Reverse-Flowing Stream of Chhattisgarh That Defies Gravity

Reverse-Flowing Stream of Chhattisgarh That Defies Gravity

Nestled in the picturesque hills of Mainpat, Chhattisgarh — often hailed as the "Shimla of Chhattisgarh" — lies an astonishing natural oddity known locally as Ulta Pani or Bisar Paani (“reverse water”), where water seems to flow uphill.

Mainpat sits at an elevation of around 1,085 metres and is home to Tibetan settlements, waterfalls, monasteries, and verdant landscapes. The phenomenon occurs in a village called Bisar Paani, just a few kilometres before reaching Mainpat. Here, water continues to flow upward along a hundred-metre stretch, appearing to defy gravity — something that baffles visitors and has earned the site its mystical reputation.

Scientists explain the effect as an optical illusion stemming from the landscape’s structure. An obscured or tilted horizon makes a gentle downhill actually appear as uphill. Meanwhile, others point to physical explanations rooted in fluid mechanics: the principle of siphon action, where variations in pressure and terrain create a pull strong enough to move water against the slope. Local topography and wind dynamics may amplify this illusion.

One study even measured the ascent of water at Bisar Paani — estimating that it climbs up to 14 metres above its source — and analysed geophysical and hydrological parameters like flow velocity, channel slope, and magnetic intensity. This suggests there’s more than just visual trickery behind the phenomenon.

Visitors to Ulta Pani often drop a paper boat into the stream, only to find it drifting “uphill,” which adds to the uncanny experience. Though no supernatural forces are at play, the unusual combination of geography, optics, and fluid dynamics continues to intrigue tourists, scientists, and photographers alike.

For any travel-curious reader or adventure seeker, Ulta Pani in Mainpat offers both a surreal experience and a lesson in how easily our perceptions can be deceived by the environment.