Pachmarhi

Fast Facts :
Area : 59.01 sq km
Altitude : 1, 100 m above sea level
Population : 12,495
Languages : Hindi, English
Religion : Hinduism (94.21%), Others (5.79%)
Annual Mean Rainfall : 785.84 mm
Maximum Temperature : 25.7°C
Minimum Temperature : 14.9°C
STD Code : 07578

Introduction : Panchmarhi is a pulsating hill resort in the central state of India, Madhya Pradesh. Panchmarhi is far and away from the madding crowds. The hill resort is the perfect place to holiday in the lap of nature. The hill resort derives its name from the five Pandav caves it is home to.

Location : The hill resort of Pachmarhi lies in the Satpura ranges, at an altitude of 1,100m. At Pachmarhi there are tranquil forests along with deep ponds and lava hills. Formed of red sandstone, the valley, ravines and the maze of gorges at Pachmarhi are attractive.

Past : Captain Forsyth of Bengal Lancers discovered the hill resort of Pachmarhi in 1857. The hill resort had a colonial past. The churches and cemeteries of Pachmarhi reveal the same. Besides being a hill resort Pachmarhi was a military sanatorium of the British.

Sites to Visit : Besides enjoying natural beauty you may visit the several places of tourist interest in Pachmarhi India.

One of the must visits at Pachmarhi is the Pandav Caves. As the name indicates there five rock cut caves are associated with the Pandavas. The Pandavas are believed to have resided in these thousand year old caves during their exile. Besides the Pandavas even the Buddhists monks are believed to have taken shelter here in the first century B.C. Now the caves are protected monuments.

To catch the sight of the hill resort and spectacular surroundings you may visit move on to the Priyadarshini Point. The vintage point was earlier known as Forsyth Point. Named after Captain Forsyth who discovered the beauty of Pachmarhi. The point offers a commanding view of the town and the region. One of the eye-catching sights is that of the Handi Khoh ravine. There are steep sides and a drop of three hundred feet!

The other landmark in Pachmarhi associated with Captain Forsyth is the Bison Lodge. The forest lodge of 1862 is now a museum. You may visit the museum for an insight into the flora and fauna of the Satpura region. At the Bison Lodge you may watch a film on wildlife in the open-air theatre.

There is more for the nature lovers in Pachmarhi. The waterfall of Jamuna Prapat or the Bee Fall supplies potable water to the hill resort. Plus there are bathing pools over the fall that attracts several tourists.

Then there is the "Big Fall" of Rajat Prapat. The hundred and ten meters high fall is a must visit for the adventurers in Pachmarhi India.

The hill resort of Pachmarhi also has natural bathing pool in Apsara Vihar. This tourist attraction is popular especially with the kids.

The hill resort of Pachmarhi is paradise for the adventure seekers. You may trek for four kilometers and be at the base of the first cascade of Jalwataran or the Duchess Fall.

By trekking for less than an hour you may reach the sacred Jata Shankar cave. The cave has a Siva lingam inside the cave, which resembles the matted locks of Lord Shiva. Thus gets its name. The Jambu Dwip stream originates from this very cave.

The Catholic Church and the Christ Church are the architectural marvels worth seeing in Pachmarhi.

Sites Near By : The hill resort of Pachmarhi has several sites worth seeing near by. For the animal lovers visit to the Saputara National Park is a must. The park has fantabulous flora and fauna. You may spot animals like the bison, tiger, leopard, bear, four-horned deer and blue-bull et al. The evergreen sal, teak and bamboo together with the mountain peaks add to the beauty of the park.

Then there is the resort of Tamia, Seventy-eight km from Pachmarhi. In the picture perfect Tamia you can enjoy vistas of the Saputara ranges, Narmada valley, Dudhi plateau et al.

Then there is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. The city offers nature spots, historic monuments and contemporary places of tourist interest. You may check out the markets, parks, mosques and palaces of Bhopal Then there is Bhimbetka renowned for the 600 rock shelters of the Neolithic age. The paintings on the caves walls reveal the life of the pre-historic cave dwellers.

Adventure Sports : For the nature lovers and the adventure seekers, Pachmarhi is the place to be in. Those of you seeking quiet walks there are ample options in Pachmarhi. For more adventure there are walks in woods in the Saputara ranges. For short walks you may visit the Jata Shanker cave. Visit to the hilltop temple of Chauragarh is another interesting option. With or without guide trekking is an excellent option to explore the hill resort of Pachmarhi. Try not to get attracted to the chirping birds, gushing waterfalls and the wondrous valleys while trekking to the Dhoopgarh hilltop. The spectacular sunsets of the Saputara will remain in your memories for long. The rocks in the hill resort attract several rock climbers too.

How to Reach : The airport at Bhopal happens to be the nearest to the hill resort of Pachmarhi. The Bhopal Domestic Airport is a hundred and ninety five km away from Pachmarhi. The airport links Bhopal with Delhi, Gwalior, Indore and Mumbai.

The railway station at Pipariya caters to train transportation to Pachmarhi. Pipariya is the nearest railhead to the hill station at a distance of forty seven km.

The excellent road network links the hill resort of Pachmarhi with other important places. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and buses services from private operators link Pachmarhi with Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Nagpur, Pipariya and Chhindwara.

Transportation in and around Pachmarhi is easily available. You may take your pick from the taxis, jeeps and buses. In case you wish to do the sightseeing at your own slow pace and explore the trailheads hire a bicycle. Bicycles rides are amongst the most popular ways of enjoying the hill resort.

Best Time to Visit : You may plan your visit to Pachmarhi any time of the year. Pachmarhi experiences, cool and pleasant weather. The pure and fresh air of Pachmarhi refreshes the tired souls. As the temperature soars the heat in the plains makes Pachmarhi a pleasant place to be in.

Where to Stay : Accommodation is easily available in the hill resort of Pachmarhi. There are tourist Bungalows, Holiday Homes, cottages, huts et al available in Pachmarhi. In short there are several rest places in Pachmarhi for people of all budgets. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism and many by the private parties run some of these accommodations.

Fairs and Festivals : Pachmarhi is renowned for its Shivratri mela. The religious festival celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The annual event takes place in the month of February/March. To mark the occasion devotes throng the Mahadeo Temple, 10 km south of Pachmarhi. They carry symbolic tridents and plant them on top of the nearby, Chauragarh hill.

INFOLINKS