Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Pachmarhi, the Hill Station the British Called the Queen of Satpura
Madhya Pradesh's only hill station, Pachmarhi sits on a plateau in the Satpura Range, ringed by waterfalls, sandstone gorges and caves that have drawn visitors since a British army captain stumbled on it in 1857.
Sep 26, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Pachmarhi, at around 1,100 metres in the Satpura Range, was found by Captain James Forsyth of the Bengal Lancers in 1857 and quickly turned into a British summer retreat and cantonment, the only hill station in what is now Madhya Pradesh. The plateau it sits on is ringed by sandstone cliffs, gorges and waterfalls that still make it one of central India's more underrated escapes. Here are seven ways to spend time there.
1. Watch the sunset from Dhoopgarh
The highest point in the Satpura Range, Dhoopgarh is Pachmarhi's most reliable sunset spot, with layered views over the surrounding hills that draw a steady crowd in the final hour before dark.
2. Cool off at Bee Falls
Known locally as Jamuna Prapat, Bee Falls is Pachmarhi's most visited waterfall, a short walk from the town centre and a popular spot for a swim in the pool at its base during the cooler months.
3. Explore the Pandav Caves
A cluster of rock-cut caves near the town centre, popularly linked to the Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata, though archaeologists date the excavations to around the second or third century and associate them with Buddhist monastic use.
4. Visit the Jatashankar cave shrine
A narrow cave formed around a natural stalactite that devotees regard as a Shiva lingam gives Jatashankar its name and its status as a pilgrimage site, reached by a stepped path down into a shaded gorge.
5. Look down into Handi Khoh
A deep, sheer-sided gorge cloaked in forest, Handi Khoh is one of Pachmarhi's more dramatic viewpoints and a short stop on most local sightseeing routes around the plateau.
6. Walk down to Satdhara Falls
A multi-tiered waterfall reached by a longer forest walk than Bee Falls, Satdhara rewards the extra effort with a quieter setting and a series of pools worth the climb back up.
7. Look for wildlife in Satpura Tiger Reserve
The plateau sits within the buffer of Satpura Tiger Reserve, which, unlike many Indian tiger reserves, permits walking and boat safaris alongside jeep drives, giving a different pace to a wildlife visit here.
Traveller tips
- The nearest railway station is Pipariya, about an hour away by road; the nearest airport is Bhopal, roughly three to four hours from the plateau.
- Many of the waterfalls and gorges involve unfenced drops and slippery rock; stick to marked paths, especially after rain.
- Pachmarhi cools noticeably in winter nights; carry warm layers even though days can be pleasantly mild.
- Entry permits are required for some forest and cave areas within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, arranged through the local forest office.
Where this is
Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh