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Things to do in Madhya Pradesh
Hindustan ka Dil – Madhya Pradesh – is very expansive. We had loved Gwalior and our recent trip to Khajuraho from Tendu Leaf Jungle Resort was most enjoyable. Since we were spending some days here we wanted to explore all things to do in Khajuraho.
Madhya Pradesh Beyond Khajuraho Temples
The renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh need no introduction. Visiting Khajuraho Temples is the queen of activities here. We visited the temple clusters for long hours two days in a row and were so satiated and a bit overwhelmed that we could not take it anymore. A break from ancient architecture was in order.
In such circumstances, what else could I do in Khajuraho one asks? We in turn posed this question to the folks at Tendu Leaf Resort. We were interested in offbeat things to do in Khajuraho. They in turn named a few sites close to Khajuraho that are considered offbeat places in Madhya Pradesh as well. One such option was Raneh Falls.
Raneh Falls – The Grand Canyon of India
Many of us raved about the Grand Canyon in the United States of America. But little did we know that we had our own version of the Grand Canyon overnight train journey from Delhi. Raneh Falls Madhya Pradesh bears the epithet – the Grand Canyon of India. Raneh Falls in the Chhattapur district, Madhya Pradesh, it is about 20 km from Khajuraho. This natural waterfall has been formed on the Ken River or what is traditionally called the Karnawati River.
To give a brief background, it was early monsoon when we visited Khajuraho for attending the National Ceramic Camp. Tendu Leaf Jungle Resort, where we had put up, was located at the periphery of the Panna National Park. We knew that this place was about 20 km from Khajuraho temples. But we had no idea that this was so close to the renowned Raneh Falls, MP.
From Panna Tiger Reserve to Raneh Falls
We wanted to start at about 3 pm and reach a little early since we were not aware of Raneh Falls timings. However, since it was a big group, we could only bet together by 3.45. The drive to Raneh Falls was most enchanting through narrow roads in the forest. It seemed that a car might not have traversed this route for years. Since it was early evening, a variety of cattle were coming back home. While their parade delayed us a bit, we city-bred folks spent that time gainfully by clicking away.
The best part of this route was the rain. It had been hot and humid past few days and the locals said that was most unusual. It was a bit cloudy but still dry when we started from the resort. However, as soon as we reached the forest area, we could hear thunder. The sky darkened further very soon and started pouring. The red lateritic muddy roads soon formed rust colour springs that danced away in a lot of seeming happiness. The scenery around us was transformed within minutes. For example, the flora was showered clean. Their greenery sparkled like fresh out of an artificial plant factory in China. This drive was one of the most romantic experiences of our trip to MP.
Raneh Falls near Panna Tiger Reserve
If the drive was romance, the first look of the Raneh Falls was of ferocity. It was lucky that we were here in monsoon, the volume of water that was falling was much higher than rest of the year and we could hear the sound of water, breaking against the mountain, from a distance. Huge volumes of water cascaded down at least 30 meters atop a canyon formed with crystalline granite rocks. And the granite rocks were a hue of colours from a child’s box of pastel wax colour sticks. The predominant colours of the rocks were pink to brownish pink and these ranged till shades of grey. The huge waterfall had adopted the colour of the rocks and the water gush appeared pink as well. The cloud-laden sky added to making the perfect picture. It was fierce beauty all around and we are out of words to describe what we saw. We were just not prepared for a spectacle of this magnitude or grandeur and stood speechless and humbled. This could be compared only with the superb animation of the forests in Disney’s Lion King.
We were expecting to frolic around a bit or maybe take a quick shower under the waterfalls. It would have been a great photo op for our social media. But given the intensity of water flow, this was absolutely out of the question. In fact, we could not spot a way to reach the bottom of the waterfall more than 30 meters deep. It looked so like Niagra sans the electric lights that illuminate the more popular USA counterpart. But we could clearly see that the description Grand Canyon of India was so very apt.
Museum at Raneh Falls
We walked another 50 meters or so and came across a small museum with small statues of the fauna in that area. They also had a contour map of the Raneh Falls in this room. There was a tea stall out in the open and some concrete chairs. We had tea there being regaled by tiger spotting stories by Nadeem, the friendly Tendu Leaf chappie who had driven us up.
Tickets for Raneh Falls
Some trivia – there is a moderate ticket fee for visiting the Raneh Falls and a guide is provided by the Forest Department. We spent about one and half hours here and we would have loved to soak this site for longer but it was well past closing time so we had to leave. Also, the Ken Ghariyal reserve was about 5 km from this place but was closed this season we had left that for next time. Yes, we plan to be back again.
Raneh Falls has been named after Rana Pratap. Another version is that the falls have been named after a queen or “Rani” of that area. “Rani” after some colloquial distortion became “Raneh”. What’s in a name is what we can say. But we do say emphatically – Khajuraho is not only about temples. It hosts such little-known natural wonders. It has been a while yet the view and sound of the Raneh falls linger in our heads. Raneh Falls is a surprise in Khajuraho – in MP – in India. Given hidden wonders like Raneh Falls, MP – Hindustan ka Dil – is so worth exploring again and again.
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We have this on our list. Hope we get to visit before the kids get older and fed up of animals.
This zone appeals to young and old.
I’m adding this place in my bucket list this place looks great for travelers who love exploring India.
This is a hidden gem of MP.
Great things to do in madhya pradesh… I loved the post and the point to which you explored
Yet Raneh Falls MP was a surprise 🙂
Ranneh Falls is such a majestic place to visit , such a beautifully written post. Now i want to visit soonest.
Thanks, Khajuraho to Raneh Falls is easy – so go ahead!
Even though I have been to Madhya Pradesh only once, I have loved that state so much. The forests and the waterfalls are extremely pretty there. I would love to go back. I have never been to Raneh Falls and would definitely add it to my next visit.
This looks like a lovely place to get a way to I love how nature Stellar reserve so nicely here I hope I can get to visit
Raneh falls is a gem. Loved the post and the images.
Wish this crisis ends soon & we get to travel again freely.
Fingers crossed.
Wish I could do this all over again… I had no idea there was a Grand Canyon of India!
There are so many hidden gems of India we are still figuring out.
This is such an overwhelmingly beautiful blog post. Khajuraho is very close to my heart and its architecture surprises me even now. How articulate!
This place is a hidden gem. Someday I will visit for sure.