THE QUEEN OF SATPURA: PACHMARHI

We were a group of 4 people going to explore Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh India. From Delhi we went to Jabalpur, where a family friend was posted. We stayed with them for a day. From Jabalpur we arrived in a local train to Pipariya Railway Station.

From Pipariya we took a cab till Pachmarhi. Uphill climb begins moment we leave Pipariya. It’s a beautiful drive till Pachmarhi. There are some viewpoints on the way to Pachmarhi itself.

We arrived at the MP Tourism cottages we had pre-booked. The whole complex was beautifully done and quite spacious. We got a cute one bedroom cottage with a small verandah outside and a courtyard inside. Overlooking the cottage was a large garden area. It was a fantastic accommodation we all loved. Almost all the cottages in the row were occupied. For food there was a huge dining hall and alternatively, room service was available too.

Climate in the month of March was just awesome. We preferred to chill around within the complex on the first day. Second day, we hired a tourist guide and gypsy to take us around for sightseeing. Thick forest cover surrounding the town is home to many rare varieties of plants. Pachmarhi is better known as Satpura ki Rani ("Queen of Satpura"), a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district.

Dhupgarh is the highest point (1,350 m) in Madhya Pradesh and the Satpura range. We had never seen such expanse with rich foliage, views and waterfalls before. Several sites with religious and mythological significance were dotting the entire area. For days, we felt like being in the heaven.

We learn from the local people that several dignitaries constantly visited Pachmarhi for health and wellness. Tourists visit Pachmarhi throughout the year. Apart from accommodation options by MP Tourism, there are several private hotels, mostly situated in market. Places of tourist interests are Bee fall, Silver fall, Pandava caves, Dhoopgarh, Handi kho, Jatashankar and Gupt Mahadev temple. This is 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.

Overall, Pachmarhi is a must see for all the travel and adventure seekers. It is one of the lesser known hill stations in India.