One of India's more unusual getaways, Pachmarhi is not easy to get to, which is what keeps it what it is a quiet, sleepy little hill station. The highest point in Madhya Pradesh, it nestles in a small saucer-shaped plateau flanked by jagged peaks with red-sandstone escarpments. They enclose a primeval landscape of lush sal and bamboo forest indented by deep gorges and canyons and cascading streams.

The town itself consists of a small bazaar, an army station and a sprawling civil area that retains a distinct colonial ambience. Pachmarhi was the summer capital of the former Central Provinces and used to host a major golf tournament. The course is maintained by the small club where visitors can pick up a game.