India, Dec. 1 -- Hurriedly finishing a wholesome vegetarian lunch of roti, paneer, rice and dal, I almost sprinted to the jeep-usually reserved for jungle safaris-for our two evening stops: Pandav Caves and Dhupgarh in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh.

It had barely been an hour since my co-travellers and I reached the hill station and checked into a new hotel, still very much living out of our suitcases.

Set in the Satpura range at an altitude of about 3,500 ft (1,067 metres), it offers the gentle chill of an approaching winter in mid-October-a time when tourists happily step out to breathe fresh air and make the most of the festive season.

Hosted by Madhya Pradesh Tourism for its flagship event, the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2025, my journ...