Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pachmarhi: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Satpura National Park was created in 1981, and the Satpura Tiger Reserve was notified in 2000 as a combination of the national park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve was set up as a conservation area in 1999 and recognised by UNESCO in May 2009.

The plateau itself was taken up by the British in the nineteenth century as a hill sanatorium, and the cantonment still sits within the forest.

Useful facts

Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance

Location

Pachmarhi plateau and surrounding forest, Satpura range, Madhya Pradesh

Experience type

Forest landscape, drives and guided outings

Part of

Satpura Tiger Reserve core and Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Area

Reported between about 418 and 492 sq km, depending on source

Known for

Sal forest, gaur, sambar, birds; tigers present but rarely seen

Access

Fees, permits and guided drives not published; confirm with forest office

Why it matters

Why Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time

Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the three wildlife units that make up the core of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, alongside Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. The reported area of the sanctuary varies between sources, from roughly 418 to 492 square kilometres. The wider Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve was added to UNESCO's biosphere reserve list in 2009, recognising the rare plants of the plateau.

For a visitor, this protection explains the character of the place. The town sits inside the reserve, so building is limited, the forests close in on the roads and the air stays cool. Sal is the dominant tree on the plateau, and the wider reserve supports tiger, leopard, gaur, sambar, chital and sloth bear. Staying in Pachmarhi means being a guest in a working forest, and the best manners are simple: stay on marked routes, carry out litter and keep noise down.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   The roadside forest

   The drives to Dhupgarh and the waterfalls pass through the sanctuary; stop at pull-ins and listen for birds and langurs.

2. 02

   Dawn light on the valleys

   Early mornings bring mist and the best chance of wildlife near the road. Dress warmly, even in the dry season.

3. 03

   A forest guide

   A local guide, if the forest office arranges one, makes the difference between seeing trees and reading signs of animals.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Think of the sanctuary as the setting for your whole stay. The roads to Dhupgarh, Bee Fall and the caves all pass through sal and mixed forest, and you can learn a good deal by stopping at the edge of the road, listening and looking up. Early morning is the best time, when birds are active and the mist has not lifted from the valleys.

If you want a more focused outing, ask the forest office in Pachmarhi what guided drives or walks are currently offered and what they cost. Do not assume a jeep safari exists on any given day, and do not enter forest tracks without a guide or permission: parts of the area are protected and unsupervised entry is not welcome. A local forest guide will also be far better at spotting signs of gaur, sambar, langurs or the Indian giant squirrel than you will be.

Keep expectations realistic. This is a hill forest with dense cover, not an open grassland park. Tigers and leopards are present in the wider reserve but are rarely seen by day visitors. Many people find the bird calls, the cool air and the long valley views the real reward.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Surrounds Pachmarhi town, Narmadapuram district, Satpura range

Time needed

Half a day for a guided forest outing; the landscape is seen along every other drive

Best time

October to March for clear weather; the monsoon is lush but wet, with slippery tracks

Walking level

Moderate

Senior comfort

The forest is best seen from a vehicle on the plateau roads, which suits older visitors. Any walk off the road means uneven ground, roots and slopes, and there are few benches or toilets inside the forest.

Tickets and access

Entry rules, fees and any vehicle or guide requirements for forest areas are not published in a form we can quote. Confirm what is open, and whether a permit or forest guide is needed, with the local forest office before you go.

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