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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2009}}
'''Patalkot''' ([[Sanskrit]] for "Very Deep") is a valley in the Tamia tehsil of [[Chhindwara district]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. Patalkot is 78 km away from Chhindwara district headquarter. This valley is home to a tribal culture and enormous herbal wealth.

==Geography==

The Patalkot valley is spread over an area of 79 km<sup>2</sup>. 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 valley. This horse–shoe shaped valley is surrounded by hills and there are several pathways to reach the villages located inside the valley. The rocks are mostly by the Archaean era which are nearly 2500 million years and comprised with Granite gneiss, green schists, basic rocks, quartz with Gondwana sediments including conglomerate sandstone, shales and carbonaceous shales. The composite carbon on the rocks called Shilajit is also found on few patches in upper zones.

==History==

'Patalkot' name comes from Sanskrit word "Patal" that means very deep. There is a belief that after worshipping Lord Shiva, Prince [[Indrajit|Meghnad]] son of [[Ravana]] had gone to Patal-lok through this place only. People say that Bhonsle Kings ruled this place in the 18th and 19th Centuries and that there was a long tunnel connecting this place to [[Pachmarhi]] in Hoshangabad District. The Bhonsle King after defeated by British Army found this place suitable for hiding and went deep into the forest of Patalkot. The area is called Rajakho in Patalkot. Traditionally, the site is believed to be the entrance to Patal. This valley had long been cut off from the outside and was discovered only a few years back.{{fact|date=March 2017}} Patalkot has been a home to a tribal culture and custom since its origin.

==Tourism==

[[File:An aerial view of Patalkot.jpg|thumbnail|left| An aerial view of Patalkot]]

In recent years,{{when|date=March 2017}} the government has been trying to make Patalkot an eco-tourism destination.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patalkot.com/my_endeavor.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518091708/http://www.patalkot.com/my_endeavor.html |archive-date=2010-05-18 }}</ref> The monsoon season is a popular time for visitors, as it is a sheltered area.{{fact|date=March 2017}} Tourism marketing focuses on the local nature and [[adivasi]] culture connections - though this may change with increased impact from tourism and outside pressures.{{fact|date=March 2017}} Patalkot is known for retaining its original culture and customs for a long time.{{fact|date=March 2017}} Until a few years back,{{when|date=March 2017}} it was a world in its own with no influence from outside. To reverse the process of deforestation and [[forest degradation]] by positioning in ecotourism as a joint product. The Patalkot model of ecotourism, with the involvement of indigenous communities, has demonstrated its operational deliverance, adaptive evolution capabilities as well as being recognized as a successful model with several elements for replication.{{fact|date=March 2017}} It started in 2009 with the joint effort of the 'Centre for Forestry Research' and HRD Poama, District Administration and District Olympic Association in which 3000 tribal youth were trained in adventure activities like parasailing, paragliding, rock climbing, trekking, bird watching and water sports. Every year a festival called Satpuda Adventure sports festival is organised during the month of October.

This deep valley is situated on the way to Bhopal from Chhindwara. Patalkot is 78 km away from Chhindwara, on a diversion route towards Tamia. It can be reached through taxi from Chhindwara. There is no facility of accommodation in the valley, the nearest accommodation facility is in Tamia at the forest or PWD guest house and few private hotels can be booked.

==Culture==

There are in 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. The 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 ([[Gondi people]]) and [[Bharia people|Bharias]] mainly constitute the population of Patalkot. It is said that Bharias have been living here for more than 500 years. Tribal men, women and children wear traditional dresses during their festive times. Chulki, Mundri, Binoria, Toda, Hasli, Kardona, Paijan, Mohanmala, Kushmala, Mungiamala, Markadhana mala and Patli are the common ornaments they wear at this time. Tribal members perform prayers and rituals every day. The place where they perform Pooja (prayer) is called as Devghar. Tribals worship Mahadev, Badadev, Madai, Madmi Mai, Doolhadev, Nandia, Surjadev, Agiadev as their gods and goddesses. Nagda, Timki, Shehnai, Chakule, Singa, Tambura, Chikara, Bansuri, Ghunghru, Khadtaal, Madar, Dhol, Dahak and Tudiya are the common instruments played during certain ceremonies and rituals.[http://www.patalkot.com]

As mentioned by Dr Deepak Acharya in an article published in ECOS MAGAZINE- Australia [http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=EC134p18.pdf Wisdom from the Heart of India], Patalkot is home to a tribal culture and custom. The valley now faces threats of deforestation.{{fact|date=March 2017}}

==Medicines and Herbs==

Patalkot is the home of some rare medicinal plants and herbs, used by herbal healers known as [[bhumka]]. They include [https://web.archive.org/web/20100430113155/http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/abrus-precatorius.shtml Abrus precatorius], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/42069 Aloe vera], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/42067 Annona squamosa], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/40216 Bryonia lacinosa], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/88148 Aegle marmelos], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/88148 Madhuca indica], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/87504 Ficus racemosa], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/59399 Holoptelea integrifolia], [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/42072 Lawsonia enermis], [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404014358/http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/tylophora-indica.shtml Tylophora asthmatica], [http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/glori.shtml Gloriosa superba], [http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/gymnema.shtml Gymnema sylvestre], [http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/hemidesmus-indicus.shtml Hemidesmus indicus], etc. The tribes of Patalkot use the forest plants to make medicines. The herbal practitioners are known as Bhumkas. They make pulps and extracts of plants for curing illnesses. They have medicinal treatments intended to aid with illnesses including, measles, cholera, hypertension, diabetes, coughs, snake bites, and pains (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008). The ethnobotanical studies done by Dr.Suneesh Buxy in the area revealed that nearly 220 number of floral population are used by Bharia community for treating different diseases. Some of the medicinal plants are highly endangered species and needs protection like Sundew.{{fact|date=March 2017}}

Due to the exposure of Patalkot's herbal remedies and plants to the outside world, the eco-balance of the valley is in question.{{fact|date=March 2017}} The system of the valley that encompasses several villages and their lives has been self-sustained over a long period of time.

==References==
{{reflist}}
2. Acharya, Deepak and Shrivastava Anshu (2008): Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices, Aavishkar Publishers Distributor, Jaipur- India. {{ISBN|978-81-7910-252-7}}. pp 440.

==External links==
* [http://www.patalkot.com/ Patalkot - The Hidden World]

{{Jabalpur Division}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Chhindwara district]]
[[Category:Biodiversity Heritage Sites of India]]

Patalkot, India - Revision history

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 1 template: hyphenate params (3×);