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Green
and fine-looking ranges
of Satpura encircle the
Chhindwara district in
Madhya Pradesh. Chhindwara
is not only known for
oranges, cotton and coal
but its natural and scenic
beauty also attracts everyone
who comes here for the
first time. Chhindwara
district is separated
into four forest zones.
In all, Chhindwara is
a complete forest district.
Patalkot is positioned
in the Tamia block the
district.
Patalkot
is of great importance
because of its geographical
and scenic beauty. The
Patalkot valley is spread
over an area of 79 Sq.
Km. at an average height
of 2750-3250 feet above
Mean Sea Level from 22.24
to 22.29 ° North and
78.43 to 78.50 ° East.
The valley is located
at a distance of 78 km
from Chhindwara in the
North-West direction and
20 km from Tamia in the
North-East Direction.
'Doodhi' river
flows in the picturesque
valley. There are total
12 villages and 13 hamlets
with a total population
of 2012 (1017 male and
995 female) in the valley.
These villages are located
at the distance of 2-3
km each. Main villages
of the valley are: Rated,
Chimtipur, Gujja Dongri,
Sahra Pachgol, Harra-ka-Char,
Sukhabhand, Dhurni malni,
Jhiram, Palani Gaildubba,
Ghatlinga, Gudichattri,
Gaildubba, Kareyam, Ghana,
etc. Gonds and Bharias
are the main inhabitant
of this gorge. This
horse –shoe shaped
valley is surrounded by
giant hills and there
are several pathways to
reach the villages located
inside the valley.
'Patalkot'
name comes from Sanskrit
word "Patal"
that means very deep.
There is a belief that
after worshipping 'Lord
Shiva', Prince 'Meghnath'
had gone to Patal-lok
through this place only.
People say that Kings
ruled this place in 18th
and 19th Century and that
there was a long tunnel
connecting this place
to 'Pachmarhi' in Hoshangabad
District.
Patalkot
is a home to a tribal
culture skilled at using
the forest plants to make
effective medicines. The
Patalkot forest is so
well hidden that people
on the outside did not
even know it ever existed.
The modern world has been
completely unaware of
its existence. Now there
are increasing threats
of deforestation and exploitation
of the people there. The
natives (Bharias and Gonds)
who live there know how
to collect and grow the
plants they need for food,
clothing and building
their homes. They know
the secrets of the medicinal
plants. This special
skill has been passed
down every generation.
More than 2,000 natives
live in villages scattered
throughout the forest.
There is a great harmony
among them living in a
comfortable balance, gladly
helping each other, growing
and collecting their own
food. They are unusually
skilled at making pulps
and extracts of plants
for curing illnesses.
They have medicinal treatments
for many illnesses including,
measles, cholera, hypertension,
diabetes, coughs, snake
bites, and even pains.
Patalkot was becoming
famous for its treasure
of medicinal plants. With
the discovery
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