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Priyadarshini
Point
This vantage viewing point marks the place
from where Pachmarhi was discovered. In
1857, Captain Forsyth, a Bengal Lancer,
approached the plateau at the head of a
column of troops. At this point (originally
named after him), he first glimpsed the
extraordinary beauty of this saucer-shaped
scenic spot. Acting on Forsyth's
information, the British developed
Pachmarchi as a sanatorium and hill resort
and even today, their legacy remains,
embodied in Pachmarchi's church and colonial
architecture.
Handi Khoch
Pachmarchi's most impressive ravine has a
300-feet-high precipice and dramatically
steep sides. A solitary place, with water
flowing far, far below with an incessant
murmuring sound. Handi Khoh's over-hanging
crags shelter gigantic, undisturbed,
beehives.
Apsara Vihar
A lovely little bathing pool, and easily
accessible from Jai Stambh, this 'fairy
pool' is an ideal picnic spot for families
with children, as the pool is shallow,
deepening only towards the base of the fall
which cascades gently into its waters.
Rajat Pratap
Those seeking adventure will find it in this
ten-minute walk over rocks and boulders from
Apsara Vihar to the top of Rajat Pratap, the
'big fall'; A thrilling experience is
looking straight down t the bottom of the
fall which plunges down a 350-foot-high-hgh
precipice.
Raj Giri
Also known as Club Hill, this is a short,
easy climb from Pachmarhi club to a
300-feet-high spot from where you get a
panoramic view of Pachmarhi.
Lanjee Giri
This hill can be sealed from hot east and
west. For the rock-climbing enthusiast,
there are some easy scaling to be done near
the summit. Near the western summit is an
underground passage leading down the
northern face.
Irene Pool
This pretty pool was discovered by Irene
Bose, wife of Justice Vivian Bose, and named
after her. The approach to this bathing spot
is from the car stop to Reech Garh. The
route upstream leads to a cave, through
which the stream goes underground and then
over a khud in a series of falls.
Jalawataran
(Duchess Fall)
3 kilometers from along the path from Belle
View branching off from the milestone for
Bhrant Neer, is a route to the beautiful
Duchess Fall. The descent is steep and the
trek a strenuous one for almost all of the 4
kilometers walk to the base of the first
cascade of the fall. This waterfall, which
tumbles down in three distinct cascades, is
the most p[picturesque of all Pachmarchi's
Falls.
Sunder Kund
(Saunder's Pool)
Crossing the stream below Duchess Fall and
following a footpath about 2.5 kilometers
from if a south-west direction, brings one
to a huge rocky pool in the Jambu Dwip
stream. This is an excellent place for
swimming.
Jata Shankar: A sacred cave under a mass of
loose boulders in which the Jambu Dwip
stream has its sources. It is said that Lord
Mahadeo reached the place by tunnel from
Tilak Sindur to save himself from the
demon-king Bhasmasur. A rocky formation of
this place resembles the matted locks of
Lord Shiva, hence the name.
Chhota Mahadeo
Revered as a sacred spot, this is a narrow
point in the valley with rocks overhanging a
stream and a spring from where water
cascades down.
Mahadeo Hill
Regarded as holy for countless generations,
Mahadeo hill has a shrine with an idol of
Lord Shiva and an impressive Shivlinga. On
the east side of the hill is an excellent
cave shelter with paintings.
Chauragarh
Four kilometers from Mahadeo, it is one of
Satpura's prominent landmarks, the summit
crowned with emblems of Mahadeo worship.
Dhupgarh
The highest point in the Satpura
range, it commands a magnificent view of the
surroundings ranges.
Pandav Caves
These are the famous caves from
which Pachmarhi takes its name. According to
popular belief, the Pandav brothers spent a
part of their exile here.
The Cave Shelters
Some of the best cave shelters and groups of
shelters around Pachmarhi are:
Dhuandhar
approached from the footpath to
Apsara Vihara. The paintings are mostly in
white and include a group of arches with the
typical Gonad bun and hoped earrings.
Bharant Neer (Dorothy Deep)
This is accessible via a steep descent from
the footpath around Astachall hill. It has
well executed animal paintings and when
excavated in the 1930s, yielded many pottery
shards and microliths. On Astachal hill are
four shelters with paintings, comparatively
early linear drawings. Along the northern
side of Jambu Dwip valley are some six
shelters with many paintings of animal and
human figures, including a detailed battle
scene.
The Harper's Cave
so named because of one of its paintings - a
man seated and playing a harp - is close to
the Jata Shankar shrine. Chieftain's Cava
derives its name from a battle scene showing
two chieftains on horses. Another paintings
depict women and a child sitting in a hut.
A terrace that runs the length of the south,
south-east and east faces of Kites Crag has
some fine cave paintings, most of which are
in white or outlined in red. Several animals
and birds are depicted.
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