ULTA PANI
&
THE MAGNETIC HILL
MAINPAT IS AN INTERESTING
PLACE WITH A LOT OF
ATTRACTIONS.
RIGHT
ULTA PANI
THERE IS ACTUALLY A SMALL STREAM FLOWING INSIDE
THE VILLAGE. A FEW LOCALS POINTED US TO THE SOURCE
AND ENDPOINT OF THE STREAM AND EXPLAINED TO US
THE PHENOMENON. THERE IS A SMALL STREAM THAT
STARTS FROM A HILLOCK, FLOWS UPHILL FOR A FEW
METRES BEFORE FLOWING DOWNHILL AGAIN. THERE
IS A SIGNBOARD SAYING “UDGAM STHAL” (MEANING
STARTING POINT) THAT SHOWS 0 METRES. THEY HAVE
PERHAPS TAKEN THIS ALTITUDE AS THE STARTING POINT
AND STANDARDIZED IT AT ZERO. AFTER THE STREAM
FLOWS THROUGH A FEW METRES, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER
ANOTHER BOARD SAYING “ANTIM KSHER” (MEANING THE
ENDPOINT) SHOWING 185 M. IF YOU PUT A GRASS BLADE
OR A PIECE OF PAPER IN THE STREAM, THEY ACTUALLY
FLOW IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. THE PIECE OF THE
PAPER FLOWS TOWARDS THE ENDPOINT AWAY FROM
THE UDGAM STHAL.
THE MAGNETIC HILL
OUR VERY OWN CHHATTISGARH ALSO BOASTS OF HAVING
A MAGNETIC HILL. ON THE WAY TO THE ULTAPANI
STREAM, THERE IS A SIGNBOARD ON THE ROAD SAYING
WHERE TO STOP THE CAR AND WITNESS THIS STRANGE
PHENOMENON. WE STOPPED THE CAR, SET THE GEAR IN
NEUTRAL AND RELEASED THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED
MOVING BACKWARDS AUTOMATICALLY AND THAT TOO IN
GOOD SPEED.
What is the reason behind the Magnetic Hill phenomenon?
Just as in the case of Magnetic Hill Leh, the
Magnetic Hill in Mainpat can also be explained
scientifically. The answer lies at the zero point,
that is where the car is initially stopped before
is starts moving backwards. There is a slight dip
in the road for some distance. As you release
the brake, the car moves downwards first, gains
momentum and then moves the rest of the
distance uphill. The dip is not evident from the
viewpoint, neither from the hilltop. It is a great
example of optical illusion as well.
www.mainpathills.com