1st Trek (6th October 2011) —-> Pandav Caves—-> Rajat Prapat—-> Apsara Falls—-> Panchali Kund—-> Rock Paintings.
We started walking carrying our backpacks to our first destination .. towards Pandav Caves .
Streets of Pachmarhi with signboards
While walking through the city , which is mainly an Army Cantonment area housing many servicemen, we happened to see a church named “Protestant Church” it was bolted and locked with some buffaloes grazing in the area enclosed within the walls of the church. Probably the church only opened on Sundays for public prayers,sermons and religious meetings.
Protestant Church built in the year 1875
This magnificent structure reminds one of the British annexation of this region and making it a summer hill resort.By looking at the church its medieval architecture and grandeur can easily be apprehended.
A few minutes walk ahead lead us towards the Pachmarhi lake towards the south surrounded by the Golf Course with local habitation around its pockets.
Pachmarhi Jheel (Lake)
Few kilometers ahead following the directions we reached Pandav Caves around 8.30 am in the morning. There are five caves carved out of hillock and a vast garden housed in a single complex. Pachmarhi derived its name after these five caves historically known to be built by the Buddhist missionaries.Factually these caves date back the Gupta period of ancient India. But in populist view it is widely accepted that the Pandavas took refuge here in the 13th year of their exile incognito.
Sun-bathed Pandav Caves (Frontal View)
Me sitting on a rock at Pandav Caves
On the top of the cave one can find brick structures which might be a Buddhist Stupa.
Pandav Cave (Top)
There were also some paintings in these caves but were hardly visibly washed away by the passage of centuries.
Our next destination was Rajat Prapat or Silver Fall which was slated to be the next point in our escapade.
We started walking towards Rajat prapat from the Pandav Caves site.We came near the forest entry from where everybody has to stroll down the jungle with prohibition on vehicle entry thereon.
Towards Rajat Prapat
Lonely Road towards Rajat Prapat
Stranded........
We were sitting at the forest entry to sip a cup of tea and this tribal man named Shanoo came towards us saying “guide chahiye kya saab, neeche raasta kharab hai”
Waiting at the Forest Entry at a small dhaba nested within the hills.This place is very deserted and only inundated by tourist inflow . He decided to wait until we consume our snacks .I was initially apprehensive because he was not even carrying his pass or Identity card . We ordered some maggie and pakoras at this local dhaba ,waiting, we were hearing from the owner of the dhaba ,a young boy barely in his mid twenties ,saying “aage paani nahin milega,paani le lo” i.e.., purchase water from here as you will not get it during the trek towards the waterfalls which emerges after a long jungle walk. Hearing this we got our supplies correct by placing an additional bottle in my pouch. Many tourists shunned him saying “hum jharne ka paani pe lenge” thus sharing such jocular pleasantries. Till then we both reconciled to take Shanoo along to avert any more complications during the passage in the jungle.
Shanoo giving a presentation on Sal Tree
Pachmarhi is covered with Sal trees with a thick vegetation down the gorges and along the meadows. Shanoo talked a lot about the Sal trees and its utility . Sal is very useful in the treatment of many chronic diseases. He was talking about the vegetation and culture of Pachmarhi dating back to the times when Gond Aadivasi ruled this place till the advent of the British.
It was a thick jungle , realising it was a wise decision to take a guide along.Moving forward in less than a kilometer from this signboard was the mighty Rajat Prapat view.This is truly a nature’s marvel dripping down from a height of 350 feet from the cliff. The fall is not a stream but a horsetail waterfall with a single drop flowing from the above. Excitedly, i was rushing towards the fences to catch its ambient sound scape created by water which kept gushing downwards. The waterfall is known as Rajat Prapat or Silver Falls because the sunshine on the stream makes it look like a silver strip from a distance.The same can be viewed from the picture posted below. Rajat is the hindi name for silver.
The Mighty Rajat Prapat or Silver Falls
Apsara Falls and its pond area
Apsara Vihar
Adjacent to the Apsara Falls is the “Panchali Kund” a cascading waterfall with 5 big rocks over which the water is descending downwards.
Panchali Kund
The serene ambiance of the landscape is such that one can attain instant solitude . I was leaning over every cavity of the fall and the water body to get a glimpse of any scenic image. The tourists started to move towards the forest entry while we thought of an adventurous escapade through the thick woods of the dense forests to catch “Rock Paintings” which date back many centuries … probably pre historic times. Disagreeably we gave our consent to Shanoo who was supposedly very excited to show us the ancient relic which is well placed in the womb of the forest.
We started to move with herds of tourists getting sparse until it disappeared completely.
Moving in the woods where no one ventures .On the way towards Rock Paintings
Climbing up as Roack Paintings are seen above
We were expecting wild intervention any time in the course of our movement into the deep gorge. It was a topsy-turvy ride with points where we were clinging to branches of the trees growing over the cliffs . With two halts in the midway and a profuse precipitation we were approaching the rock paintings . The rock paintings of this region belong to pre historic periods. The ancient paintings clearly depict a society of hunters and gatherers. Mainly they portray man and his relationship with animals. The region was occupied by the Korku and Gond tribes who perform various customary rituals in front of these rock-cut monuments to please their ancestors by giving animal sacrifices and offerings. Also to avert any unforeseen misery or danger these customs were performed. These rock paintings clearly depict the rudiments of an art which would eventually flourish into a discipline in the near future,less was known by our pre historic caveman while creating this raw form of story telling.
Shanoo took a stick in his hand and was pointing towards the pictures trying to tell the significance of this art. He was looking like a chieftain of a tribe standing on the altar to give some offerings to their gods.
We rested there for a while to move again towards the woods .Shanoo had an alternative path walking through the dense jungle to reach the Forest Entry gate . Shanoo arranged for our conveyance and we reached the town within 20 minutes.
Rock Paintings with Shanoo standing with his stick like a chieftain of a tribe
Hotel Satpura Safari,Pachmarhi
Tired with fatigued we booked a room in the hotel “Satpura Safari”.
We rested there in our room for a while then ventured out in the town at the time of evening.
It was Vijay Dashmi that day and the whole city was buzzing with the festive season.
Procession celebrating Dusherra Festival,Pachmarhi
We set out in the streets where we could see processions moving with Goddess Durga’s idols singing and dancing over the streets.People getting involved in the customary ritual of burning the effigy of Ravana as an emblem of victory of Truth over Evil .
Girls dressed up as Goddess Durga ,Pachmarhi, MP
It was a treat to see the energy of the locals and their amicable behavior towards the tourists. With such a big procession moving through the city no signs of derangement was visible. It was quite conspicuous that people had devotion and festivity in their minds unlike what we see in big cities.
Little pretty girls dressed up like Goddess Durga , in their charismatic aura , posing for pictures ,calling each other by names of the goddesses ,with sheer innocence . This girl in the red dress proclaimed that she is goddess Sita. She truly is, i believe.
Jadi Buti Bhandaar
It was 10.30 pm till then so, we moved to our hotel room ,fatigued with day one of the excursion.
The owner of the shop carrying the 3 kilogram onion
For the rest, watch out for the next part which will be coming soon.
Very informative and witty read. Looking forward to the next episode !
Thank you very much prayaag
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Good one again ……………………
Waterfalls are awesome . Feels like having a drench inside seeing the climate behind…………………….
Thank you Vishal
Are these the famous Bhimbetka rock/cave paintings? If yes, then it is amazing that the authorities responsible for tourism have not made proper arrangements for tourists to visit these UNESCO heritage sites or for the protection and preservation of these examples of prehistoric art, probably the oldest of their kind in India. I wish you had written more about them.
Bhimbetika Rock Paintings are near Bhopal (some odd 50 km) …… very near to Ratapani and Delabadi housed within the Vindya Mountains
Excellent write up with nice pictures. Specially the pictures of Protestant church, Pnadava Caves and finally the giant onion.
Its nothing but the irony of fate that being born, brought up and still living in MP, I have not been to Pachmarhi yet, but no problem enjoyed the beauty of “Queen of Satpura” through your eyes.
Thanks.
Mukesh Ji ……… you are from MP ….. So you should not escape Pachmarhi
Ok, so the story begins now. The prologue was too short but after reading the first day account of yours, which is full of action, nature, conversation and novelty (30 KG Onion, wow), the story is building up well.
A very close friend of mine went to Pachmarhi in 2006. It was a honemoon trip for him. He described the place as quiet, wood-y, apt for taking long walks and great conversations and is sort of local hill-station.
Read his account – https://www.ghumakkar.com/2007/12/09/pachmarhi-elemental-high/
I have been to MP few times after that covering most of it, the popular joints like Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Orccha, Bhopal Belt, Sanchi etc. Meanwhile, I read more of Pachmarhi and though it was all good, I was not sure on whether I would put it up the list.
Manish’s account has been poetic https://www.ghumakkar.com/2010/07/23/?????-??????-??-???-1-?????-?/ and Bidisha recently wrote a warm and tight account – https://www.ghumakkar.com/2011/09/13/visting-rain-washed-satpuras-pachmarhi/ , I was not sure on whether I see myself there anytime soon. And we took Pachmarhi off from our to-do-travel list.
After reading your account, I am getting a feeling that probably it is a great quite, remote, off-route place to indeed involve in some real day long walks, to venture into the markets for that 30 KG onion or to be part of the Jaloos. So may be I find there.
Also, please try to write a separate post on ‘Hotel Satpura’ (akin to a Hotel Review). Good, rich reviews are very useful for fellow Ghumakkars.
I would wait for your next story.
Thank you very much Nandan …….. I am happy you liked my narrative so much.
coming up soon with new content very soon and this would be a total surprise , i promise
quite a balanced and enjoyable trip no rushing and jogging for space laid back hill station as they should be that is the impression i get a must visit for a short break if only it had some near by exiting places of interest
Thank you very much Sanjay …………..
Is Ayurveda shop medicine is really works..?
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Thank you Kavita ji …….. aapke protsahan ka mein aabhari hun …………. haan is 30 kg ke pyaaz ne mujhe bhi chaunka diya tha
the size of onion is really awesome.good pics,beautiful story.keep it up .
Thank you very much Ashok ……… the onion has won many hearts till now ……… he he he
Hi Giriraj,
I have a query regarding weight of onion, whether it is 3 kg or 30 kg??? If 30 kg, it is unbelievable and how one can lift the weight of 30 kg in a single hand.
Moreover in the caption of pic you have written 3 kg and in comments yourself is writing 30 kg. Please solve the mastery.
Thanks.
Mukesh ——– It is what the owner of the shop told me …………….. and yes even a guide named Kapil kori at the Jata Shankar caves acknowledged the same ……….. ya it is a 20-30 kg onion
it was good but the writing could have been revised a couple of times to do away with silly grammatical mistakes! otherwise ideal for an early morning read.. thank you for the efforts in penning down ur trip.. helps many :)