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The valley, ravines and maze of gorges, sculpted in
red sandstone by the wind and weather, add their own
colouring to this palette of shades, and cascading waterfalls
flash silver in the sunshine. Deep azure pools are hidden
delights and everywhere wild life watchers will be rewarded
by fascinating glimpses of the animal and bird kingdoms.
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Priyadarshini (Forsyth
Point)
This vantage viewing point marks 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)
A spectacular fall in the stream which provides drinking
water to Pachmarhi. The bathing pools above the fall are
very popular.
Handi
Khoh
Pachmarhi's most impressive ravine has a 300 feet high precipice
and dramatically steep sides.
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, wife of Justice
Vivian Bose, and named after her. The route upstream leads
to a cave, through which the stream goes underground and
then over a khud in a series of falls.
Jalawataran (Duchess Falls)
The descent is steep and the trek strenuous for almost all
of the 4 km to the base of the fall's first cascade.
Sunder Kund (Saunder's
Pool)
Crossing the stream below Duchess Fall and following a footpath
about 2.5 km in a south- west direction, brings one to a
huge rocky pool that is excellent for a refreshing swim.
Mahadeo
Regarded as holy for countless of generations, Mahadeo hill
has a shrine with an idol of Lord Shiva and an impressive
Shivlinga. On the East side of the hill is an excellent
cave shelter with beautiful cave paintings.
Chhota Mahadeo
Revered as a sacred spot, this is a narrow point in the
valley with rocks overhanging a stream and a spring from
where water cascades down.
Chauragarh
4 kms from Mahadeo, it is one of Satpura's prominent land
marks, the summit crowned with emblems of Mahadeo worship.
Jata Shankar
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 the
name.
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 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.
Tridhara (Piccadily Circus)
A popular picnic spot where two streams meet in a junction.
Vanshree Vihar (Pansy
Pool)
A beautiful spot on the Denwa stream, cool and shady among
trees, ferns and semi-tropical vegetation.
Reechhgarh
A wonderful natural amphitheater in the rock, approached
through a cave-like entrance on the South-side.
Sangam (Fuller's Khud
- Waters Meet)
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.
Catholic Church
Built
in 1892 by the British, the Catholic Church is a blend of
the French and Irish architecture. Its Belgium stained-glass
windows add rare attraction and beauty to the building.
The church has a cemetery attached to it and graves date
from 1859, World War I & II.
Christ Church
Built in 1875 by the British, this Church's architecture
is fascinating; its 'sanctum-sanctorum' 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.
Satpura National Park
Set up in 1981, Satpura National Park is 524 sq km in area.
It spreads through dense forest of 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 bison, tiger, Leopard, bear, four-horned
deer, 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, approached
from the footpath to Apsara Vihar, the paintings mostly
in white include a group of archers with the typical Gond
bun and hooped earrings. Bharat Neer (Dorothy
Deep), has well executed animal paintings and when excavated
in the 1930s yielded many pottery shards and microliths.
Asthachal (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.
Important Note:
While visiting Pachmarhi's beautiful spots, please avoid
littering. Carry back with you all empty plastic bags and
other trash and leave every point as you found it, spotlessly
clean.
Package Tours
From Ahmedabad - Sylvan Retreat , Malwa to Satpura , Kipling Country , Satpura Queen
From Kolkata - Magical Fortnight , Nature's Treasure
From Delhi - Satpura Queen
From Mumbai - Kipling Country , Mowgli's Trail
From Nagpur - Nature's Treasure
From Hyderabad - Nature's Treasure , Mowgli's Trail
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