Hill Stations In Madhya Pradesh To Visit This Summer

1. Amarkantak 

Located in Anuppur, Amarkantak is a pilgrim town and a unique natural heritage destination in Madhya Pradesh. The hill station is located on the Maikal Hills where the Satpura and Vindhya ranges meet. The region is also the source of the Son, Johila, and Narmada rivers. The Indian mystic and famous poet, Kabir is believed to have meditated at this location. The site is located at an elevation of 3438 feet. Anuppur and Pendra Road are the nearest railway stations. The Jabalpur Airport, located 240 km away from the hill station, is the nearest airport. Amarkantak hosts ancient temples from the Kalachuri period that were built in the 11th century by king Karnadeva. The town is surrounded by a great diversity of flora and fauna and the  Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary is only 40 km away from the town of Amarkantak. The Kanha National Park is also located nearby. Bengal tigers might be sighted in these protected areas if luck prevails.

2. Pachmarhi

Pachmarhi is popular tourist destination and hill station and is nicknamed the Satpura ki Rani ("Queen of Satpura”). Located at an elevation of 1,100 meters in the Satpura Range in the Hoshangabad district of the state, Pachmarhi hosts Dhupgarh (1,350 m), the highest point of the state and the Satpura Range. The name of the place is derived from the Hindi words Panch meaning “five” and marhi meaning “caves.” According to legend these five caves were inhabited by the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharatha. The caves, located on a hilltop, provide an excellent vantage point. 

Panchmarhi town is surrounded by dense, green forests with a great diversity of flora and fauna. The Pachmarhi park was included in the list of Biosphere Reserves by the UNESCO in 2009. The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve currently occupies an area of 4981.72 square km and includes the three protected places, the Pachmarhi Sanctuary, Satpura National Park, and the Bori Sanctuary. 

Panchmarhi is a popular tourist destination in Madhya Pradesh. Tourists visit the hill station year-round and the town hosts quite a few accommodation options. Tourism attractions here include ancient cave paintings, the Pandava Caves, the Rajat Prapat waterfall, the Jatashankar which is a stalagmite cave in a deep ravine, Duchess Fall, and several other waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints.

Wildlife living in the protected areas here include the tiger, leopard, sambar deer, chital deer, Indian giant squirrels, nilgai, Indian wolf, rhesus macaques, and more. Panchmarhi’s greenery and cool weather provides a soothing retreat from the city heat during summer.

Dhupgarh, the highest peak in the Satpura Range offers excellent sunset and sunrise views. One can reach the top by trekking. The B-Hill and B-Falls are named so as the waterfall appears to sound like the hum of a bee from a distance. The Duchess waterfall is the most beautiful and remote waterfall in Panchmarhi. The Rajat Prapat, a tall waterfall here offers stunning natural views that are a photographer’s delight. 

Several Bollywood films have been shot at this location. These include Tarkieb, Aśoka, Chakravyuh, and a few others.

3. Patalkot

Patalkot is a valley in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district. The valley spanning an area of 79 square km has an average elevation of 2750 to 3250 feet above sea-level. The Doodhi river flows through this horse-shoe shaped picturesque valley that is surrounded by massive hills on all sides. Traditionally, the valley is believed to host the entrance to the underground world or Patal. Patalkot appears gorgeous during the rains and thus the monsoon season is great to visit this place. The place was only recently developed by the government for tourism purpose but, prior to that, was mostly left to its own. Hence, the natural beauty here is quite pristine and unspoilt.