Pachmarhi

January 4, 2010 on 9:00 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

I had setup this blog two and a half years ago but didn’t find a suitable topic to start blogging. Starting with it now also doesn’t mean that I have found one. Just felt like to write something.

“All India Tourist” for the reason I travel a lot and as the name suggest obviously within the country. So I started the year 2010 with another outing.
Pachmarhi – a less known hill station in central part of India (Madhya Pradesh). I am not going to write about how to get there, what’s the best season to go there, etc… All of those who are reading this blog are smart enough to Google it.

It was a casual outing with family for the start of 2010. Didn’t expect much coming here for a 3 day trip but had to take my words back after I came back. It’s a place with little facilities and a lot of adventure. So if you are looking for a day’s sightseeing sitting behind a back of a hired car which would take you to 10 spots in a day, this place is a strict NO-NO for you.

We reached Pachmarhi at about noon, got settled in our room and had lunch. As I mentioned it was a casual trip so had not planned anything. We started our trip with a bit of guidance from locals. But be aware of the guides all around the roads. The best way (and at some point the only way) to travel around here is a 4-Wheel drive Gypsy. Bargain if you can, for a good deal. The range would be anything from 700 to 2000 bucks for a day. This place is a reserved forest area; hence the entry at many places is with permission (and a fee to go along with it).

We had half a day to start with so enquired about the places we can visit without the forest department permission. We started our journey from “Pandav Caves”, a normal rock structure which has been developed to a fascinating looking cave. A walk up and down the caves and some clicks at the garden below it got over in about 30 minutes or so.

Then we headed for “Mahadev” caves, a naturally formed Shiv temple. This place was more than a visit to the sacred temple. From the place the road ends, you walk about 200 meters towards this cave to find water dripping (natural formation) from top of the caves over naturally formed “Shiv Ling”. An amazing sight to watch plus the coldness in the weather added some more serenity to it. It was almost sunset by that time and it was totally dark inside the cave until we reached the idol where a small bulb was lit for visibility. In the centre there was a pond formed out of the natural water dropping from the top. Some of the more intellectual locals told us the next day it is because of the sandstone rocks of which the mountains are formed off. Sandstone has the property to hold water ;). There was a “Gupt Mahadev” temple about 0.5 KM trek from there. For adventure lovers there was the entire surrounding jungle at bay.

The next day started early. We went straight to the museum, also the forest department office, for the permissions. Paid for the permissions and they provided us with a guide for the day. He then made sure we had a planned visit to major places of the town. But as I said, all places required a trek over the mountains for at least last one to one and a half kilometres. And this was serious trekking, no walking down the well cemented steps. All mud and stones to give you company. But the places were worth the effort.

Visited the following places in order – Apsara Vihar (waterfalls), Lake, Bee falls and Dhoopghar. The waterfalls were simply scenic and more fun to bath in there than the water park in your city. Had a quite boat ride on the lake surrounded by mountains before having lunch. After lunch on the way to Bee Falls, largest of Pachmarhi falling from a height of 350 meters directly on to you, halted at the towns helipad. Had an amazing adventure sport - Parasailing with rope tied behind a gypsy speeding off the muddy airstrip. Never seen it like this before. Then headed to Bee Falls and finally to Dhoopghar, the sunset point. It is the highest point of Pachmarhi and you can even hike to this mountain. For people who love to wake up early it’s also the place where you can even see the sun rising from the mountains. The day ended with dropping the guide to the museum and finally we dropping in our beds.

The third day was a bit more relaxed with completing the rest of the places to visit - “Jata Shankar” caves and a few more view points.But there’s never an end for the people who like to just be a little out of the way. You can go find your own ways and spots as this place is surrounded by the Satpura range of mountains on all sides

End of the 3 day trip, with giving this place a thumbs up especially for a group of friends finding it hard to look for place to go. Until the next travel sa-yo-na-ra.

Pachmarhi Links: Wikipedia, MP Tourism Official Website

Photos: Orkut, Facebook (Comming Soon)

I had setup this blog two and a half years ago but didn’t find a suitable topic to start blogging. Starting with it now also doesn’t mean that I have found one. ;) Just felt like to write something.

 

“All India Tourist” for the reason I travel a lot and as the name suggest obviously within the country. So I started the year 2010 with another outing. Pachmarhi – a less known hill station in central part of India (Madhya Pradesh). I am not going to write about how to get there, what’s the best season to go there, etc… All of those who are reading this blog are smart enough to Google it.

 

It was a casual outing with family for the start of 2010. Didn’t expect much coming here for a 3 day trip but had to take my words back after I came back. It’s a place with little facilities and a lot of adventure. So if you are looking for a day’s sightseeing sitting behind a back of a hired car which would take you to 10 spots in a day, this place is a strict NO-NO for you.

At first we reached Pachmarhi at about noon, got settled in our room and had lunch. As I mentioned it was a casual trip so had not planned anything. We started our trip with a bit of guidance from locals. But be aware of the guides all around the roads. The best way (and at some point the only way) to travel around here is a 4-Wheel drive Gypsy. Bargain if you can, for a good deal. The range would be anything from 700 to 2000 bucks for a day. This place is a reserved forest area; hence the entry at many places is with permission (and a fee to go along with it).

 

We had half a day to start with so enquired about the places we can visit without the forest department permission. We started our journey from “Pandav Caves”, a normal rock structure which has been developed to a fascinating looking cave. A walk up and down the caves and some clicks at the garden below it got over in about 30 minutes or so.

 

Then we headed for “Mahadev” caves, a naturally formed Shiv temple. This place was more than a visit to the sacred temple. From the place the road ends, you walk about 200 meters towards this cave to find water dripping (natural formation) from top of the caves over naturally formed “Shiv Ling”. An amazing sight to watch plus the coldness in the weather added some more serenity to it. It was almost sunset by that time and it was totally dark inside the cave until we reached the idol where a small bulb was lit for visibility. In the centre there was a pond formed out of the natural water dropping from the top. Some of the more intellectual locals told us the next day it is because of the sandstone rocks of which the mountains are formed off. Sandstone has the property to hold water ;). There was a “Gupt Mahadev” temple about 0.5 KM trek from there. For adventure lovers there was the entire surrounding jungle at bay.

The next day started early. We went straight to the museum, also the forest department office, for the permissions. Paid for the permissions and they provided us with a guide for the day. He then made sure we had a planned visit to major places of the town. But as I said, all places required a trek over the mountains for at least last one to one and a half kilometres. And this was serious trekking, no walking down the well cemented steps. All mud and stones to give you company. But the places were worth the effort.

 

Visited the following places in order – Apsara Vihar (waterfalls), Lake, Bee falls and Dhoopghar. The waterfalls were simply scenic and more fun to bath in there than the water park in your city. Had a quite boat ride on the lake surrounded by mountains before having lunch. After lunch on the way to Bee Falls, largest of Pachmarhi falling from a height of 350 meters directly on to you, halted at the towns helipad. Had an amazing adventure sport - Parasailing with rope tied behind a gypsy speeding off the muddy airstrip. Never seen it like this before. Then headed to Bee Falls and finally to Dhoopghar, the sunset point. It is the highest point of Pachmarhi and you can even hike to this mountain. For people who love to wake up early it’s also the place where you can even see the sun rising from the mountains. The day ended with dropping the guide to the museum and finally we dropping in our beds.

 

The third day was a bit more relaxed with completing the rest of the places to visit - “Jata Shankar” caves and a few more view points.But there’s never an end for the people who like to just be a little out of the way. You can go find your own ways and spots as this place is surrounded by the Satpura range of mountains on all sides.

 

End of the 3 day trip, with giving this place a thumbs up especially for a group of friends finding it hard to look for place to go. Until the next travel sa-yo-na-ra.

 

Pachmarhi Links: Wikipedia, MP Tourism Official Website

Photos: Orkut, Facebook (Comming Soon)

Optional Excerpt