 |
Madhya
Pradesh's serene hill station, which happens to be its
only one, stands at an altitude of 1067 metres. It is
a large plateau, ringed by the lofty hills of the Satpura
range. The landscape is characterised by rugged hills,
forests and deep ravines. Known as the verdant jewel of
the hills, the all - pervading greenery of the region
is what strikes the observer. Various hues of green greet
the eye - tranquil emerald pools, the green shades that
embrace the hills, and the thick, impenetrable forest
cover that dominates the region.One of its main attractions,
is the splendid view it offers at dusk, when the red sandstone
scarp takes on the colour of the sky, in various shades
of purple and violet, as the glorious sun sets on Pachmarhi.
What
to See | How
to Get There | Where
to Stay
|
What
to See
In
and around Pachmarhi, there are many places of tourist interest.
Handi Khoh is an impressive ravine, which has a 300 feet-high precipice,
with really steep sides. A recommended site for a leisurely long
walk, is to the hilltop shrine of Chauragarh, 4 km from Mahadeo.
It is one of Satpura's prominent landmarks, its summit crowned with
emblems of Mahadeo's (another name for Shiva) worship. Pachmarhi
is also an archaeological treasure - trove. Caves in the Mahadeo
hills contain amazing rock paintings, the earliest of which date
back to 10,000 years.
Other
attractions include: Apsara Vihar - the quaint 'fairy pool' picnic
spot; Rajat Pratap - the 'big fall' which plunges down a 350 foot
- high precipice; Pandava Caves - the caves from which Pachmarhi
takes its name, the Pandava brothers are said to have spent a part
of their exile here; Jata Shankar - a sacred cave, the rocky formation
of which resembles the matted locks of Lord Shiva.
The
hills and ravines of Pachmarhi pose a challenge to the most intrepid
of trekkers. For the rock - climbing buff, the Lanjee Giri hill
is ideal for some real action. This hill can be scaled both from
the east and the west.
How
to Get There
The
nearest railhead is Pipariya (47 km) on the Bombay-Howrah (via Allahabad)
line. The nearest airport is Bhopal (195 kms), connected by regular
flights with Delhi, Indore, Gwalior and Bombay. State transport
bus services are available from Bhopal, Nagpur, Hoshangabad and
Pipariya.
Where
to Stay
Almost
all the accomodation at Pachmarhi is run by MP Tourism. Some of
the hotels available are the New Hotel, the Neelamber Cottages,
the Satpura Retreat and Holiday Homes.