Dr. Katy Jane: Adding Some Entry W/ Infobox

2026-02-20T11:36:00Z

Adding Some Entry W/ Infobox

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Panchgani
| other_name = Paachgani
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Hill station
| image_skyline = Panchghani Hill.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View of Panchgani Hills
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India
| coordinates = {{coord|17.925|73.8|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Satara district|Satara]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1293
| population_total = 13280
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 412805
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Panchgani''', called '''Paachgani''', is a hill station and [[municipal council]] in [[Satara district]] in [[Maharashtra]], India. Panchgani attracts tourists throughout the year. It is also known for having many convent [[boarding school]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panchgani|date=20 December 2014|publisher=Puneri Travellers|location=India|url=http://www.panchgani.ind.in/|access-date=20 December 2014|archive-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115135317/http://www.panchgani.ind.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Panchgani is around 108 kilometres from [[Pune]] and 250 kilometres from [[Mumbai]].

==History==

[[File:Table Land 2.jpg|thumb|Table Land, Panchgani]]

Panchgani was developed by the British during the [[British Raj]] as a summer resort under the supervision of Lord John Chesson in the 1860s. Panchgani was developed as a retirement place because its climate remained pleasant throughout the year. He surveyed the hills of this region with Rustomji Dubash and finally decided on this nameless area around the five villages: Dandeghar, Godavali, Ambral, Khingar, and Taighat. The place was aptly named Panchgani, meaning "land between five villages", and Chesson was made the superintendent.
To develop the infrastructure, Chesson encouraged various professionals - tailors, dhobis, butchers, vegetable vendors, building contractors - to also settle in Panchgani. The area below the bazaar was allotted to them, and is now known as the ''gaothan''. He is credited with planting plant species from the western world in Panchgani, including [[silver oak]] and [[poinsettia]], which have flourished since then in Panchgani. Chesson was buried in the graveyard of St. Peter's Church. In 1971 or '72, his death centenary was observed in a big way, when for the first time, the town folk and the schools participated together in a ceremony to remember the founder of Panchgani.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

===Boarding schools===
A number of schools were started in the 19th century across different communities, and Panchgani started flourishing as an educational town.

In the 1890s, [[Kimmins High School]] was started for European boys and girls. 1902, the boys' section separated to become European Boys High School, now known as [[St. Peter's School, Panchgani]], and Kimmins became an exclusive girls' school. In 1895, the Roman Catholic order of nuns known as "Daughters of The Cross" started [[St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani]]. All three boarding schools were modeled on the English Public Schools of that time, and were affiliated to [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]]. The board exams would be held in December, the question papers being sent from England by sea. The answer papers were sent back by sea and the results were declared in June.

Shortly afterward, other communities started their schools. These schools were affiliated to matriculation examination of the Bombay Presidency. The Parsi School, the first of these schools, later became the Billimoria School. The Muslim School became the Union High School, and is now known as Anjuman-I-Islam School. Both these schools were modelled on the English Public Schools. [[Hindu]] High School was started, now known as the Sanjeewan Vidyalaya. This was modelled on [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s [[Shantiniketan]]. The [[Spiritual Assembly|National Spiritual Assembly]] of the [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]] of India runs the [[New Era High School]]. A retired teacher from the Parsi High School, Mr. S. M. Batha started the S.M. Batha School, Panchgani International School and junior College<ref name="panchganiinternationalschool.org">{{Cite web|title=Panchgani international high school and Junior college{{!}} panchgani|url=https://panchganiinternationalschool.org/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Panchgani International High School And Junior College|language=en|archive-date=10 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810071151/https://www.panchganiinternationalschool.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> is also one of the [https://www.justdial.com/Panchgani/Panchgani-International-High-School-Junior-College-Panchgani-Ho/9999PXXXX-XXXX-100413154244-Y2B4_BZDET Best School in Panchgani].

===Convalescence centre===
The fresh air and invigorating climate of Panchgani made it a good place for convalescence. A well-known [[tuberculosis]] specialist from [[Bombay]], Dr. [[Rustomji Bomanji Billimoria]] set up the Bel Air [[sanatorium]], in the 1940s, as a centre for the treatment of TB. Till the advent of antibiotics, "Dalkieth" (Bel Air) was the premier place for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Bombay Presidency.

==Geography==

[[File:Sunset Dhom Lake, Mahabaleshwar 03.jpg|thumb|Sunset Dhom Lake, Panchgani]]

Panchgani is nestled in the middle of five hills in the [[Western Ghats]] alias [[Sahyadri|Sahyādri]] mountain ranges. There are five villages around Panchgani named Dandeghar, Khingar, Godavali, Ambral & Taighat. The [[Krishna River|Krishnā River]] flows in the valley on which the [[Dhom Dam]] has been built approximately 9 km from [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wai]]. The east of the Panchgani is Wai, Bavdhan & Nagewadi dam, at west is Gureghar, at the south is Khingar & Rajpuri & on the north is Dhom Dam.
The five hills surrounding Panchgani are topped by a volcanic plateau, These plateaus, alternatively known as "table land", are a part of the [[Deccan Plateau]], they were raised by pressure between the earth plates. The area has high [[seismic]] activity, with an [[epicenter]] near [[Koynanagar|Koynānagar]] where the Koynanagar [[Dam]] and a [[hydroelectric power]] plant have been built.

===Environmental issues===
In recent times, Paachgani has been facing [[ecological]] problems because of poorly controlled commercial activities, excessive traffic, and [[temperature inversion]] (because of [[humidity]]) from the new dams which have been built in the vicinity for water storage.

==Weather==
The temperature in Panchgani is around 12 degrees Celsius during winter, and sometimes reaches 34 degrees Celsius during summer; humidity level is very low except in the Monsoon. [[Monsoon]] rainy season spans between June and September.

{{Weather box
|location = Panchgani
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = 23.9
|Feb high C = 25.1
|Mar high C = 28.9
|Apr high C = 31.2
|May high C = 31.3
|Jun high C = 24.2
|Jul high C = 20.7
|Aug high C = 20.8
|Sep high C = 21.3
|Oct high C = 24.7
|Nov high C = 23.2
|Dec high C = 23.1

|Jan low C = 14.2
|Feb low C = 15.3
|Mar low C = 18.5
|Apr low C = 20.6
|May low C = 20.1
|Jun low C = 17.2
|Jul low C = 17.1
|Aug low C = 16.4
|Sep low C = 16.4
|Oct low C = 17.3
|Nov low C = 14.7
|Dec low C = 13.9

|Jan precipitation mm = 4.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 1.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 4.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 25.9
|May precipitation mm = 43.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 261.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 697.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 404.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 221.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 126.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 66.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 8.4

|source = [http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/SATARA/gen_climate.html Government of Maharashtra]
|date = June 2012
}}

==Demographics==
As per Census India 2011, Panchgani town has a population of 13,393 of which 6,974 are males and 6,419 are females.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/maharashtra/satara/mahabaleshwar/panchgani-m-cl-population.html|title=Census of India, 2011|date=2020-01-16|website=Census of India 2011|access-date=2011-01-16}}</ref> Males constituted 52.07% of the population, and females, 47.93%.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/maharashtra/satara/mahabaleshwar/panchgani-m-cl-population.html|title=Census of India}}</ref> The population of children between age 0-6 is 1,368 which is 10.21% of total. The sex-ratio of Panchgani is around 920 compared to 929 which is average of Maharashtra state. Literacy rate of Panchgani is 80.56% out of which 84.6% males are literate and 76.16% females are literate. There are 9.62% Scheduled Caste (SC) and 2.75% Scheduled Tribe (ST) of total population in Panchgani.<ref name="auto"/>

==Education ==
Panchgani is known for its [[boarding school]]s established since the late 19th century. They attract students from the nearby cities of Mumbai and Pune. The schools in Panchgani are:

* [[Kimmins High School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kimminsschool.edu.in/|title=Kimmins|website=kimminsschool.edu.in}}</ref>
* [[St. Peter's School, Panchgani]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peterspanchgani.org/|title=St. Peter's School, Panchgani|website=peterspanchgani.org}}</ref>
* [[St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sjcschoolpanchgani.org/|title=St. Joseph's Convent School, Panchgani | Founded in 1895|website=sjcschoolpanchgani.org}}</ref>
* Billimoria School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billimoriahighschool.com/|title=Billimoria High School, Panchgani}}</ref>
* [http://www.anjumanislampublicschool.com/ Anjuman-I-Islam School]<ref>{{cite web |title=ANJUMAN ISLAM PUBLIC SCHOOL PANCHGANI |url=http://www.anjumanislampublicschool.com/}}</ref>
* Sanjeewan Vidyalaya<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanjeewanvidyalaya.org/|title=Sanjeewan Vidyalaya|website=www.sanjeewanvidyalaya.org}}</ref>
* [[New Era High School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nehsindia.org/|title=New Era School Panchgani|website=nehs-panchgani}}</ref>
* S. M. Batha High School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smbatha.net/ |title=Home page |publisher=www.smbatha.net |access-date=2020-06-10}}</ref>
*Panchgani international school and Junior College<ref name="panchganiinternationalschool.org"/>
*Shalom International<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shalominternationalschool.com/ |title=Home page |website=www.shalominternationalschool.com}}</ref>

==Economy==

[[File:Strawberries being cultivated in a farm in Panchgani.jpg|thumb|right|Strawberries being cultivated in a farm in Panchgani]]
[[Mahabaleshwar strawberry|Strawberries]] are cultivated year round in Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar region. The strawberry grown here has been granted a [[Geographical indication]] status.<ref name=bstd>{{cite news|last1=Joshi|first1=Hrishikesh|title=Mahabaleshwar strawberry gets GI status|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mahabaleshwar-strawberry-gets-gi-status-110051400085_1.html|work=Business Standard|access-date=27 January 2016|date=14 May 2010}}</ref>

Tourism- The town is a popular tourist resort in Maharashtra due to its proximity to Mumbai and Pune. In the past till around the 70s the town used to close down for tourists in the monsoon season but now the town is a year round tourist destination

===Asia Plateau===
The global charity [[Initiatives of Change]] opened "a centre for introspection and dialogue", a 68-acre campus called ''Asia Plateau'' at Panchgani in 1967. Over the past four decades ''Asia Plateau'' has been used for holding training programmes and conferences of [[Initiatives of Change]], particularly to address issues of corruption and governance within companies and public institutions. On certain occasions, the centre is used for programmes of like-minded institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iofc.org/centres|title=International Centres | IofC International|website=www.iofc.org}}</ref> It is also running a model farm and rural training centre called ''Grampari'', aiming at propagating good practices in the Indian villages, to foster hygiene, local democracy and economic development. There are also various jam, syrup and crushes stores found throughout the town.

==Events==
* Strawberry festival: The ''Strawberry Festival'' is held every year in summer in Panchgani.
* I Love Panchgani festival: The ''I Love Panchgani festival'' takes place every winter in Panchgani. Schools and local businesses participate in the festival.

==Tourist attractions==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Table land , mahabaleshwar - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|Tableland, Panchgani]]
[[File:Sydney point panchghani.jpg|thumb|View from Sydney Point, Panchgani in monsoon]]
* Tableland: Table Land is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tableland Mahabaleshwar |url=https://mahabaleshwartourism.in/tableland-mahabaleshwar |website=Mahabaleshwar Tourism |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> It is capped with [[laterite]] rock. It is located at a height of 1387 m above MSL{{Clarify|reason=What is this?|date=March 2023}}. There is a small lake within this table land.
* Sydney Point: This point is situated on a hillock facing the ''Krishna Valley'', and overlooks the waters of the ''[[Dhom Dam]]'', and ''Pāndavgad'' and ''Mandhārdeo''. Sydney's point is about 2 km from Panchgani bus stand.
* Parsi Point: This point is situated toward Mahabaleshwar, and overlooks the Krishna valley and the waters of the ''Dhom Dam''.
* Devil's Kitchen: Situated at the south of the table land, the Devil's Kitchen has a [[mythology]] associated with it: It is believed that the [[Pandavas|Pāndavas]] of the [[Mahabharat|Mahābhārat]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] had stayed here for a while. ''Pāndavgad'' caves (near [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wāi]]) are said to be built by them then.
* [[Mapro Garden]]: Mapro Gardens is a garden park known for their strawberry produce. It is located in village of ''Gureghar'' on the way to Mahabaleshwar and developed and maintained by ''Mapro'', a food processing company.

==In popular culture==
The "''Table Land'' " was a shooting spot for ''[[Raja Hindustani]]'', ''[[Mela (2000 film)|Mela]]'', ''[[Taare Zameen Par]]''. Television series ''[[Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani]]'' were filmed here. In 2021 [[Kartik Aaryan]] filmed [[Freddy (film)|''Freddy'']] (2022).<ref>{{Cite web |title=...Kartik Aaryan... |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/kartik-aaryan-loses-way-in-panchgani-cop-chooses-to-take-selfie-instead-watch-101632060752070.html |website=Hindustan Times|date=19 September 2021 }}</ref>

The 1998 Indian Hindi-language horror series ''[[Woh]]'', adapted from [[Stephen King|Stephen King's]] [[It (novel)|''It'']], is set in Panchgani. While King’s story takes place in the fictional town of [[Derry (Stephen King)|Derry]], [[Maine]], ''Woh'' is set in this real hill station, whose misty setting lends the series a distinctly Indian character.

==Nearest Railway Stations==

{{sister project links|d=Q463437|c=Category:Panchgani|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=Panchgani|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no|q=no}}

* [[Satara railway station]] - 60 km
* [[Sangli railway station]] - 160 km
* Pune railway station -120 km
* Wathar railway station -60 km

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Satara district topics}}
{{Maharashtra}}
{{Western Ghats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Panchgani| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Satara district]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Tourism in Maharashtra]]

Panchgani - Revision history

Dr. Katy Jane: Adding Some Entry W/ Infobox