The name Pachmarhi is believed to be derived from the Hindi words Panch ("five") and Marhi ("caves"). According to a legend, these caves were built by five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata era during their thirteen years of exile. The caves are situated on a hilltop and provide an excellent vantage point.The town is not very large, and most of its area is under the administration of the Pachmarhi Cantonment Board, serving the Indian Army.The population of Pachmarhi is about approx 12,000.
Pachmarhi is a popular tourist retreat. Tourists visit Pachmarhi throughout the year. There are lots of hotel mostly situated near the market. Only few cottages and resort and mp tourism hotels are situated in the peaceful location of pachmarhi 2 or 3 km away from bus stand.
Pachmarhi has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been estimated to be as much as 10,000 years old. construction
Some of the places of tourist interest
Bee Fall
Bada Mahadev
Gupt Mahadev
Chauragarh (Shiv devotees come here in huge numbers during Mahashivratri)
Dhupgarh (the highest peak of the Satpuras and Madhya Pradesh)
Handi Khoh (deep valley)
Apsara Falls (fairy pool)
Jatashankar (stalagmite-filled cave in a deep ravine)