A city located in the lofty hills that are also known as the queen of Satpura ranges

Pachmarhi

Hill Station

Madhya Pradesh

35°C / Clouds

Often known as the Satpura ki Rani, Pachmarhi is a beautiful hill station in Madhya Pradesh. Interestingly, it is also a part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which is home to a great number of leopards and bison.

According to the historical legends, it is believed that this was the place where the Pandavas stayed during their exile. Due to this, over time, Pachmarhi has come across as a popular tourist destination among the devotees and tourists alike.

However, despite its religious significance, in the modern times, especially during the colonial period, it had a great cultural impact owing to which you can also find a great number of churches built here in the colonial architectural style.

If you want to travel here, then the best time to visit Pachmarhi is between the months of October and June. The overall weather conditions are very pleasant during these months and you won’t be disappointed with your sojourn here.

Also Read: This hill station is known for its gorgeous lakes, dams, gardens and many other historical places

History of Pachmarhi

Going by its etymology, the name Pachmarhi is derived from two Hindi words i.e. Panch and Marhi meaning five and caves. If the legends are to be believed then these caves were built by none other than the Pandavas during their exile.

Talking about the pre-colonial period, before the rise of Britishers, Pachmarhi was under the rule of Gond King Bhawut Singh. Then with the coming of Britishers, there was a Captain named James Forsyth who later proved to be a vital element in the development of this region as a hill station.

Major Attractions in and Around Pachmarhi

1. Bee Falls. The ethereal beauty of these waterfalls will simply blow away your mind. Here you get to experience some of the most amazing views of the natural scenery. Thus, if you visit Pachmarhi you shouldn’t definitely miss this one out.

2. Jata Shankar Caves. The Jata Shankar Caves which are located in Pachmarhi are considered to be quite sacred. Perhaps this might be so as it is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva concealed himself from Bhasmasur.

3. Pandava Caves. It is believed that these were the caves where the Pandavas took shelter during their exile, along with their wife Draupadi. However, now this place is a popular tourist attraction and sees a great number of tourists all year round.

4. Mahadeo Hill. These hills are located in Madhya Pradesh and are one of the most incredible tourist attractions to explore with lots of bubbling excitement. The holy shrine of this place also holds the idol of Lord Shiva and the people hold great reverence for it.

How to Reach Pachmarhi

Pachmarhi is a beautiful hill station and is a must-visit if you want to escape the stress of city life. To travel here, you will need to cover a total distance of about 912, 897, 1,367, 1,318 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Here are the details on how you can reach here by the following means of transportation.

By Air. The nearest airport from Pachmarhi is the Bhopal Airport aka Raja Bhoj Airport (BHO) situated at a distance of about 200-250 km. As the name suggests, it was named after the 10th-century king Raja Bhoj. It is located within 15 km to the Bhopal Junction as well, thus if you want to travel somewhere further by train, you won’t have to travel long distances. Overall, this aerodrome has good flight connectivity with direct and connecting flights from various cities and towns. After deboarding your flight consider booking a cab or take some other means of transportation to reach your destination.

From Guwahati - Board Spicejet, IndiGo flights from Guwahati Airport
From Lucknow - Board IndiGo, Air India, Go Air flights from Lucknow Airport
From Bhubaneswar - Board Air India, IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar Airport

By Train. If you plan to travel via train, then deboard at the Pipariya Railway Station situated 50-60 km away. It majorly serves the Pipriya town in Madhya Pradesh and is considered to be an A category station of the West Central Railway Zone. After deboarding here, consider booking a taxi or some other means of local transportation to reach here.

From Guwahati - Board GHY LTT SPECIAL from and deboard at Pipariya Station
From Bhopal - Board Janshtabadi Spl from Habibganj Station and deboard at Pipariya Station

By Road. Pachmarhi has overall good road connectivity with other cities. There are regular state-run buses which you can easily board and reach here. You can also book taxis or self-drive here according to your convenience and budget.