Guna: More Than a District of MP

Anil Gulati

Guna, is a district in north-eastern Madhya Pradesh, has been in the news recently. Two prominent subjects that made headlines were the story of 'Kumbhkaran', a man whose family falsely claimed that he slept for six months sans break, and another person from Guna who won an astronomical Rs. 1 crore on KBC2.

The district is home to the heritage citadel Bajrangarh fort, though now it is lying in depilated state. It is also had religious places such as Bishbji and Jain shrines besides a few other interesting places. Though it's not on a tourism map, neither many people know much about it, except in political circles. Guna was once famous for saris from Chanderi block of the district which recently became part of the newly formed district Ashok Nagar.

The information superhighway (web world) reveals that Guna was also the birthplace of one Vijay Kumar Patodi, a mathematician who died at the young age of 31 but attained fame for his papers.

Interesting names of Dhabas

I often tour Guna and keenly observe fresh developments. On the way back to Bhopal from Guna one comes across several highway dhabas that have some unique catch in their names.Mention of a dhaba conjures up an image of a rustic eatery with a charpoy, platefuls of dal and tandoori roti. Dhabas have undergone a makeover and the complexion of the clientele has also changed. Charpoys have mostly given way to tables and chairs. Besides the dal, roti and mixed vegetables, soft drinks, mineral water and packets of chips also adorn the eateries.While naming dhabas many owners have incorporated a tag of some district of Madhya Pradesh. Some of them also prefer the word hotel. At Chanchod, there's Mishra and Shivhare Bhind Wale Dhaba. As you progress further along the highway you will encounter Tomar Hotel Gwalior Wale, Morena Dhaba and Dhoplur Dhaba Morena wale.A Punjabi dhaba is easy to spot. I saw many including the Guru Nanak Punjabi Dhaba, Dhillon Punjabi Dhaba and Agra Punjabi Dhaba. A rare name was Rangeela Rajasthani Dhaba. All this may be aimed at catching the attention of drivers from the respective districts but there is very little difference in menu. In Haryana, lots of dhabas are named after birds while in Punjab businessmen name dhabas after themselves and that's the reason we have Puran da Dhaba and so on.

Statue of liberty
If you are passing along the main road to Aron block you may encounter a replica of New York City's Statue of Liberty, and universal symbol of political freedom and democracy. It stands right there within the Royal Homes complex along Aron Road. I couldn't get an opportunity to interact with the owners to explore why this replica was put up. Guess I'll leave that for my next trip.

World's longest rock art chain in Vindhyas

T S Sreenivasa Raghavan

After Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh is poised to claim yet another world record in rock art — this time, for the longest chain of rock art. The 12-km-long site, with most of its petroglyphs or pre-historic rock carvings intact, has been discovered in Mandsaur district of Malwa region, which is also home to Bhimbetka, the UNESCO world heritage site, 45 km south of Bhopal. The Rock Arts Society of India (RASI), which knew about the existence of the site for sometime, has now gone official saying the site in the Vindhyan tableland, a plateau lying north of the central part of the Vindhya range, is indeed the "longest chain of rock arts in the world". "Nowhere in the world has anybody come across such an extensive chain of rock arts with little interruption. What's exciting is most petroglyphs are intact," internationally acclaimed paleontologist and former RASI secretary G L Badam told TOI.

The site is situated inside dense forests, 35 km from Bhanpura town, about 350 km from Bhopal. Earliest carvings in the chain are mostly of animals like rhino, nilgai , bear, panther, elephant, monkey, turtle and crocodile. But there are also pictures of cow, bull, buffalo, pig and horse. Experts have called the discovery of the Bhanpura rock arts as "an important milestone in the history of anthropology". "The presence of a variety of rituals, processions and fighting scenes goes to prove the continuity of the art and early man's culmination into community living," said Badam. RASI officials have already pitched for National Park status to the Vindhyan rock-shelters.

Pachmarhi, nature's gift to heart of India

Anil Gulati





Captain J Forsyth discovered the gift of nature - Pachmarhi ‘the’ hill station of Madhya Pradesh, heart of India in the year 1862. This nature’s glory is nestled among Satpura ranges at an altitude of 1067 meters. The eroded rocks, red sand stones hills offer fascinating shapes and sizes which is attraction to trekkers and rock climbers. Pachmarhi lies in Satpura national Park, which is also a wild life sanctuary, adding to its beauty. Pachmarhi also hosts a number of trees and plants which have an immense herbal value. It hosts more than seventy varieties of butterflies and number of birds which offer an attraction for bird’s watchers or people who love to capture them in their cameras.


Pachmari is called as “verdant jewel” of Madhya Pradesh, and no doubt is one of the loveliest hill stations. It is a trekker’s paradise and offers nature’s walks, refreshing weather, and lovely views. It’s calm and serene environ enlightens one’s soul. Though the season when people visit peaks during October to December but it is even an experience during monsoon. Dotted with lush green trees, forests, hills, falls, streams, “grass rooted grounds” Pachmarhi vibrates with a rhythm that no other place has. Bison Lodge which was built by Captain J Forsyth, the discoverer of Pachmari still stands there and now serves as a museum to showcase the flora and fauna of the Satpura region.



Pandav Caves
It is said that Pandavs had spent their part of exile in the caves and from that Pachmarhi derives its name. At present caves are surrounded by a lovely garden, including cactus which is at the entrance of the caves. Caves also host a recently discovered brick stupa which though is partially eroded now. Pachmarhi is abound with the pilgrim spots. It includes Chhota Mahadev, (also called Gupt Mahadev) a narrow point in the hills; Chauragarh, where a pilgrim path leads to a sacred summit with several images of Shiva. It is more than 1330 steps if you go from Chota Mahadev. Jatashankar caves have a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in a gorge and the shrine is hidden under a huge overhanging rock.



The water falls
The silver cascades of water falling from sandstones rocks entrapped within greenery makes Pachmarhi falls unique. There are several waterfalls in Pachmarhi, however the quite popular one is the “bee falls”. One can walk for the first point which is about one and half kilometers and is followed by a bit treacherous route into the valley to view the complete waterfall. But if you wish to take a gypsy, or four wheel drive vehicle, that is the only one allowed, you may have to shell out upto two hundred rupees.





Apsara Vihar also known for place where film Ashoka starring Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapur was shot: other ones are Rajat Pratap and Duchess falls (said to be one of beautiful ones in Pachmarhi but was closed at the time when I was there) and plus many others.
Guides at Pachmarhi say that you should visit Dhupgarh, a place to witness the morning sunrise and as they say even more spectacular sunset. I could see the sunset and it was fascinating. If you wish to catch a glimpse of beauty at a glance Handi Khoh and Priyadarshini point are the ones to visit. In addition to the its beauty there is one more thing which you will find in entire Pachmarhi - hoardings requesting you not to spoil the serene beauty by throwing used plastics bags/ bottles, but inspite of this one still finds the same in popular spots like Jatashankar and Bee Falls, may be strict action is needed there.



It would not be wrong to say that Pachmarhi has lot to offer, one cannot write about it in one article, may be one needs a series on it. Nevertheless, I had pen down its offering along with elaborating on the places which one can see. Nature is something that delights everyone. One can forget everything in the lap of nature. Our country has plenty to offer, but Pachmarhi is one of loveliest and is truly a nature’s glory.





How to be there
If ones have to travel to the Pachmari, it is about 54 kilometers from Pipraiya, the nearest railway station and is about 195 kilometers from Bhopal, which takes about four and half hours by road.

Photograph by Anil Gulati

This article was on http://www.boloji.com/places/0032.htm