6 Charming Places to Visit in Pachmarhi

Boasting of a rich biosphere and a place in the legend of Mahabharata, Pachmarhi is a sublime hill station in the Madhya Pradesh. At a mighty elevation of 1067m above sea level, this Queen of the Satpuras, sees thousands of tourists and travellers flock to experience nature at her best. 

Let’s take a look at the best places to visit in Pachmarhi and see if we can inspire the traveller in you to start planning a trip to this town.

Pandava Caves

Legend has it that the heroes of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas, along with their wife Draupadi, lived here for a while during their exile. While archaeologists are certain that the five caves were built by Buddhist monks during the first century as a place of rest and refuge, the locals take great pride in passing on the narrative that this was rather the residence of the Pandavas. You can even take a look inside the ‘Draupadi Kuti’ or ‘Bhima Kothari’ which are believed to be the caves in which the legends lived. Even if you are not a fan of the epic, you can appreciate the beautiful carvings of the caves. While you are at it, how about a picnic near the caves with the family?

Bee falls

Want to know where the water that supplies the whole town of Pachmarhi flow from? Hike through stunning sal forests to arrive at the perennial Bee Falls. A popular year-round picnic tourist spot, you can either stay near the edge of the falls, or trek down 400 steps and get right next to the waterfall. Just a small head’s up: make sure you have a pair of hiking or trekking boots as walking through the forest, especially during monsoons, can get a little difficult. If you are feeling adventurous enough, you can even soak your feet into the water and get a little fish pedicure! 

Handi Khoh

Your Pachmarhi sightseeing tour is lacking if you miss out on the spectacular views that this beautiful gorge offers. Stand atop the 300-ft cliff, throw a rock into the valley, and wait for about 90-seconds to hear a light thud. That’s how deep the ravine is!

Dhoopgarh

After an afternoon of visiting the different Pachmarhi tourist places, take a short hike to Dhoopgarh, the highest point of the Satpura mountain range. Forget your troubles for a while as you appreciate the beautiful sunset, and the natural cycle of dawn and dusk. Let your history geek out and head to the Dhoopgarh Museum, located in a quaint colonial bungalow.

Jata Shankar Caves

Considered a sacred site, the Jata Shankar caves are one of the Pachmarhi places to visit even if you are not a believer. As soon as you enter the caves, you know why it is a shrine to Lord Shiva- the stalagmites stand out as naturally occurring ‘shivalingas’. Find out when the shivaling pooja happens and maybe you can experience the collective spiritual power of the place.

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Once you have exhausted all the places to visit in Pachmarhi, head a few hours away to Kanha Tiger Reserve. The largest national park in central India, Kanha Tiger Reserve is home to over 1000 species of plants, and 300 species of birds. While you wait to get a glimpse of the majestic Bengal tiger amidst the glorious forests of Kanha, you can ask your tour guide to point out any Indian leopards, barasinghas, or sloth bears that may grace your radius. So, how about you add ‘spot a tiger’ to your Pachmarhi Bucket List, and get started on your reservations for an adventurous time at Kanha? 

What is the best time to visit Pachmarhi?

Now that Pachmarhi has grabbed your attention, you may be curious as to what’s the best time to visit the town. By virtue of being nestled in the hills, Pachmarhi has a pleasant climate all year round. The summer months of April to June allow the visitor to walk around freely and enjoy taking pictures of the different flora and fauna. Visit Pachmarhi during the months of July to September, and be prepared to be mesmerised by the verdant forests that come to life with the moderate rains. The winter months sees an average temperature of 15.5 °C which is manageable with a light jacket and enthusiasm to explore the history and geography of Pachmarhi.

Where to stay - When visiting Pancharhi, plan one day stay at Kanha resort offered by Club Mahindra where you can live in top-notched tents and regale your senses with a farm-to-fork dining experience. 

Now that you have quite a bit of information about Pachmarhi, start planning your trip to experience the beauty of this place in bounty.