Plan your trip · Pachmarhi
What's on in Pachmarhi
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Pachmarhi — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Pachmarhi right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Pachmarhi
Nagdwari Mela
🗓️ July–AugustA monsoon pilgrimage through the ravines to the Nagdwari cave shrines, on foot in the rain.
Planning: The route is slippery and strenuous, and parts of the biosphere open only for these weeks.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Pachmarhi's biggest events are pilgrimages. At Mahashivratri, in February or March, pilgrims climb to the Chauragarh temple carrying trishuls and queue at the cave shrines of Bada Mahadev and Jata Shankar. In the monsoon, the Nagdwari Yatra opens a forest route to the Nagdwari cave shrines for about ten days around Nag Panchami, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk it in the rain.
In winter, Pachmarhi Utsav brings folk music, dance and cultural evenings, usually in late December. Festival dates follow the Hindu calendar or are set each year, so check the latest schedule and book early if you plan your trip around an event. See the best time to visit Pachmarhi for what the weather is like in each season.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Pachmarhi
- Book rooms and Gypsies well ahead for Mahashivratri, the Nagdwari Yatra and the Christmas–New Year week.
- Expect heavy traffic and full buses into Pachmarhi during the big pilgrim fairs.
- Start the Chauragarh climb early on festival days, and carry water.
- The Nagdwari route is steep and slippery, with river crossings, so attempt it only if you are fit.
- Follow the instructions of the police and forest staff on the pilgrim routes.
- Keep your belongings secure in the crowds.
- Carry warm layers for December evenings.
Questions
Pachmarhi — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Pachmarhi?
The biggest are the Mahashivratri mela, when pilgrims climb to Chauragarh, and the Nagdwari Yatra in the monsoon. Pachmarhi Utsav brings cultural shows in December, and Diwali and Holi are celebrated across the town.
When is the Mahashivratri mela in Pachmarhi?
The mela is held around Mahashivratri, which falls in February or March. It runs for several days, with the biggest crowds on Mahashivratri itself at Chauragarh, Bada Mahadev and Jata Shankar.
What is the Nagdwari Yatra?
It is a monsoon pilgrimage to the Nagdwari cave shrines deep in the Satpura forest, held for about ten days around Nag Panchami in July or August. The route opens only for the yatra and involves steep, slippery paths and river crossings.
When is Pachmarhi Utsav held?
Pachmarhi Utsav is usually held in late December, around Christmas and New Year, with folk music, dance and cultural evenings. Dates change, so check the schedule for the year before you travel.