Pachmarhi

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 thirteen years of exile. The caves are situated on a hilltop and provide an excellent vantage point.

Pachmadhi region was Ruled by Bhonsale Kings।. It came under Marathas in the 18th century under SenaSahebSubha Maharaj Raghuji Raje Bhonsale।.

Before the British, the Pachmarhi region was under the kingdom of the Gond Bhagvat Singh, although it was not 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 (in charge of the armoury) 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 km². It is located at longitude 22° 11’ to 22° 50’N and latitude 77° 47’ to 78° 52’E. It covers parts of three civil districts, viz; Narmadapuram (59.55%), Chhindwara (29.19%) and Betul (11.26%). It includes three wildlife conservation units viz., Bori Sanctuary 485.72 km²), Satpura National Park (524.37 km²) and Pachmarhi Sanctuary (491.63 km²).[4][5]

The town is small and most of its area is under the administration of the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board, serving the Indian Army. It is the center of the Army Education Corps (AEC). The population of Pachmarhi is about 12,062 as per the report released by Census India 2011, most of whom are connected with the Army installations, tourism, and forest department.

An airstrip is situated on the way to Dhupgarh. It is overrun with grass and is seldom used. Tigers and bison are known to have been sighted nearby. A helipad is also present near the airstrip. Leopard sightings are also common along the edge of the Pachmarhi Cantonment.

The climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from warm to cool. Summers have significantly more rainfall than winters. Köppen and Geiger classify this location as Cwa. The average temperature in this area is 21.7 °C. The average rainfall in this area is 2012 mm. May is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 30.3 °C. December is the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of 15.5 °C.[6]

Pandav Caves Pachmarhi

Sunset Point at Pachmarhi

Anglican Church at Pachmarhi was built around 1875 by the British.

Bee Fall

Sitting spot at Pachmarhi Lake

Pachmarhi is a tourist retreat. Tourists visit Pachmarhi throughout the year. There are numerous hotels, most of which are located near the market. Only a few cottages, resorts, and MP tourism hotels are located in the Pachmarhi area, about 2 to 3 kilometres from the bus stop.[8]

Pachmarhi's forests are home to numerous cave paintings, some of which are estimated to be 10,000 years old.[9] The garden at the base of Pandava Caves, a tourist attraction, is depicted in the photograph. Although the caves are Buddhist in nature, the name has stuck. The area has abundant timber reserves, including teak, but due to its status as a reserve, no new construction or tree felling is permitted. Pachmarhi, which has a diverse and rare flora and fauna, requires central and state government approval for any new construction outside of the town limits.

Some of the places of tourist interest there are:

• Rajat Prapat (large waterfall)
• Bee Fall
• 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)
• Dutchess 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
• Reechgarh
• Rajendra Giri (gardens with natural scenery)
• Bansri Vihar
• Little Fall
• Naagdwari
• Draupadi Kund
• Twynham Pool
• Chhota Mahadev
• Nandigad

Pachmarhi offers a variety of natural attractions such as lake boating, paragliding, greenery, views, waterfalls, mountain streams, and wildlife. Pachmarhi is also home to the National Adventure Institute, which hosts a variety of adventure training camps. Bharat Scout & Guides is also located there.

Chauragarh

Trishuls at Chauragarh

This is the third highest peak in the Satpura ranges. It is a pilgrimage site with Lord Siva's temple at the top. The Chauragarh fort there was built by king Sangram Shah of the Gond dynasty. It was developed by SenaSahebSubha Janoji Maharaj of Nagpur। from the Maratha Era the Pilgrimage from Nagpur Start।. It is also a widely known spot for sunrise viewing. During the festivities of Nagpanchami and Mahashivratri, devotees flock to Chauragarh temple in large numbers, leaving about 2 lakh trishuls as offerings which are kept in front of the temple and also in the way of the temple.

Apsara Vihar

Water fall Apsara Vihar (Fairy Pool)

This is a mountain stream that creates a natural water pool, cascades and waterfall in its course.

• Massey Sahib (film 1985), featuring Raghuvir Yadav, Barry John, Arundhati Roy
• Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen (film 1990), featuring Nana Patekar, Anita Kanwar
• Tarkieb (film 2000), featuring Nana Patekar, Tabbu, Raghuveer Yadav, Shilpa Shetty, Milind Soman
• Aśoka (film 2001), featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan
• Chakravyuh(film 2012), featuring Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpai, Om Puri, Esha Gupta
• Trinetra (1991 film), featuring Mithun Chakraborty , Amrish Puri

Pachmarhi is connected from Narmadapuram, Bhopal, Itarsi, Chhindwara, Gadarwara, Narsinghpur, Indore, Jabalpur. Buses start from Rani Kamalapati ISBT of Bhopal and generally take close to 5–6 hours. From Indore it takes 10–11 hours via Bhopal to reach Pachmarhi. The buses move through different towns like Narmadapuram, Chhindwara, Makhan Nagar, Sohagpur and Pipariya. The road's name is State Highway 19, and its name changes to State Highway 19A from the village of Matkuli to Pachmarhi. Matkuli is trijunction of Pipariya-Chhindwara-Pachmarhi way, and Pachmarhi is nearest from here, about 28 km. Pipariya is the nearest railhead, many trains on Mumbai-Kolkata route stop at Pipariya.. Itarsi Junction is also a major railhead near Pachmari. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation buses are available for Pachmarhi from Indore, Bhopal.

The nearest airport is Bhopal. The nearest railway station is Pipariya railway station.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pachmarhi.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pachmarhi.

• Pachmarhi Travel Company
• "Pachmarhi" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
• About Pachmarhi and its History