About Pachmarhi Core Zone
Satpura National Park is a serene wildlife destination in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district, previously known as Hoshangabad. This wildlife reserve is considered a hidden gem as it is comparatively lesser explored national park than the other tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh. Satpura houses a wide range of wild animals and the exotic wildlife can be explored by jeep safaris. The national park has 5 safari zones - 3 core and 2 buffer. Among these, the Pachmarhi core zone is the most scenic one, as Pachmarhi is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh. It is also known as the ‘Queen of Satpura’. This picturesque hill station is perched at a height of 1067 metres above sea level, and additionally it boasts the highest point in Madhya Pradesh, known as Dhoopgarh (1352 metres above sea level). The Pachmarhi region can be uncovered by choosing the Panaarpani safari entry gate of Satpura National Park. In order to secure the preferred safari gate, it is strongly recommended to opt for advance Satpura online safari booking. Exploring the hill station of Pachmarhi adds another charm to the jungle expedition of Satpura National Park.
There are 5 tourist gates of Satpura National Park -
1. Panaarpani Gate(Pachmarhi)
2. Madhai
3. Bheemkund Gate(Churna)
4. Jamanidev
5. Pathai Gate (Parsapani)
Safari Timings
● Morning Safari: 6:30 am - 10:30 am
● Evening Safari: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Pachmarhi Hill Station has been a part of the Satpura Tiger Reserve since 2000. Famous for its stunning scenery and beautiful waterfalls, Pachmarhi is a paradise for bird and butterfly lovers. Visitors should stop by the Interpretation Centres at Bison Lodge and Dhoopgarh to better understand and enjoy everything Pachmarhi has to offer.
Brief History on Pachmarhi - The name Pachmarhi is said to come from two Hindi words - Panch meaning five and Marhi meaning caves. This refers to the well-known Pandav Caves. According to legend, the five Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata stayed here during their thirteen years of exile. There are also many other caves around Pachmarhi that have ancient rock paintings. Some of these paintings are believed to be nearly 10,000 years old and tell stories from very early times.
Pachmarhi was discovered in 1857 by British Army Captain James Forsyth. He later wrote a book about this place titled The Highlands of Central India. In the past, Pachmarhi was covered with thick forests and was hard to reach. Because of this, it became a safe hiding place for freedom fighters like Rani Jhansi and Tatya Tope. The name Pachmarhi comes from five ancient caves found here. The word “Panch” means five, and “Marhi” means caves. Due to its beautiful scenery and pleasant weather, Pachmarhi became a favorite summer destination for the British during the pre-independence period.
Flora & Fauna in Pachmarhi
● Satpura National Park is adorned with various species of flora. The dominant varieties are teak, sal, mango, silver fern, arjun and jamun.
● Apart from the flora species, Satpura National Park is a natural habitat to various wildl animals like leopard, tiger, gaur, wild boar, chital deer, sambar deer, muntjac deer and Rhesus macaque. The national park also include some endemic fauna like nilgai, chinkara, Indian wolf, Indian giant squirrel, wild dogs and flying squirrel.
Best Time to Visit - Satpura National Park remains open throughout the year. The Pachmarhi hill station remains perfect for a visit in all seasons. In order to have the best picturesque experience in Pachmarhi, it is best to plan the visit between October and April. Nature is at its best during these months and the weather is favourable for comfortable exploration.
Things to Do in Pachmarhi
The tourism zone in Pachmarhi offers several exciting activities along with the jeep safaris. The eco-tourism activities in the Pchmarhi Zone includes -
● Cycling
● Trekking
● Hiking
● Pachmarhi Sightseeing
Best Locations of Tourist Interest in Pachmarhi
● Bee Falls
● Dhoopgarh
● Jatashankar Caves
● Apsara Vihar
● Priya Darshini
● Silver Falls
● Pandav Caves
● Handi Khoh
● Reechgarh
● Mahadeo Hill
● Priyadarshini Point
How to Pachmarhi Tourism Zone of Satpura National Park
Nearest Airport: Jabalpur and Bhopal are the 2 major cities with airport that connects to several other cities India and the international airport in Bhopal also provides connectivity to foreign tourists.
● Raja Bhoj International Airport to Panaarpani Entry Gate - 194 km via NH46
● Jabalpur Airport to Panaarpani Entry Gate - 295 km via NH45
Nearest Railway Station: Pachmarhi Tourism Zone can be easily reached by train from Itarsi Junction and Pipariyar railway Station.
● Itarsi Junction to Panaarpani Entry Gate - 113 km via MP SH 22
● Pipariya Railway Station to Panaarpani Entry Gate - 44.1 km via Pipariya Rod and Madhya Pradesh SH 19A.
By Road: Pachmarhi is easy to reach by road. Even if you travel by train or flight, the last part of the journey must be done by road. Since the area has an Army cantonment, the roads are well cared for and usually in good condition. Pachmarhi is open to visitors all year round. You can drive here comfortably from nearby places like Bhopal, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Indore, Kanha Tiger Reserve, and Pench Tiger Reserve.
Distance from Major Neighbouring Cities to Pachmarhi
● Bhopal to Pachmarhi - 190 km via NH46
● Jabalpur to Pachmarhi (via Pipariya) - 288 km via NH45
● Nagpur to Pachmarhi (via Chhindwara) - 259 km via NH547 and Pipariya Rd
