Patalpani waterfall

The Patalpani waterfall is located in Mhow Tehsil of Indore district in the state od Madhya Pradesh, India. The waterfall is approximately 300 feet high. The area around Patalpani is a popular picnic and trekking spot.

The water flow is highest immediately after the rainy season (usually after July). It goes almost dry in the summer season, and the stream is reduced to a trickle.

According to folklore, the pit (kund) at the bottom of the falls goes as deep as patal (the underworld in Indian mythology). Therefore, the falls are called Patal-pani, pani being the Hindi word for water.

The nearest railway station is Patalpani railway station (2 km) on the Mhow-Sanawad metre gauge route. Mhow Cantonment is the nearest town.

During monsoon season (July-September), the area is prone to flash floods. On 17 July 2011, heavy rains occurred in the catchment area of the upstream. Over 50 visitors, many of them on a picnic, were sitting near the waterfall at that time. The local villagers warned them about the risk, and asked them to move away from water. Most of the visitors managed to get to safety, but five people did not move away in time. When the water flow started rising, they started to move. However, as they were crossing the stream, they were washed away in a sudden gush of water. Only two of them survived. The bodies of the victims were found over the next week: Chavi Dhoot (18 July), her father Chandrashekhar (19 July) and Mudita Rathi (20 July). A video of the accident went viral. Subsequently, the local administration constructed a bridge and a staircase to avoid similar mishaps.

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