Pachmarhi

Excursion

Priyadarshini Point
This point is the place from where Pachmarhi was discovered by Captain Forsyth in 1857. The British developed Pachmarhi as a resort and their influence is embodied in its churches and colonial architecture.

Jamuna Prapat (Bee Fall)
This is a spectacular waterfall in the stream, which provides drinking water to Pachmarhi. The bathing pools above the fall are very popular.

Apsara Vihar (Fairy Pool)
Easily accessible from Jai Stambh, this 'fairy pool' is an ideal picnic spot for families with small children, since the pool is shallow, deepening only towards the base of the fall.

Rajat Prapat (Big Fall)
Those seeking adventure will find it in this ten-minute walk over rocks and boulders from Apsara Vihar to the top of Rajat Prapat, the 'big fall'.

Irene Pool
This pool was discovered by Irene Bose, the wife of Justice Vivian Bose, and is named after her. The route leads to a cave, through which the stream goes underground. And then, the stream over a khud releases itself in a series of falls.

Jalawataran (Duchess Falls)
The descent is steep and the trek is strenuous for almost all the people, since it is 4 km to the base of the fall's first cascade.

Sunder Kund (Saunder's Pool)
Crossing the stream below the Duchess Fall and following a footpath about 2.5 km in a south-west direction, is a huge rocky pool which is the Sunder Kund or even known as the saunder's pool. This pool also excellent for a refreshing swim.

Mahadeo Hill
Regarded as holy for countless of generations, Mahadeo hill has a shrine with an idol of Lord Shiva and an impressive Shivlinga. On the eastern side of the hill is an excellent cave shelter with beautiful cave paintings.

Chhota Mahadeo
This is a narrow point in the valley, which is also revered as a sacred spot. This spot has rocks overhanging a stream and a spring from where water cascades down.

Chauragarh
4 kms from Mahadeo Hill, it is one of Satpura's prominent landmarks, where the place is crowned with emblems of Mahadeo worship.

Jata Shankar
This place is a sacred cave under a mass of loose boulders in which the Jambu Dwip stream has its source. A rocky formation of this place resembles the matted locks of Lord Shiva; hence it has been given the name as Jata Shankar.

Dhoopgarh
The highest point in the Satpura range, with a magnificent view of the surrounding ranges. A very popular spot for viewing sunsets.

Pandav Caves
Five ancient dwellings were 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 are now protected monuments.

Vanshree Vihar
The Vanshree vihar is also known as the Pansy pool. And this is a beautiful spot on the Denwa stream, which is a cool and shady place among the trees, ferns and semi-tropical vegetation.

Sangam
This place is also known as the Fuller's Khud. This is the lowest of the picnic spots on the Denwa and offers fairly good bathing pools both below and above the meeting of the waters.

Christ Church
Built in 1875 by the British, this Church's architecture is fascinating; it has a hemispherical dome on top with its ribs ending with faces of angels. The stained glass panes adorning the walls and rear of the altar were imported from Europe. They present a gorgeous view as the sun rays pass through them. The nave of the church does not contain even a single pillar for support. The baptismal font is a rare brass piece and the bell is as old as the church and its chimes can be heard from a long distance.

Catholic Church
The Britishers built this church in 1892. And this Chatholic Church is a blend of the French and Irish architecture. Its Belgium stained-glass windows add a rare attraction and beauty to the building. The church has a cemetery attached to it and graves date from 1859, World War I & II.

Satpura National Park
Set up in 1981, the Satpura National Park is 524 sq. km in area. It spreads through the dense forest of the evergreen sal, teak and bamboo. The high peaks of Dhoopgarh and Mahadeo, Bori's legendary teak and bamboo forests, Pachmarhi's fascinating natural beauty of deep valleys, high mountains, rivulets, waterfalls and Tawa's vast reservoir combine to give this park unique beauty and a breathtaking variety of attractions. The park is home to the animals like the Bison, Tiger, Leopard, Bear, four-horned Deer, the Blue-Bull and a rich variety of birds.

Bison Lodge
Constructed in 1862, the Bison Lodge is the oldest house in Pachmarhi. It now houses a beautiful museum depicting the rich flora and fauna of Pachmarhi.

The Cave Shelters
Some of the best cave shelters and groups of shelters around Pachmarhi are:

• Dhuandhar, This place has approached from the footpath to Apsara Vihar. And here, the paintings mostly in white include a group of archers with the typical Gond bun and hooped earrings.
  
  
• Bharat Neer, also known as Dorothy Deep has well executed animal paintings and when excavated in the 1930s yielded many pottery shards and microliths.
  
  
• In Asthachal also known as Monte Rosa there are four shelters with paintings, comparatively early linear drawings.
  
  
• Along the northern side of Jambu Dwip valley are some six shelters with many paintings of animals and human figures, including a detailed battle scene.
  
  
• Harper's Cave, so named because of one of its paintings - a man seated and playing a harp is close to the Jata Shankar Shrine.
  
  
• The Chieftain's Cave derives its name from a battle scene showing two chieftains on horses.
  
  
• A terrace that runs the length of the South, South East and East faces of Kites Crag has some fine cave paintings, the majority of which are in white or outlined in red.

Tamia
Overlooking the Narmada valley, Tamia is an impressive resort on the Satpura ranges. From the Tamia rest house, the view of the Dudhi plateau from 330 metres of sheer overhanging cliffs is one of the most spectacular anywhere South of the Vindhyas. Tamia is 78 km from Pachmarhi.

Festivals

Shivratri Mela
Shivratri Mela is celebrated in Pachmarhi, every year in the month of February/March. The crowd is always up to 100,000 pilgrims, who visit the Mahadeo Temple, which rests in a shrine on the Satpura Range, 10km south of Pachmarhi. The Mahadeo Temple is decorated with tridents that the devotees bring along and plant them on Chauragarh Hill situated nearby Panchmarhi. This festival is held in those months depending on whether the last day of phagun falls

Top