The Patalkot valley is located 225 km from the capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal and 78 km away from Chhindwara in the North-West direction and 20 km from Tamia in the North-East. The horse shoe shaped valley of Patalkot spread across 79 square kilometers of Satpura ranges is a mystery in itself, surrounded by towering hills with granite and sandstone rocks, it is one of the deepest gorges of Madhya Pradesh. It is inhabited by the Gond and Bharia tribes of Madhya Pradesh, reflecting upon a culture that is rich in customs and traditions, the people who once had no influence of the outside world due to the inaccessibility and their own approach.

Patalkot is hidden inside, the villages receiving sunlight by 10:00 am and the day probably diminishing in twilight by 3:00 pm during winters. It seems like evening all throughout, a clear reason why the place is known as ‘Patalkot’. As known, around 3200 people reside in the 12 villages of the region with 13 hamlets, while three of them are literally cut off from the world.

Associated legends

There are various legends and folklores among the tribes associated with Patalkot. The tribes here worship Meghnad, the son of Ravana as they believe him to be the God of Rains. It was Meghnad’s haunt upon the region, they pray for fertility of the crops. There is also a legend from Ramayana when Maa Sita vanished into Earth forming a deep cavity. The place also came to be known was Sita’s patal Pradesh. Another legend holds that Lord Hanuman entered paatal through this region to save Lord Rama and Lakshman from the captivity of the demon Ahiravana.

A legend also says that the demon Bhasmasura who was given a boon by Lord Shiva to place a hand and turn anything into ashes was performed by him on the Lord at this place only. Lord Shiva vanished and immersed in Earth creating the massive hole, the place that is now.

Promoting wellness through herbs

The tribals of the Patalkot valley are known to have derived the skill of making the herbal medicines from forest plants through generations, living their own sustainable lifestyle. The herbs found in the valley are used not only in Ayurveda, but also in the Unani culture (the Perso-Arabic traditional medicine). Notably, there are around 200 herb varieties found in the valley having rich medicinal properties.

Some of the rarest medicinal plants and herbs like the Annona squamosa, Bryonia Lacinosa, Tylophora Asthmatica and many more are used by the tribes to make medicines. The herbal practitioners are known as Bhumkas. They use pulp and extracts of plants to cure illnesses and healing. The treatments help with measles, cholera, hypertension, diabetes, snake bites and other ailments.

For the tribes, the forest means their whole world. The forests only provide for their livelihoods, be it honey, non-timber forest produce, coarse grains like kodo kutki and balar, they have it all for their need. They practice subsistence agriculture growing all kinds of seasonal vegetables and crops on small portions of land.

Patalkot is now gaining appreciation and becoming famous for its ‘Wellness tourism’. New wellness centers are opening here, along with a special attraction for sports adventures.

Ecotourism

The Patalkot valley has been declared a biodiversity hotspot by the government owing to the natural resources that contribute to the significance. The place is now being developed as an eco-tourism destination, attracting visitors with its geographical location, scenic beauty, rare herbal wealth and the culture of the tribes. It involves the inclusion of indigenous communities of the region in promoting tourism in the valley. The start came in 2009 with the joint efforts of Center for Forestry Research, HRD Poama, District Administration and District Olympic Association that trained around 3000 tribal youth for this. The Patalkot Development Agency works for the overall development of the area and its people.

Patalkot is also known for its adventure activities. The district administration has taken this forward by organizing an Adventure festival between the months from October to February that includes activities like hot air ballooning, paragliding, trekking, rock climbing and many other sports. It saw a significant footfall of visitors who could experience the magic of Patalkot, especially during the monsoon season.

The government of India has now granted habitat rights to the Bharia tribe that empowers them to protect their lands, water and the forests. The Patalkot resources belong to the tribe, no external party has any right to exploit these; they are the sole ‘Bhumia’ or the Lord of the Soil. This makes Chhindwara the first district in India to grant such rights to a tribal community.

It is just that the eco-balance of the valley sustains with time and there is no threat to the place from the outside world. Unleash the magic of knowing the underworld in the mysterious valley of Patalkot, there is so much down there that you will never be left disappointed.