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Panchgani: A Treat to the Five Senses


As my summer vacation drew to a close, my family and I planned a weekend getaway to Panchgani, a serene hill station located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. We had visited Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani a few years back and toured the commercial tourist hot-spots. However, this time, we wanted to connect with nature by exploring eco-tourism - a concept I strongly support as an eco-warrior.

Panchgani is widely popular for its breathtaking views and tranquility. Panchgani's name has much more to it, too. "Panch" means "five" and "Gani" refers to hills or plateaus - which together mean a land of "Five Plateaus." These tablelands were created during the formation of the Deccan plateau, the oldest plateau in the world. About 68 million years ago, active volcanoes spewed lava which eventually cascaded down the Indian subcontinent to form these flat-topped hills. Now dormant, the once-volcanic Table Land is home to a variety of flora, fauna, and lush green rolling hills. 



 My family and I were booked for a stay at NatVenture Camp, an eco-tourist and adventure sports camp for those looking forward to a relaxing and exciting vacation. The adventure sports offered an array of activities, such as the crossing the Burma bridge, zip lining, trekking, the Army camp, and rock rappelling. These activities brought a rush of adrenaline, and brought us wonderful memories of moments spend together. 


In addition to enjoying the adventure sports, I learned quite a bit about the geography, geology, and biodiversity of Panchgani. 

Nilgiri Trees: 

Nilgiri, or eucalyptus, trees are tall deciduous plants, with several medicinal and environmental benefits. Known for it's soothing, aromatic oil, this tree also holds an environmental benefit to the Panchgani region. Panchgani is extremely arid during the summer season, and without the monsoons, there is no source of water in the plateau. But don't fear! - the eucalyptus trees are capable of storing 100 litres (approximately 26 gallons) in their roots, trunk, branches, and leaves during the seasonal rains. When summer comes around, these trees release the water, which flow down the valley into a small reservoir down below. This provides Panchgani with fresh water to sustain until the next monsoon. The sponge-like action of the tree causes its exterior to become white in colour because of the high level of water content. 

Berries!

Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar are very popular for their production of the sweet strawberry. In fact, 85% of India's strawberry production output is sourced from this
region. The chilly climate and red soil in this part of Maharashtra is perfect for growing berries - including mulberry, raspberry, and gooseberry. There are several local wild and edible berries that grow on the plateau, too. While on our trek, we saw a bush of these berries which were given a local name. 




Wildlife:

Among the wilderness in Panchgani, several exotic wildlife species thrive in the lofty mountains and green shrubery. For instance, during my stay, I had a close encounter with a snake. Fortunately, it was a non-venomous rat snake, which quickly slithered into the ground. Nevertheless, I had to be alert, since venemous snakes like the viper, krait, and cobra are also native to the region. In addition, there is a special hill amid the Sahyadri range which is a temporary home for tigers - known popularly as Tiger Hill. These tigers migrate from the Karnataka region every year, where they spend half of the year in the Panchgani region and the other further down south. Tigers and snakes are not the only predators in the region, however. Leopards are also found hunting their prey which includes the local breed of deer. 


William Shakespeare said, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

It was fascinating to see how nature - both living and non-living, work in harmony. This is a lesson us city-breds should take away. After we are at peace with nature, that is when we will experience a future with more freedom, harmony, happiness, and sunshine.
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