Patalkot is a horseshoe-shaped valley in the Tamia tehsil of Chhindwara district, in the Satpura hills of Madhya Pradesh. It covers about 79 sq km and lies roughly 20 to 25 km from the small hill town of Tamia and about 78 km from Chhindwara. Its name comes from the Sanskrit patal, meaning very deep, and from the rim the valley floor looks a long way down, wrapped in forest and closed in by rock walls.
About a dozen small villages sit inside the valley, home to Bharia and Gond communities, with the Doodhi river running through. The valley is known for the herbal knowledge of its healers, called Bhumkas, who use hundreds of local plants. Local legend links it to the entrance of Patal, the underworld, and to Meghnad, the son of Ravana.
Tamia, at about 1,148 m (3,765 ft), is the practical base. It has a government rest house, a forest rest house and a few private resorts, and its hilltop and sunset point look over the valley. From Tamia, visitors drive to rim viewpoints such as Rated and Chimtipur, visit the Chhota Mahadev cave shrine, and, if fit, walk down into the valley with a local guide. MP Tourism has also run a four-day Patalkot Gorge Trek along the river.
Patalkot suits travellers who like quiet forest, tribal culture and simple stays. Older visitors can enjoy it well from the top: the viewpoints and Tamia's hill are reachable by car, while the descent into the valley is steep and is best left to fitter family members.
Before you plan
Patalkot at a glance
- Best months
- October to February for comfortable…October to February for comfortable weather and trekking; July to September for green monsoon views from the rim
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days based at Tamia for the…2 days based at Tamia for the viewpoints and villages; 4 days for the organised gorge trek
- Airport
- NagpurNagpur (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport), about 185 km from Tamia
- Railway station
- ParasiaParasia, about 45 km from Tamia, and Chhindwara, about 70 km; Nagpur and Pipariya for long-distance trains
- Getting around
- A hired car or taxi from Chhindwara…A hired car or taxi from Chhindwara or Tamia; there is no public transport to the viewpoints
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel, mostly taxi hire and guides; varies widely
- Senior comfort
- Good from the rim at Tamia and the…Good from the rim at Tamia and the viewpoints; the descent into the valley is steep and not suited to older visitors
- Language
- HindiHindi; Bharia and Gondi are spoken in the valley villages
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Patalkot: January, February, October, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Patalkot itinerary
One good day
1 day in Patalkot
Drive from Chhindwara to Tamia in the morning. Continue to the Rated viewpoint and Chimtipur on the valley rim for the first views into Patalkot, then return to Tamia for lunch. Visit Chhota Mahadev in the afternoon if the path suits you, and finish at Tamia's sunset point before driving back or staying the night.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Patalkot
Arrive in Tamia, settle into the rest house or a resort, and walk up to the sunset point in the evening for the view over the valley.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Patalkot
Travel from Chhindwara, Nagpur or Pachmarhi to Tamia, rest, and watch sunset from the hilltop.
Day-by-day plan →
