Categories
Central India

The Queen of Satpura, Pachmarhi Hill station

MP has been recognized widely as one of the most beautiful Indian states to live in. Pachmarhi hill station in MP is the one and only hill station in MP and a popular tourist retreat, known for the Pachmarhi Cantonment. The Pachmarhi hill station is affectionately known as Satpura ki Rani and the title is well justified once you set foot there.

The amazing sceneries and visuals that surround you from all directions are mesmerizing. Pachmarhi’s elevation and the forests of the Satpuras, accompanied with streams and waterfalls, are striking and rich in wildlife.  The extravagant charm this place holds in unmatchable and add to that some amazing lakes, ponds and the trees. It’s easy to fall in love with the place.

Other than the visuals, there are some beautiful waterfalls and it also serves as quite a treat for the history enthusiasts and the archaeologists as the place also have some caves with ancient paintings. It has been said about them that these paintings were painted on these caves by the very first humans that appeared on the face of the earth about 10,000 years ago from now.

The nearest airport is the Bhopal airport, the state capital. While Pipariya, 50 kilometers away is the nearest railway station, reaching the place is not very hard. The road lines are well connected with the airport and the railway station along with the bus routes.

So what is it about the place that makes it one of the most sought after attractions in the entire state and in the country, in general? Let’s find out.

Priyadarshini point- British people are credited with discovering the point and it is quite visible in all the churches and the trademark architecture schemes. They turned it into a beautiful resort.

Jamuna Prapat- A magnificent fall that provides some pure drinking water to the locals. The bathing services in the pools here are very popular among the tourists and they could be seen taking dips every time in a year.

Apsara Vihar- A very beautiful picnic spot for the children and the lovers, there is a beautiful pool at the place. One has to take a barefoot walk 2 kilometers into the forest in order to reach the point.

Pandav Caves- The caves, if the legends are to be believed, provided shelter to the Pandavas when they were in the exile. These are beautiful and are historically significant as well for the Indian Archaeological Survey excavations.

Other than these places for sightseeing, there are many places where you can move to satisfy your hunger pangs. The cuisine served here is mostly Gujarati, Maharashtrian, and Jain. There are many dhabas and restaurants in the place but the one you will probably like the most is Kolkata Food Joint in the main Panchgani market.

There are many more pools and falls in the area that is worth a mention such as Bee fall, Duchess Fall, and the little fall. The place brings you pure peace of mind and bliss, away from the hassles of the city life.

Categories
Central India

Bhedaghat the land of striking marbles

Bhedaghat is one of those very few places in Madhya Pradesh that offers perfect combination of the natural and manmade marvels to feel amazed about. Also known popularly as the place of the marble rocks, Bhedaghat is one beauty of a city. Reaching here isn’t also very difficult as the nearest airport, the Jabalpur airport happens to be about 30 kilometres away from the place. Coming here through the roadways is also quite easy and straightforward. Government buses runs in innumerable numbers to the city from Jabalpur.

Home of the Narmada River, Bhedaghat has a lot of things to offer to the visitors. A few among them are listed below.

Marble rocks- Remember the movie Asoka? Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan? We know you do! The film was extensively shot here. The huge marble rocks are located at the place and are a great source of amazement to the visitors. The gigantic Magnesium and limestone rocks flow freely in the Narmada river and that provides a great view that seems mystical and outwardly. This is one of the biggest attractions in the city and hopefully will keep attracting the massive number of tourists each year.

Dhuandhar Falls-The Dhuandhar Falls famous with the name Smoke cascade, which refers to its name ‘Dhuan’ means smoke and “Dhar” means flowing water. The beautiful picturesque art of Mother Nature, the famous waterfall of north India is located at Bhedaghat 30 km away from Jabalpur. The  Waterfalls are always a definite win when it comes to visiting a place that remains largely under appreciated. As the Narmada Rivers makes its way swiftly through the massive marble rocks, there comes a spot where the distance narrows down to a great degree and that results in the great waterfalls. Dhuandhar literally means crazy and wild, get the idea yourself now.

Boating- Boating is always a great experience and when it takes place amidst some of the most delicious landscapes, it’s worth a lot. Bhedaghat and the Narmada River offer the same to the tourists. A boat ride down the smoothly flowing water of the Narmada River while having a surrounding view of the villages that comes in the way. Most of the boating takes place under the night when the nature is calm and composed. It’s just you, your loved ones and the clear sky full of stars.

Chausath Yogini Temple- This particular attraction is for the more religious ones among the tourists. Dedicated to the fierce goddess Durga, the temple is said to have been built in the 10th century. There is intricate stone work that has been done on the inside along with the very magnetic idols of the goddess that reeks of artistic brilliance.

Soapstones Artifacts- If you happen to be one of those very few people interested in the intricate stone work, then you must take a look at what artists of this little place are actually capable of. The locales are quite well versed in giving some amazing and delicate design to the marbles. You can’t leave the city without buying a few of them.

Travel Tip

Bhedaghat is open for visitors in all seasons but travellers must note that boating remains closed in monsoon season i.e. from July to September.

Categories
Central India Culture Tribal

This is what you donot know about Baiga Tribe

India is a home to many tribes and Baiga is a tribe found Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh. With its population of about 250000, they live in thick woodland areas. In Madhya Pradesh, they are spread over in Mandla, Dindori, Shahadol, Balaghat and Umaria. we find tribal life quite interesting as their lives are free from the materialism that has been rotting this world. Baiga Tribe was a source of curiosity for me so we hunted down some information. Here are some interesting facts about Baiga Tribe:

Simple life: Baigas believe themselves to be heirs of the earth and rulers of woodlands. Yet still, they live a simple and straightforward life. Their homes are not adorned; they do not wear any ornaments. It is truly a simple way of living.

Tattooing: Tattoos make up a huge part of their culture. Baiga women have every body part tattooed with big elaborate figures. Upon asking, they revealed that this art has been passed down to Badi-Badanin group who do the tattoo work. They know the types of tattoos demanded by each tribe and have learnt the art from their mothers and would surely pass it down to further generations as well.

Shifting cultivation: The people of Baiga tribe never plough the field as they believe it would be similar to hurting the breast of their mother. They do not plant crops on the same patch again to give mother earth time to replenish the energy. Baigas practice ‘Swidden’ agriculture and it is known to be an effective device for conservation.

Laborer: The hunters and woodsmen of Baiga tribe considered themselves as people of the forest who lived there, survived on the produce of the forest. As such, they refused to work for the government or any other person as it would reduce them to the level of a laborer.

Coarse food: Baiga eat food in coarse form like coarse grain. They also eat little flour and drink pej. Pej is made from grounding macca or water left after boiling rice. They also find food from the forests and eat Peepal, Gular leaves etc. Some fruits such asJamun, Tendu mangoes and delicacies like mushrooms also form part of their diet.

Eviction: These tribes have suffered from threats and they have even been forcibly evicted by Indian authorities since 1960s. The main reason given is to protect the wildlife and tiger populations but as a result, these communities become a victim. They get displaced and we must understand the plight of these traditional tribes of our country.

Hunting: They mostly hunt fish and small animals for food. Their impact on wildlife is not as troublesome as some people make it out to be.

Language: Though most Baigas interact with outsiders in Hindi and they have also picked up few local languages. Among them, they talk in a language called ‘Baigani’. It takes its style from Chattisgarhi and is also influenced by Gondi language and mostly the tribesmen from Mandla district have adopted it as a language.

These tribesmen and women of Baiga tribe practice semi-nomadic culture and we must pay attention towards preserving these cultures as they make an important part of our diverse country. Our country is a secular one as such everyone is allowed total freedom. It is not right to forcibly evict these tribes from their homelands. Even though, incentives are provided like that of money and alternate land, these often turn out to be lies and the tribes end up with nothing even after losing their territories.

Categories
Architectural Central India Historical

Bhimbetka –an experience decoding the archeological sites and Indian rock art

Situated right in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Bhimbetka is one of the most visited tourist places in India. It hosts some of the best archeological sites in the world with the reflection of human traces from the South Asian stone-age. The government of India declared it a world heritage site in the year 2003. We bring you a list of a few good things you can do while you are in Bhimbetka.

Explore Cave Paintings

The Bhimbetka rock art sites are about 45 kilometers southeast of Bhopal. These rock sites have become renowned and are the ones that are always mentioned whenever we talk of the most spectacular Indian rock art.

The place hosts a painted sites and caves with traces of art and paintings by ancient humans. Several archaeological studies suggest that these cave paintings are one of the oldest in the world. You must explore cave painting in Bhimbetka during your stay in the city. The moment you step into a cave to explore the incredible heritage of India, you are literally transformed to a different world. The cave paintings are a great way to understand the people of ancient times, outlook, and their culture.

Visit Bhojpur Temple

Bhojpur temple has an Indian mythological significance. According to local beliefs, Bhojpur temple was developed by Bhima, the second son of Pandu in Mahabharatha, while he along with other four brothers and mom was in exile for 13 years.

A staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, Bhima created the temple overnight for his daily offerings of prayers. There is a gigantic Shiva Linga in the temple. Tourists from around the world flock to offer their prayers here. The cave paintings also depict art, music, jewelry, dancing, honey collecting, horse riding, elephant riding, masks, and animal fighting. There are loads of animals carved on the walls of the temple such as dogs, monkeys, elephants, tigers, antelopes, tigers, boars, lions, elephants, and crocodiles among others.

Visit Hoshangabad

Hoshangabad is a place of historical significance in Madhya Pradesh. From some of the most popular temples to a host of cave paintings, this city, a few kilometers from capital Bhopal is a sight to behold. Just like cave paintings in Bhojpur temple, the cave paintings found in Hoshangabad depict ways how the people from ancient time used to live. Cave paintings showcase hunting, dancing, music, art, and animal fighting. A number of animals have also been depicted in these paintings. Some of them include dogs, monkeys, elephants, tigers, antelopes, tigers, boars, lions, elephants, and crocodiles among others.

How to Reach

Flight

The nearest airport to Bhimbetka is the RajBhoj airport which is located at a distance of around 45 kms from Bhimbetka. The airport is well connected to the major domestic airports via regular flights.

Road

Bhimbetka is easily accessible by road too and is just around 46 km drive from Bhopal. One can hire Taxis and Buses which are easily available on this route.

Food

Foodies can tantalize their taste buds right from early morning in Bhopal, as you can find various stalls serving Poha Jalebi. Almost every shop and restaurant in and around Bhopal serves the delicious Poha Jalebi. If you are comfortable with small food chains, you will find many Dhabba which get under way to the caves, where this famous combination is served with a hot cup of team. Local people call it “cut chai”.

The place is famous for its sweet-sour and spicy ‘chaat’ of this city that is loved by all. Since Bhopal is the hub of Mughlai culture, it offers famous delicacies such as chicken tikka, biryani, goat kebabs and goat kebabs.

More about Bhimbteka

Bhimbetka is home to more than 500 rock shelters and caves which comprise a large number of paintings which steal the limelight. The oldest paintings are considered to be 30,000 years old.

The place is of great interest to the tourists of almost all age groups.

Places to Stay in Bhimbetka

There are a plethora of hotels that one can find in Bhopal, situated 40 km away from Bhimbetka. You can find hotels within your budget in the city. Rooms are usually available all through the year.

Categories
wildlife

Ken Ghariyal Sanctuary – a place known for the most amazing Crococodilians!!

Located near the magnetic Khajuraho temples and the very famous Panna national park, the Ken Ghariyal sanctuary is a very attractive tourist spot for the ones interested in the sightings of Ghariyal, an endangered family member of the crocodile family. Spread across the area of about 45 square kilometres the sanctuary happens to be located at the confluence of the Ken and Khudar River.  The popular tourist spot happens to be located in the Chatarpur district in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.

Reasons to Visit

  • There are ample reasons for having a visit at the place, the brightest one among them being the literal one itself, and the ghariyals. They look similar to crocodiles in many ways but there are certain things that set them apart from their cousins. One thing being, they are far less frightening. Well, only from the outside. They can be seen lying down in the sun, with closed eyes. One wonders whether they are alive at all. They just don’t move an inch while resting, and while on the lookout for the prey. Their patience is incredible while they await the perfect food to eat. They are majestic, they are fierce and they are beautiful. This is one enough reason to visit the Ken ghariyal sanctuary.
  • There are other animals that could be found here in their entire wilderness such as wild boars, deer and Nilgai. Other than that, the sightings of some rare and beautiful birds are also quite a common occurrence at the place.
  • One other reason to visit the place is the nearby attractions. The best among them all, the Khajuraho temples, a UNESCO world heritage site known for its wall carvings and beautiful artworks. The Panna national park is also there within a few hours distance.
  • The forests are well managed and preserved by the authorities. It offers a beautiful view of the Ken river. You can choose to do boating in the Ken river.
  • There is a place called Vulture Point situated into the park which can be seen via a safari If one wants to spot vultures. It’s a must place to visit, which seems like a gorge with forest in the background. Tigers,bears, and leopards are said to visit the bottom of the gorge because of the water resource here and it’s a delighted scene to watch.

Ken Ghariyal sanctuary has done a great job in breeding the rare ghariyals on its own and however, the things aren’t as easy as they seem. They are trying their best to preserve one of the most endangered and beautiful species of reptiles that ever walked the planet. Visit Ken Ghariyal sanctuary and you’ll appreciate the work they are doing, for their love for the Ghariyals.

How to Reach

Satna railway station happens to be the nearest to the place and the best medium to travel in case you were planning a trip here. Jhansi railway station is also a great option and coming out of the railway station, you can either take a bus or hire a taxi to the place. Khajuraho airport is the nearest airport to the place and the best time to visit is winters, when the ghariyals will be seen outside of their pools warming themselves up in the bright sun.

Travel Tip

The place remains closed during the monsoons so the visitors are not advised to come here during the rainy seasons.

Categories
Central India wildlife

Pench Tiger Reserve !! Experience in Mowgli Land

Madhya Pradesh is one state, which is endowed by inexplicable beautiful forests and thankfully government is working towards preserving this beautiful flora and fauna by maintaining National Parks. Pench Tiger Reserve is one such initiative that extends the borders of Maharastra.  Pench Tiger Reserve is spread over Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Not to miss, this is the original Mowgli Land, as Rudyard Kipling Jungle Book found its inspiration from the place.

Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh comprises of core area of 411.33 sq. km. with buffer zone of 768.30 sq. km. Total protected area is 1179.63 sq. km. Core area also includes Mowgli Pench Wildlife Sanctuary. (118.30 sq. km.)

How to reach Pench

Rail: Board the train till Chhindwara or Jabalpur. From there you can hire a cab till Pench, which is an approximate distance of 190km from Chhindwara and Jabalpur. Another option is to board the train till Nagpur and hire a taxi ahead.

Air: Nagpur is the nearest airport connected to all metros by regular flights. It’s approximately 145 km from Pench that can be covered in a three/four-hour drive.

Road: Pench Tiger Reserve is located on the Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway. You can go by road from Jabalpur or Nagpur and reach Pench in three to four hours. Another option is to go via Bhopal which is approximately 500 km from Pench or Kanha. Nearest bus stand to Pench is Khawasa or Seoni and hourly buses are available from Nagpur.

Best Season to Visit Pench

Park remained opened for visitors from October till June, but post monsoon i.e around August to October, you may witness the myriads colors of nature, as the park is plush green and looks phenomenally beautiful. However, for tiger sightings, May-June is better, as this wild cats usually come out of their dens to the water holes to drink water.

Where to stay

Though you will find several budgets to luxurious hotels near Turia gate, but our recommendation would be to stay at Pench Tree Lodge, operated by Pugdundee Safaris. Starting from staff to the logistics, place is just perfect!!

Wildlife Safari

You may book your safaris from mponline.gov.in or can ask your hotel people to get this done for. Most of the resorts can help you in booking. There are usually two jungle safaris. The morning safari starts at 6 AM till 11 AM while evening starts at 2:30 PM. There are three gates. We went through Karmajhiri gate.

Like all the other parks of M.P., Pench too allows a total number of eight people in a jeep, out of which six are tourists and the other two are the guide and the driver. But you can also book solo jeep for yourself by paying extra.

Flora and Fauna

With a learned naturalist, you can actually explore the national park from depth as they are aware of who’s who of the parks. Pench National Park is endowed with rich flora and fauna. Myriads of birds such as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Osprey, Black-Hooded Oriole, Sirkeer Malkoha, Grey Nightjar, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Scaly-Breasted Munia, Jungle Owlet, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Brown Fish Owl, Short Toed Snake Eagle, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Racket Tailed Drongo, Crested Treeswift, Jungle Babbler, varieties of Parakeet.. In addition to these, you can spot migratory birds are Indian Pitta, Red Throated Fly Catcher, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Jacobin Cuckoo, Grey Headed Canary Fly Catcher.

Animals such as the Tiger, Leopards, Common Giant Flying Squirrel, Dhole, Gaur, Barking Deer, Monitor Lizard, Indian Rock Python, Rusty-spotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Asian Palm Civet, Ruddy Mongoose, Porcupine, Bengal Fox, Indian Jackal, Sambhar Deer, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear can be spotted.

Travel Tips

  • Jungle Safaris bookings should be done in advance, as seats are limited.
  • It is mandatory to carry ID cards for safaris. The ID needs to be the same as the one with which you booked your safari.
  • Carry binoculars to spot the birds and animals in the park.
  • Wear comfortable clothing. Do not miss to put sunscreen, as it gets really hot during Safari time.
  • Carry proper woolens in winters and an effective sunscreen in summers.
  • Only Idea and BSNL works at Pench, so pl communicate accordingly to your near and dear ones.
  • Try to be silent and not to over react as you spot anything, as it disturb their peace and they run away

Last but not least, do not get disheartened if you could not spot a wildcat, as these parks are much beyond wild cat chase. Instead, these jungle safaris are more about getting closer to nature, learning about wildlife habitat.

Categories
Central India Corporate Outings wildlife

Photo Blog : Pench Tiger Reserve

Wondering what this dense Pench Tiger Reserve consists of!! Explore it through the lens of  #ghoomophirosisters in this photo-blog. These beautiful National Parks are not just to spot the big cat, there is much more in them beyond the royal tigers..and this is exactly what we have tried to capture!! We were accompanied by talented naturalist Sagar, Pugdundee Safaris  who enhanced our knowledge about wildlife and share lot of smallest facts around them.

Karmajhiri entry gate. This is the place from where you get passes for the entry to the park. A government guide also accompanies you. There are three gates and Turia is the most congested one, as most if the resorts and hotels are situated there. Only 6-7 jeeps you will find at Karmajhiri.

Inside Jungle, milestones to guide the way through.

Waterholes; You can find several waterholes in the jungles. These are happy spots for both naturalists and animals. Former wait for the later to come to drink water.

As #ghoomophirosisters took a small break for breakfast inside the jungle.

Trying hands to drive through the jungles

Lucky to find the pack of 7 wild dogs, which are rare..Guess they were partying;)

Night jar on the road!! Look at the way, it has camoflagued himself..

Langurs are something, you would definitely find in abundance in Pench

Ahh!! this was sweet one; Peacock running after peahen to woo her:-)

Deers!! Ah, you definitely can expect them in great numbers to maintaing the nature balance.

So what are you waiting for, we are sure pictures would have motivated you to pack your bags and get your bookings done.

Categories
Central India Culture

Cycling through the beautiful Sarrahiri Village

Early this year in March,  we #ghoomophirosisters were lucky to visit a small village in Madhya Pradesh called Sarrahiri. Thanks to Pugdundee Safaris to conduct this amazing walk for us. We happened to stay at Pench Tree Lodge, from where as part of their day activity went for a quick cycle ride to this neighborhood village. We started quite early in the morning and were overwhelmed with the open area on our both sides. As we proceeded, we saw villagers involved in their day to today activities. They were quite shy, but happy to interact and let us know more about their culture. The following photo blog is a short glimpse of what we could capture from our camera about the place.

It was just a km away from Pench Tree Lodge.

#ghoomophirosisters rode a cycle to the village early morning!!

By the road-side!!

Typical mornings in the village..Low slanting roofs and all huts are in blue-white colors.

Villagers busy in their day to day stuff.

Religious tree. It is assumed “Kuldevi of village” resides here.

Women working in Wheat fields.

Scare Crow Inside the fields!!

Another Temple at the end of the village!!

Categories
Central India Corporate Outings Staycation

Pench Tree Lodge – Home in the midst of jungle

Away from the hustle bustle of city life, we #ghoomophirosisters usually plan our weekends to the jungles of central India, and this time it was Pench Tiger Reserve for us. While we were shortlisting the place to stay, we could not stop ourselves from exploring Pench Tree Lodge supported by Pugdundee Safaris.
After a long 3.5 Hr drive from Nagpur, we reached to the Pench Tree Lodge and to our surprise the place has maintained nature in its best form. No destruction of the existing ecosystem has been made. As we reached, manager Amit Mukherjee with his staff gave us a warm welcome and briefed about the property. Few interesting facts include, do not leave the room or balcony slider open, reptiles might get in!! This itself suggested how close the place is to nature.

It is primarily an eco-conscious retreat spread over 36 acres and to your surprise has only 6 treehouse cottages. In rest of the place, one can see snakes, civets, foxes, jackals, wild boars, doves roosting in the trees, parakeets, and several other birds. The place also has kitchen garden wherein almost all seasonal vegetables you can find and it does sustain the kitchen of the property.

Rooms

They were simple elusive rooms with all modern facilities that you can ask for. A small welcome note from Pugdundee caught our eyes and was indeed heart warming. Our cottage was supported by big Mahua tree. Interiors of rooms were beautiful. Small hand made paintings of birds added the charm to the room. Must congratulate the masterminds behind the architecture of these tree-houses to come up with such marvelous tree-houses.

Iron rod bed stuffed with cushions of all sizes, what more one would want as part of the luxury stay.Lighting in the rooms was dim and sufficient enough to charge up your mood.

Small video as we explored room is here, that will definitely inspire you to pack the bags and rush for wilderness.

Smallest care was taken not to play around with nature and hence two steel water bottles were kept instead of plastic bottles. Alongside, kettle tea bags, milk powder were stacked for the convenience. A beautiful balcony with coffee table and an unimaginable view wait for you in the evening, where either you can sip a coffee or read a good book or simply gaze the nature and enjoy the parakeets, civets or other wild animals. We never found ourselves as close to nature as stay in this property made us to.

Dining Experience

We must thank chef Pankaj and his team for some delicious fusion vegetarian meals. It was just perfect. With every meal served to us, our benchmarks increased and they never disappointed us. We liked all our meals from breakfast to dinner to high-tea. Not to miss was dumplings, corn kebabs, Onion soup, beetroot pudding and the list is endless. To top it all, the presentation was icing on the cake. Needless to say, our dining experience were redefined at Pench Tree Lodge.  Overall staff was courteous and was available for our help anytime.

It would be the injustice to the team if we do not mention the breakfast in the jungle and moonlight dinner. Both of them were well executed by everyone in the staff. In the former, we were served the buffet of breakfast in the midst of jungle whereas in the later, there was small kerosene lit lamps were hanging to the trees and dinner was served under the stars. Believe us, it could not more romantic as it was.

What to do

You may customize your itinerary during your stay with the manager as they have activities lined up for you. This list includes jungle safari to Pench Tiger Reserve, Walk to the nearby Village, cycling sessions, Birding, Night Safari or simply relax in the pool.

We must say, the Pench tree lodge gives you endless opportunities to interact with yourself, stay close to nature and definitely, you are going to treasure the experience for long. The retreat is the best example of how man and nature co-exist in harmony. Needless to say, it is indeed a plush and romantic escape.. Get your bookings now!!

Categories
wildlife

Relive your Mogwli Days in Kanha National Park- A photo essay

A small photo-essay from our Kanha Visit. Chasing wild cats is not the only thing. In fact, these jungle safari drives makes us realize, there is much more in these jungles.

I am sure, these pictures will surely motivate you to plan your next vacation to Kanha.

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