Pachmarhi

Pachmarhi
पचमढी
Hill station

Pachmarhi valley
Nickname(s): Queen of Satpura
Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi
Coordinates: 22°28′00″N 78°26′00″E / 22.4667°N 78.4333°E / 22.4667; 78.4333Coordinates: 22°28′00″N 78°26′00″E / 22.4667°N 78.4333°E / 22.4667; 78.4333
Country India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Hoshangabad
Elevation[1] 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 461881
Telephone code 917578
Vehicle registration MP-05
Nearest city Pipariya

Pachmarhi is a hill station in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It has been the location of a cantonment (Pachmarhi Cantonment) since British Raj.[2] It is widely known as Satpura ki Rani ("Queen of Satpura"), situated at a height of 1100 m in a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district. Dhupgarh, the highest point (1,350 m) in Madhya Pradesh and the Satpura range, is located here.

History

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.

At the time of the British arrival, the Pachmarhi region came under the kingdom of the Gond king Bhawut 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 (Incharge of the armoury (Koth)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., Hoshangabad (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]

Town

The town is not very large, and most of its area is under the administration of the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board, serving the Indian Army. It is the center of Army's Education core (AEC). The population of Pachmarhi is about 10,000, most of whom are connected with the Army installations in the area. Some of them are connected with tourism and forest department.

A rarely used airstrip is situated near Dhupgarh. It is overrun with grass and is seldom used. Tigers are known to have been sighted near the airstrip. Panther sightings are common along the edge of the Pachmarhi Cantonment. The Indian army education corps is sited there.

Climate

The climate here is mild, and generally warm and temperate. When compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. This location is classified as Cwa by Köppen and Geiger. The temperature here averages 21.7 °C. The rainfall here averages 2012 mm. At an average temperature of 30.3 °C, May is the hottest month of the year. At 15.5 °C on average, December is the coldest month of the year.[6]


Climate data for Pachmarhi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.6
(87.1)		 33
(91)		 36.1
(97)		 40
(104)		 40.6
(105.1)		 40.6
(105.1)		 37.4
(99.3)		 31
(88)		 35.6
(96.1)		 31.9
(89.4)		 29.5
(85.1)		 27.8
(82)		 40.6
(105.1)
Average high °C (°F) 22.7
(72.9)		 25
(77)		 29.2
(84.6)		 33.7
(92.7)		 36.3
(97.3)		 31.7
(89.1)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.1
(75.4)		 25.6
(78.1)		 26.5
(79.7)		 24.5
(76.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 27.26
(81.08)
Average low °C (°F) 8.9
(48)		 10.6
(51.1)		 15
(59)		 20.1
(68.2)		 24.3
(75.7)		 22.6
(72.7)		 19.9
(67.8)		 19.7
(67.5)		 19.2
(66.6)		 15
(59)		 9.9
(49.8)		 7.8
(46)		 16.08
(60.95)
Record low °C (°F) −2.8
(27)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 3.3
(37.9)		 8.9
(48)		 13
(55)		 15.2
(59.4)		 12.2
(54)		 13.4
(56.1)		 12.4
(54.3)		 6.7
(44.1)		 1.3
(34.3)		 −1.4
(29.5)		 −2.8
(27)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23
(0.91)		 16
(0.63)		 17
(0.67)		 9
(0.35)		 12
(0.47)		 173
(6.81)		 640
(25.2)		 616
(24.25)		 423
(16.65)		 62
(2.44)		 13
(0.51)		 8
(0.31)		 2,012
(79.2)
Source: Climate data[7][8]

Tourism

Pandav Caves Pachmarhi
Sunset Point at Pachmarhi
Anglican Church at Pachmarhi
Bee Fall
Famous sitting spot at Pachmarhi Lake

Pachmarhi is a popular tourist retreat. Tourists visit Pachmarhi throughout the year. There are lots of hotel mostly situated near the market. Only few cottages and resort and mp tourism hotels are situated in the peaceful location of pachmarhi 2 or 3 km away from bus stand.

Pachmarhi has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been estimated to be as much as 10,000 years old. Shown in the picture is the garden at the base of a tourist attraction called Pandava Caves. The caves are Buddhist in origin but the name persists. The place has rich timber reserves including teak, but being a part of a reserve no new construction or felling of trees is allowed. Having a rich and rare flora as well as fauna, Pachmarhi needs central and state government approval for any new construction outside the town area.

Some of the places of tourist interest here are:


Pachmarhi has numerous nature spots, greenery, scenic views, waterfalls, mountain streams and rare wildlife.

Wildlife

Large mammal species include tiger, leopard, wild boar, gaur (Bos gaurus), chital deer (Axis axis), muntjac deer, sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), and rhesus macaques.

The endemic fauna includes chinkara, nilgai, wild dogs, the Indian wolf, bison, Indian giant squirrels, and flying squirrels.

Rich biosphere

The forests of Pachmarhi, particularly in summer, are full of fruit trees such as mangoes, jamun, custard fruit and lesser known but very delicious local fruits such khatua, tendu, chunna, khinni and chaar. The forest is also known for its richness in medicinal plants and herbs.

Dhupgarh

Highest point of Satpura ranges. It is known for sunrise and sunset view point. At night one can see the lights of the neighboring towns such as Itarsi. At the day time the view of the lush green valley offers a captivating view. One can reach the top either by road or by trekking.

Chauragarh

This the second highest peak. It is a pilgrimage site with Lord Siva's temple at the top. There is a Chauragarh fort there built by the king Sangram Shah of Gond dynasty It is also a very well known spot for sunrise viewing. The sunrising scene seen here is breathtaking and climbing 1300 steps to reach the point makes it worth.

Bee Hill and Bee Falls

This is a waterfall in Pachmarhi. It is named as such because from a distance the waterfall sounds like a bee.

Duchess Fall

This waterfall is the most remote as well as the most beautiful. There are Doctor Fish in the pool made by the waterfall. The road to this waterfall is extreme, with very steep inclinations. There is straight downward tracking of 1 km.

PanarPani

Panarpani has a natural fresh water lake with forest around.

Sangam

This is a conflux of mountain streams behind Dhupgarh. The water in these streams is crystal clear in all seasons except of course autumn.

Jatashankar and Mahadev caves

These are mountain caves with fresh water dripping from them. One can witness ecosystem at work out here with mountains feeding the streams with fresh water, the water that they soak-in during autumn. As the name suggests, these caves and many others like these are abode of lord Siva.

Silver Falls

Also called Rajat Prapat/Big Fall. The falls comes 2800+ feet roaring down the gorge creating a silver streak that gives its name. The view of dense, serene, virgin forest and stream is simply mesmerizing.

Apsara Vihar

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

Other waterfalls

Pachmarhi's ecosystem includes other waterfalls such as Little Fall.

Film location

Access

Pachmarhi is well connected from Bhopal, Chhindwara, Indore, Jabalpur. Buses start from Habibganj ISBT of Bhopal and generally take close to 5–6 hours and from Indore it takes 10–11 hours via Bhopal to reach Pachmarhi. The buses move through different towns like Chhindwara, Babai, Babai, Sohagpur and Pipariya. Pipariya is the nearest railhead.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation buses are available for Pachmarhi from Indore, Bhopal. These buses are air conditioned

References

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