Travel Guides
nothing lonely about the planet
Pachmarhi
(Madhya Pradesh)
Primeval Wilderness? A Short Walk Away
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.
To See & Do
The famous sunset from Dhupgarh, Bee Falls and the Jatashankar and Mahadeo shrines are on the jeep tours. Fairy Pool (and the view of Big Falls a little beyond) entails a descent on foot, as does Duchess Falls, which is only for the fit, but well worth it. So also, for its spectacular views, is the climb up Chauragarh peak, which springs to life during the annual Shivratri mela, with lakhs of trishul-carrying yatris snaking up from neighbouring Chindwara district. Within the civil area are the Buddhist-period, rock-hewn Pandav Caves, the government gardens and Bison Lodge, a museum. The ideal mode of transport is the bicycle. A scenic two-hour walk is the bridle path around Astachal (the old Monte Rosa) rejoining the road near the cave of Reechgarh, and passing by the Dorothy Deep rock shelter.
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Satpura National Park |
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The park, to the west and north of Pachmarhi, offers spectacular scenery and varied wildlife bison, sambhar and the occasional big cat. Visit the park by jeep from the Neemghan entrance (at least half a day) or from the Rorighat end (a full day to Bori or Kajri).
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Adventure |
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The Satpuras provided shelter for hunter-gatherers, who left behind rock paintings, the earliest of which date back to 10,000 BC! The Dorothy Deep shelter in particular is spectacularly located, less than an hour's walk from the road, about an hour's drive out from Bhopal towards Pachmarhi.
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Content Source:
Outlook Traveller
Contributed by:
Prabhu Ghate
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