Discover Pachmarhi Pachmarhi, Queen of Satpura
What to see, what to do, when to come and how to fit it together. Written by the people who send guests up the hill every morning.
Pachmarhi now:
- Where
- Satpura range, Madhya Pradesh
- Altitude
- About 1,067 m
- Best months
- October to March
- Nearest station
- Pipariya
The place
The only hill station in Madhya Pradesh
Pachmarhi sits at about 1,067 metres in the Satpura range and is known as Satpura ki Rani, the Queen of Satpura. It is a small cantonment town surrounded by forest, with waterfalls, sandstone ravines, cave shrines and long viewpoints within a short drive of each other.
The forests around it are part of the Satpura Tiger Reserve and the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, which is why the town has stayed green and unhurried.
The forest
Jungle safari, 3 km from our gate
The Satpura Tiger Reserve begins almost at the resort. A buffer-zone safari gate is about 3 km away, with open-gypsy drives into forest that holds sloth bears, leopards, gaur and the Indian giant squirrel.
Madhai, the core zone, with boat and walking safaris on the Denwa, is a day trip of about an hour and a half.
When to come
Best time to visit Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi is a year-round destination, but each season is a different trip.
- October to March: cool, clear and the most comfortable for sightseeing. The busiest season.
- July to September: the monsoon. The hills are at their greenest and the waterfalls at their fullest. The core safari zones are closed.
- April to June: warm in the plains, noticeably cooler up in Pachmarhi. Popular for summer holidays.
Getting around
Sightseeing by open gypsy
Many of the viewpoints and waterfalls lie inside the forest area, and visitors see them by local open gypsy with a driver and a day permit. Start early: the popular points get busy by late morning, and Dhoopgarh is best saved for sunset.
If you stay with us, tell us what you would like to see and we will arrange the vehicle.
How long
Two days, or four
Two full days cover the famous sights and a safari. Three nights and four days add the climb to Chauragarh, the walk to Rajat Prapat, a day at Madhai and proper time by the pool. We have written out both, with timings.
Getting there
How to reach Pachmarhi
By train, the station for Pachmarhi is Pipariya, on the Mumbai–Howrah main line via Itarsi and Jabalpur. By air, Bhopal is the nearest major airport, with Nagpur and Jabalpur as alternatives. From any of them the last stretch is by road.
The Golden Woods Resort is on that road, at Matkuli: 22 km from Pipariya station and 29 km before Pachmarhi town. Staying here means a shorter transfer on arrival and a quiet base away from the bustle of the town.
Things to do
What to do in Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi is a place for being outdoors. These are the things visitors come for.
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Jungle safari
Open-gypsy drives into the buffer forest, about 3 km from the resort, and into the core zone at Madhai.
More about jungle safari
Bee Fall, Rajat Prapat, Duchess Fall
Chase the waterfalls
Stand under Bee Fall, look across at the 107-metre Silver Fall, or walk down to Duchess Fall.
More about chase the waterfalls
Highest point in Madhya Pradesh
Sunset at Dhoopgarh
The classic Pachmarhi evening: the sun going down over layer after layer of the Satpuras.
More about sunset at dhoopgarh
About 1,300 steps
Climb to Chauragarh
A dawn climb to a hilltop Shiva temple ringed with thousands of tridents left by pilgrims.
Pandav Caves, Jata Shankar, Mahadeo
Caves and shrines
Rock-cut caves and Shiva shrines hidden in ravines and under overhanging sandstone.
Madhai
Boat safari on the Denwa
Cross the backwater by boat and watch the forest edge from the water. Best from October to March.
More about boat safari on the denwa
In town
Boating on Pachmarhi Lake
Pedal and row boats on the small lake in town. Easy with children, pleasant in the evening.
Seasonal
Parasailing and adventure sports
Parasailing and other activities are run in season at the old airstrip. Ask what is operating when you visit.
Rock shelters
Prehistoric rock art
Painted rock shelters in the sandstone hills, some thousands of years old.
All year
Birds and wildlife watching
Giant squirrels in the canopy, deer in the clearings and over 300 species of birds.
At the resort
Swim with a view
Come down from the hills to a pool that looks over open fields to the Satpura range.
More about swim with a view
At the resort
Bonfire under the stars
Evenings on the lawn with a fire, far from the lights of the town.
Questions
Good to know
What is Pachmarhi famous for?
Pachmarhi is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh, known as the Queen of Satpura. It is famous for its waterfalls, the Pandav Caves, cave shrines, the Dhoopgarh sunset point and the forests of the Satpura Tiger Reserve.
What is the best time to visit Pachmarhi?
October to March has the most pleasant weather. July to September is the greenest, with full waterfalls. April to June is warm but cooler than the plains.
How many days are enough for Pachmarhi?
Two full days cover the main sights and a safari. Three nights and four days allow the treks, a day at Madhai and time to rest.
What is the nearest railway station to Pachmarhi?
Pipariya. It is on the Mumbai–Howrah main line; Pachmarhi town is about 50 km from the station by road, and The Golden Woods Resort is 22 km from it.
Where should I stay when visiting Pachmarhi?
You can stay in the town or on the road leading to it. The Golden Woods Resort is a forest cottage resort with a swimming pool at Matkuli, 29 km before Pachmarhi and about 3 km from a Satpura safari gate, for those who prefer a quiet base with space, a pool and lawns.
How do I get around Pachmarhi?
Most visitors hire a local open gypsy with a driver for the forest viewpoints and waterfalls. If you stay at The Golden Woods Resort, the team can arrange it.
Plan your trip
Keep exploring
Contact
Planning a Pachmarhi trip? We can help.
Tell us your dates. We will share availability, arrange the taxi and the gypsy, and help you plan the days.
+91 92447 75909Prefer to book online? We are also on MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Agoda, Tripadvisor and Airbnb.