Pachmarhi Travel & Tourism Guide, Madhya Pradesh

Overview

There are several things that make Pachmarhi a destination worth visiting like its exquisite location in the emerald green valley of the Satpura Range, unique cave shelters, serene waterfalls & streams, and rich biodiversity. The incredible surroundings of this hill destination look more beautiful during monsoon when the cool spray of water turns the lush green landscapes of Pachmarhi even prettier. Often known to be Madhya Pradesh's most verdant destination; this lovely hilltop offers absolutely peaceful surroundings to the guests and help them feel its beauty. Its luxuriant forest groves allow tourists to see wild bamboo, blackberry plantation, Sal trees, and delicate bamboo thickets, available in large number.

Your trip to Pachmarhi can be very interesting, if you will visit its cave shelters in the Mahadeo Hills. These cave shelters have archaeological treasure in the form of rock paintings that are believed to be placed in the period 500-800 AD. Some of the paintings here are supposed to be 10,000 years old. There are several other attractions in Pachmarhi that have been transformed into a well-known spot by the famous officer of the British rule, Captain Forsyth. His idea was to make this place a popular tourist destination that offers amazing sightseeing opportunities to the visitors.

Pachmarhi comes under the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board of Indian Army and is widely popular as "Satpura Ki Rani" (Queen of Satpura). It shares its border with Vindhya and Satpura range that are blessed with abundant natural beauty. The place has several waterfalls, lakes, streams, and lush green valleys that can make your holidaying experience in Pachmarhi delightful. Also, there are many hotels, movie halls, local market, club house and even golf course (for the use of military personnel) to offer tourists a comforting environment on their trip.

Pachmarhi also provides a wide opportunity to the wildlife lovers, who wants to enjoy the incredible views of dense forest, covered in mist and spot wild animals such as tigers, panther, elephant, etc. Pachmarhi lies within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, created in 1999 to link two forest reserves into a large wildlife conservation area. This area has a very rich and rare flora and fauna, so, a lot of tourists come here every year to satiate their urge to explore the exotic wilderness of Pachmarhi.

Pachmarhi tourism is blooming year after year as a large number of people are coming to know about this place. Some of the popular places to visit in Pachmarhi are Priyadarshini (Forsyth Point), Jamuna Prapat (Bee Fall), Handi Khoh, Apsara Vihar (Fairy Pool), Rajat Prapat (Silver Fall), Irene Pool, Jalawataran, Sundar Kund, Mahadeo, and more.

Things to Do and See in Pachmarhi

• Visit Priyadarshini (Forsyth Point) from where the Pachmarhi was first discovered by Captain Forsyth in 1857. Thera are beautiful resorts, churches, and colonial buildings for tourists to feel comfortable
•  To see from where Pachmarhi gets its drinking water, visit Jamuna Prapat, a spectacular waterfall and enjoy the bathing experience in a natural pool at the bottom of the fall
• If you are on a family vacation, visit Apsara Vihar, also known as “Fairy Pool” to spend leisure time with family and friends near the natural pool at the base of the fall
• Tourists can even try jungle trekking and nature walk in the midst of forests at Apsara Vihar till Rajat Prapat
• There are a series of waterfalls in Pachmarhi like Irene Fall, Jalawataran (Duchess Falls), Sundar Kund, etc. that tourists can visit on their tour to Pachmarhi
• For a spiritual day out, you can visit Mahadeo, which is regarded as a religious spot with a shrine that has an idol of Lord Shiva and a beautiful Shivlinga. Also, there are many cave shelters that presents incredible cave paintings, nearly 10,000 years old
• To explore the highest point in the Pachmarhi area, visit Dhoopgarh, which is the highest point in the Satpura range and enjoy the magnificent views of the verdant valley
• You trip to Pachmarhi is actually incomplete if you are not visiting Pandav Caves, which is termed as protected monument by Archaeological Survey of India
• Visit churches in Pachmarhi including Catholic Church, Christ Church, etc. and witness its architectural beauty
• The wildlife lovers and nature lovers can visit Satpura National Park to explore the exotic wildlife of Satpura range. Tourists can spot animals like bison, tiger, leopard, bear, four-horned deer, blue-bull, and a rich variety of birds, in the unique biodiversity of Satpura  

Where to Stay in Pachmarhi

The pleasurable surroundings of Pachmarhi, makes it an ideal destination to enjoy a relaxing holiday in the arms of nature. The vivacious mount resorts and hotels here offer tourists a comfortable stay in the midst of emerald green landscapes. It has plenty of nice and well-maintained hotels and resorts, both luxury and budget, to give you a refreshing stay, along with few guesthouses in the midst of lush green forests. Some of the best options to stay in Pachmarhi are:

• Hotel Natraj
• Hotel Sanskar
• Hotel Amaltas
• Hotel New Ark Residency
• Hotel  Indraprastha
• The Misty Meadows Resort
• Hotel Pachmarhi
• Hotel Paradise
• Hotel Park View
• Woodland Bunglow
• Satpura Retreat
• Hotel Highlands

Where to eat in Pachmarhi

There are plenty of options in Pachmarhi to gouge on delicious cuisines, prepared in Gujrati, Maharasthrian, and Jain style. People of Pachmarhi love to eat scrumptious delegacies, prepared in authentic style and so do the tourists, who find the food, served here, enormously tempting. Some the places where you can get good food are mentioned below:

• Kolkata Food Center
• Chunmun Cottage Restaurant
• Nandan Restaurant
• Pizza Café Chino
• China Bowl
• Open Garden Restaurant
• Chachana Bal Restaurant
• Raj Bhog Restaurant
• Golf View Restaurant

Weather in Pachmarhi Summer:  20°C to 35°C
Winter: 4°C to 24°C

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Pachmarhi is in Bhopal, which is around 195 km away from this hill station. There are regular flights from Bhopal that connect it from cities like Delhi, Gwalior, Mumbai, etc. One can easily get a taxi or bus from the airport to reach Pachmarhi

By Rail: The nearest airport is at Pipariya, which is an adjacent railhead, located at a distance of 47 km from Pachmarhi. It connects to main Indian railway lines like Mumbai's Mahanagari Exp, Kolkata Mail, Chennai's Gangakaveri Exp, and Bangalore's Sangha Mitra Exp. One can book a cab from this railway head to reach their desired location in Pachmarhi

By Road: There are frequent bus services from Pachmarhi to Bhopal, Pipariya, and Chhindwara. The route through road is convenient if you are travelling on your own via car.

Best Time to Visit Weather of this beautiful hilly region, perched on the top of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, remains pleasant and enjoyable throughout the year. However, it looks its best during monsoon and winter as the lush green surroundings of the hill station looks even more refreshing and lovely during this time. If you want to see how beautiful and serene Pachmarhi looks in winter, visit it between October and March.