to them but health awareness among them is lacking. They
need to be educated and encouraged to adopt all safety measures while on
job.

 Number of community dustbins need to be increased, simultaneously

existing bins should be maintained properly. Dustbins should be designed
in such a way that they are beyond the reach of stray animals.
Dumping of waste is not disposal of waste. In Pachmarhi, this is perhaps
the weakest link in the waste management system. Existing dumping site is
merely a garbage yard. By no means it can be considered as a sanitary
land fill (SLF) which is a scientific method of refuse disposal.
Existing open dumping system may cause not only health hazards and fire,
but is potential breeding ground of vectors and diseases. It may also
contaminate ground water if the rock profile allows the leachets to
percolate.
As stated earlier, in SADA area major part of the waste is disposed of by
burning in small heaps whereas in Cant area waste is burnt at the dumping
site.
Pteridophytic Flora of Pachmarhi - A compilation
Dr. Jagdish Sujatha
Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization, Bhopal
The pteridophytic flora of Pachmarhi is very rich, as various gorges provide
ideal habitat for the growth of such plants. This place has one of the richest
floras of India representing north and south India floras.
During past years extensive survey of different remote areas of Pachmarhi in
different directions and at different altitudinal ranges have been explored by
various researchser in connection with pteridophytic biodiversity. These study
reveals occurence of 107 species, belonging to 18 families and 52 genera.
In the present article an attempt has been made to compile these available
informations.

Getting There
By flight: The nearest airport to Pachmarhi is Bhopal at a distance of 210
km. There are regular flights to Delhi, Gwalior, Indore and Mumbai from
Bhopal.
By Train: The nearest rail head to Pachmarhi is Pipariya at a distance of
47 km. Trains run from Pipariya to major Indian cities like Chennai,
Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.
By Road: Pachmarhi has a good network of roads connecting to the cities
of Nagpur, Bhopal, Pipariya, Hoshangabad and Chindwara with regular bus
services. The distance from Bhopal to Pachmarhi is about 210 km. The
driving time from Itarsi to Pachmarhi is 1 hour, from Jabalpur to Pachmarhi
is 2 hours and from Nagpur to Pachmarhi is 8 hours.

PACHMARHI THE SAUCER SHAPED

VALLEY
India

Blessed with verdant meadows, gurgling streams and cascading waterfalls,

the saucer shaped valley of Pachmarhi (meaning 5 caves) is a beautiful hill
station situated in the Satpura Mountain Range in the state of Madhya
Pradesh in India. The hill station is at an altitude of 3,550 ft and is popularly
called Queen of Satpura.

Attractions
You will never fall short of places to visit or activities to indulge in. Here are
the major ones:

1. Apsara Vihar Falls

Apsara Vihar Falls or Fairy Pool is a charming bathing pool formed by a tiny
waterfall, close to the Pandava Caves. The place is popular as a picnic spot.
Swimming and diving in the pool are other popular activities.
2. Bastar Dussehra Festival
The Bastar Dussehra festival is celebrated with great pomp in the months of
September and October with the Navaratri celebrations lasting for 9 days. The
festival culminates in a grand procession.
3. Bee Falls

Also called Jamnua Prapat, Bee Falls is an enchanting falls and the source of
drinking water to the town of Pachmarhi. Bathing pools above the falls provide
another attraction for bathers. This is a marvelous place for picnic.
4. Bison Lodge
Bison Lodge, constructed in the year 1862 is the oldest house in Pachmarhi. There
is a museum here now with displays of plants and animals endemic to Pachmarhi.
Interesting exhibits include stuffed tigers, an enormous stuffed bison, striking
photographs of Pachmarhi and wood samples.
5. Catholic Church
The Catholic Church features French and Irish architecture. The church also has
beautiful Belgian stained glass windows. Several fallen soldiers of the First and
Second World War are buried in the church cemetery.
6. Cave Shelters
Some of the well known cave shelters around Pachmarhi are Dhuandhar, Bharat
Neer or Dorothy Deep, Asthachal or Monte Rosa and Jambu Dwip Valley cave
shelters. Dhuandhar Cave Shelter can be reached from the footpath to Apsara Vihar
and features paintings of a group of archers with typical Gond buns and hooped
earrings. Bharat Neer or Dorothy Deep Cave Shelter has animal paintings. Asthachal
or Monte Rosa Cave Shelter features linear drawings. The Jambu Dwip Valley has 6
cave shelters which feature paintings of animals and humans.
7. Chauragarh Peak
Chauragarh Peak is located at a height above sea level of 1,326 m. Scenic views of
the dense forests, valleys and hills can be had from here. The temple of Lord
Mahadev is situated on top of the hill and one has to climb 1,250 steps to reach
here. The temple attracts hordes of devotees during the festival of Maha Shivratri.
The courtyard of the temple has several tridents or trishuls in it.
8. Chhota Mahadeo
Chhota Mahadeo is a cave situated at Village Tamia at a distance of 32 miles from
Chhindwara on the Chhindwara Pachmari Road. This is considered to be a holy
place with a Shivalingam in it and is surrounded by rocks overhanging a stream and
a spring. The water from the spring plunges down as a steep waterfall.
9. Chieftains Cave

The Chieftains Cave is named after a painting depicting a battle scene with 2
chieftains on horses.
10. Christ Church
Dating back to the year 1875, Christ Church is a fascinating church with its sanctumsanctorum featuring a hemispherical dome on top with ribs ending with faces of
angels. The church also has stained glass windows, a brass baptismal font and a
bell. The chimes of the bell can be heard from afar.
11. Dhupgarh
Dhupgarh is the highest point in the Satpura range at an altitude of 4,429 ft with
beautiful views of the rising and setting sun, valleys and ravines. Dhupgarh is a
favourite spot for picnickers.
12. Duchess Falls
Plunging down into 3 different falls from a height of 100 m, Duchess Falls also called
Ramaya Kund or Irene Pool are magnificent falls situated in the Satpura Mountain
Range. The base of the waterfalls has several pools which are quite safe for bathing
and swimming.
13. Handi Khoh Ravine
Handi Khoh is a magnificent ravine with a 300 ft high cliff and surrounded by thick
lush forests. The cliff is host to several big beehives. Superb scenery is another
attraction of Handi Khoh Ravine.
14. Harpers Cave
Harpers Cave is close to Jata Shankar Cave. It is named after one of its paintings in
which a man is seated, playing a harp.
15. Indira Priyadarshini Point
Indira Priyadarshini Point also known as Forsythe Point, has heart stopping views of
Pachmarhi and the Handi Khoh ravine. One can also have fabulous views of the
setting sun against the backdrop of the Satpura Mountain Range.
16. Jata Shankar Cave
Situated north of Pachmarhi in a deep ravine, Jata Shankar Cave is a natural cave
with a stalagmite inside the cave in the form of a Shivalingam. A rock formation
resembling the hundred headed divine snake Seshnag is found in the cave. There

are 2 spring fed ponds in the vicinity of the caves, one being a cold water spring and
the other a hot water spring.
17. Kites Crag
Kites Crag features magnificent cave paintings which are in white or outlined in red.
18. Mahadeo Hill
Mahadeo Hill is a sandstone hill in the Satpura Range at a height of 1,363 m above
sea level. There is a very old temple here dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple has
an impressive idol of Lord Shiva and a Shivalingam. On the eastern side of the hill is
a cave with several magnificent cave paintings. There is also a pond for devotees to
dip into.
19. Pandava Caves
Five rock cut caves comprise the Pandava Caves in which the Pandavas are
believed to have sheltered during their exile. These 5 caves are located on a
sandstone hillock. The Pandava Caves housed Buddhist monks in the first century.
The biggest and most ventilated cave is named Draupadi Kuti and the darkest cave
is called Bhim Kothari.
20. Reechhgarh
Reechhgarh or Fortress of the Bears is a cave in the shape of an amphitheater with
an entrance, an exit and a central podium.
21. Sangam
Sangam also known as Fullers Khud or Waters Meet is the lowest of picnic spots on
the Denwa Stream. There are several bathing pools here.
22. Satpura National Park
Covering a vast area of 524 square km, Satpura National Park is a part of the
Central Indian Highland Ecosystem and boasts of a wide variety of birds and
animals. Wildlife includes bison, tigers, leopards and 4 horned deer. Thick evergreen
forests of sal, teak and bamboo can be found here. The park features rivulets,
waterfalls, an enormous reservoir, sandstone mountains, deep gorges and ravines.
23. Silver Falls

Silver Falls is also called Rajat Prapat or Big Falls and is a 10 minute walk from
Apsara Vihar. The falls is in the shape of a horsetail and plunges down from a height
of 351 ft.
24. Sunder Kund
Sunder Kund also known as Saunders Pool is reached by crossing a stream below
Duchess Falls and walking on a footpath in a south westerly direction for a distance
of 2.5 km. This pool is popular with swimmers.
25. Tridhara

Tridhara or Piccadilly Circus is a beautiful place where 2 streams meet in a junction.

This place is ideal for picnics.
26. Vanshree Vihar
Vanshree Vihar also known as Pansy Pool is a pretty pool found on the Denwa
Stream and surrounded by ferns, semi-tropical vegetation and trees. This is another
place popular with picnickers.
Quick Facts
Location: Pachmarhi is situated in the Satpura Mountain Range of
Madhya Pradesh State in India.
Altitude: Pachmarhi is at an altitude of 1,067 m or 3,550 ft.
Climate: Average temperature ranges from 14.9C to 25.7C. Pachmarhi
receives an average annual rainfall of 785.84 mm.
Best Time to Travel: April to July is the best time to visit Pachmarhi.
Accommodation: Tourist bungalows, holiday homes, cottages, youth
hostels and budget hotels are available.

A place blessed with red-sandstone cliffs and emerald-green coppices, Panchmarhi

is a magnificent work of art. It stands tall as being the only hill resort in the entire
state of Madhya Pradesh. A summer retreat during the days of the British regime, the
place today embraces tourists from every alcove of India. With its jutting peaks, lush
glades, cascading falls and unfathomable ravines, the splendor of this hill resort

remains enviable. In fact, the beauty of Pachmarhi has played a pivotal role in
augmenting travel and tourism in the state.
This little oasis of warmth, placidity and beauty is set against the jagged backdrop of
the Satpura mountain ranges and is elevated at a height of 3,350 ft. As far as
mythological legends are concerned, Pachmarhi is believed to have borrowed its
name from the Panch Marha (five caves) in the region. These caves are said to have
served as the abode of the five Pandava brothers during their period of exile and
form an important tourist draw of the place. Even in the cave sanctuaries of
Mahadeo hills of Panchmarhi, antique rock paintings remain treasured. All these
make the place a rich archaeological treasure trove.
Complementing the luxuriant showers of nature and archaeological wonders; ancient
monuments, dating back to the colonial era, also lace the landscape of Panchmarhi.
The place owes its discovery to Captain James Forsyth of the Bengal Lancers,
whose pioneering work made it a health sanatorium and a summer retreat of the
Central province in British India. The legacies of British, in the form of churches &
cemeteries, magnify the otherwise quintessential beauty of the place. From newly
wed honeymooners to elderly couples, the place today awes and hypnotizes all who
saunters to its lap.
With a landscape that dishes out so many wonders, the beauty of Pachmarhi today
is equated with the hill stations of the Himalayas. Nevertheless, what makes this
paradisiacal place unique is its virginal air that has still eluded commercialism. One
can indulge in the true mountain spirit, without getting assaulted with the cacophony
of a city life. Its winding tracks that cut across thickets of sal, bamboo and teak trees
provide travelers with adventurous trekking opportunities. Scaling its mountains and
dipping in its sparkling ponds are a few activities tourists love to enjoy. If you have an
eye for beauty, Pachmarhi is the place where you need to be.

adhya Pradesh is one of those states of India which are yet to be explored.
And Pachmarhi is one such hill station in the long list of to be explored
places of MP.
What is the most beautiful thing about Pachmarhi is it's lush greenery which
is mainly because of thick forestation of Sal trees. Pachmarhi is also know
as Satpura ki Rani orQueen of Satpura because the place is loccated in the
Satpura Range.
Dhupgarh, the highest point (1,350 m) in the central India region and the
Vindhya and Satpura range, is located here. The other major peak is

Chauragarh, situated at an altitude of 1,330m is the second highest peak of

this region and a popular pilgrimage site with a temple of Lord Shiva at the
top. This place is renowned for honey and Ayurvedic medicines.
History
Pachmarhi region was the kingdom of the Gond tribe King Bhawut Singh.
Prior to annexation to the British Empire, it was the capital of this tribal
dynasty. The area was introduced to the western world by Captain James
Forsyth of the British Army in 1857. Pachmarhi became a hill station and
sanatorium for British troops in the Central Provinces of India. The forest
around the town is home to many rare varieties of plants. UNESCO added
Pachmarhi Park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.
Pachmarhi got its name from Hindi word "Panch Marhi", where "Panch"
means five and "Marhi" means caves. These caves were built by five
Pandav brothers of Mahabharatha epic during their fourteen years of exile.
The caves are situated on a top of hill and provide an excellent vantage
point.
Climate
Pachmarhi is best visited during the onset of the winters i.e from November
to March which is the peak tourist season here.
Places of interest
Rajat Prapat is a waterfall in Hoshangabad district in the Indian state of
Madhya Pradesh. It is the 30th highest waterfall in India. It is a horsetail
type waterfall with a single drop of 107 metres (351 ft). When sunlight falls
on it, it shines as silver, that is why it is known as Rajat Prapat or Silver
Fall. In Hindi, 'rajat' means silver and 'prapat' means falls.
There is also a way to trek to the base of Rajat Prapat which requires the
services of a forest guide as the path winds through thick bushes in the
interior of Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The prehistoric cave paintings on
the way, estimated to be as much as 10,000 years old, are also very
revered and give a glimpse of the early life of the denizens in this part of
the world.
Jamuna Prapat commonly known as Bee Falls is located on the other side
of Rajat Prapat. It's quite popular among the tourists and there are quite a

few numbers of steps close to 100 which cover around 800 metres and
take one to the base of this magnificent waterfall. There are bathing pools
above this waterfall which are also very popular.
Apsara Vihar- The 'fairy pool' or "Apsara Vihar" is an ideal picnic spot for
families, since the pool is shallow, deepening only towards the base of the
fall. It is said that English ladies used to bath here giving impression of
fairies to the locals. To reach this, one has to walk around 2 km through the
forest, on the way to Rajat Prapat. The trek which includes small ascends
and descends can be easily done.
There are many other places like Pandav Caves, Dhoopgarh and Handi
Khoh which add to the old world charm of enjoying the cool breeze in the
lap of mountainranges creating a panorama treat to the eyes.
Dhoopgarh is the highest point in the Satpura range, with a magnificent
view of the surrounding ranges. It's a very popular spot for viewing sunsets
and sunrises. There are two opposite vantage points, one for sunrise and
the other for sunset, on this peak which gives one the glimpse of entire
Satpura Range.
The Pandav Caves at the outskirts of this town and just at the mouth of
Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary are a cluster of five ancient dwellings
excavated in the sandstone rock in a low hill. Pachmarhi derives its name
from these caves which, as the legend goes, once provided sanctuary to
the five Pandav brothers. These caves, though Buddhist in origin, are now
protected monuments. The garden at the foothills is beautiful and well
maintained.
There is a famous Hindu shrine of Lord Shiva at the top of Chauragarh in
Pachmarhi. Chauragarh is the second highest peak in Pachmarhi, at an
altitude of 1,330 m, and the temple can be accessed after a 3.6 km long
trek. The last Km is basically 1,380 steps cut on the sheer rock face. the
track finally starts winding upwards. On one side of the road is an
unrestricted view of the Satpura valley, most of which is part of the Satpura
National Park and Tiger Reserve and on the other side are sheer vertical
cliffs of ancient rocks. As one trudges on higher and higher, the scenery
begins to unfold slowly and steadily.

Finally after close to 2 hours of climbing, one reaches the top and the view is
just spell binding to say the least. There is an assortment of many types of
trishuls arranged in a concentric circles and is a wonderful sight to behold
at the entrance of this age old temple.
How to get there

By air
The closest major airport to Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh is Raja Bhoj
Airport (BHO / VABP) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India and is 200 Km from
Pachmarhi, India.
By rail
The nearest rail head to Pachmarhi is Pipariya, about 54 Kms away.
Located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Pachmarhi is
nearly 200 Kms away from the state capital, Bhopal. Pipariya is on ItarsiJabalpur rail line, 2 hours from Jabalpur and approximately 1 hour from
Itarsi. Shared taxis (Bolero) or buses are available from Pipariya. Bolero
charges INR 50 per head.

By road
Pachmarhi can also be reached directly by bus from Bhopal, which is 210
km away by road, Itarsi or Jabalpur. Pachmarhi can also be reached from
Nagpur. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has started 2x2
luxury buses, which take eight hours to reach Pachmarhi

With the increasing commercialization of hill stations n the north,

Pachmarhi stands as a perfect gateway for the city dwellers from the
central part of India to revel the untouched beauty of this place in a space
that has kept time stagnant in its lap. "Satpura ke ghane jangal"- a hindi

poem by Bhavani Prasad Mishra certainly does justice to the splendour of

this place.