Madhya Pradesh can be described as the best state of the nation when it comes to the diversity of its tourism destinations.Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India” because of a lot many things that it has to offer. It has been home to cultural and spiritual heritage of almost all the religions. Innumerable monuments, intricately carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the State. The natural beauty of the state is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau, the State has everything, from mighty mountain ranges to meandering rivers to miles of verdant forests. In fact a large part of Madhya Pradesh is under the forest cover, offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife. In the National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench you can spot the tiger, bison and a wide variety of deer and antelope. Water sports, caravan journeys, river cruise, sound and light shows, tribal life, Madhya Pradesh has everything for every travel thirsty soul. Romance with nature in the Marble Rocks of Jabalpur in the moonlight or lose yourself in the legend of the poet prince Baz Bahadur and his beautiful consort Roopmati in Mandu. Follow the trails of Prince Rama in Chitrakoot. Let the hands of time which have rested lightly on the chhatris, palaces and forts of Orchha and Gwalior, whisper the tales of medieval India. The temples of Khajuraho are India’s unique gift to the world, representing love and joys of life in a sublime expression. Madhya Pradesh is also a shopper’s paradise with beautiful Maheshwari and Chanderi textiles and bell metal craft of Bastar. The state is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites namely Sanchi, Bhimbetka and Khajuraho. But perhaps the best part about Madhya Pradesh is its accessibility. It is equally close to major tourist destinations from all over the country, being the 'Heart of India'. Bhopal Divided by the picturesque and pristine Upper Lake and Lower Lake, the city of Bhopal, at the heart of Madhya Pradesh, remains suspended in time. On one side of the lakes is the bustling old walled city, which is a labyrinth of narrow streets and chowks. It has a score of bazaars that are always teeming with locals haggling with shopkeepers over sundry items, and several mosques and alleyways. Its cosmopolitan counterpart, sitting to the south of the lakes, can match the pace of any metropolis in the country. The central district is known as New Market and is characterised by shopping centres, luxurious hotels and multi-cuisine restaurants. This area sits in the shadow of the Shamla Hills, which overlook the lakes and the old city. One of the greenest cities in India, Bhopal boasts many national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and zoological parks rife with flora and fauna. Moreover, the city provides the perfect setting for foodies. Founded by Paramara king Raja Bhoj in the 11th century, Bhopal was earlier known as Bhojpal after a pal (dam) constructed by one of the king’s ministers. The city is a confluence of old-world cultural heritage and new-age urban planning. Still retaining the imprints of the powerful female rulers, who reigned between 1819 and 1926, in the form of various monuments like the Gohar Mahal, the city is a unique amalgamation of the old and the new. It also bears footprints of the Mughals and the Afghans and showcases influences of Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism that have been woven together with perfection. Gwalior Ensconced in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, the royal city of Gwalior stands in stately splendour with a stunning hilltop fort and the resplendent Jai Vilas Palace. With a scattering of heritage structures, Gwalior is also the gateway to the wild heart of India, within which are hidden several dense forests and tiger reserves. Interestingly, Gwalior's history is rooted in a legend. It is said that in the 8th century, a local chief, Suraj Sen, fell ill and was in a critical condition when Gwalipa, a hermit cured him. In return, as a gesture of gratitude, Suraj Sen built a city and named it after the saint. Famous for its grand fort situated dramatically on a hill, that was described by Mughal emperor Babur as “the pearl among fortresses in India”, the city of Gwalior is also known for its incomparable reputation in classical Indian music. Gwalior holds an unparalleled reputation in sangeet, and has retained Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest traditions and the one to which most classical Indian musicians can trace the origin of their style. Legendary musicians like Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior. Gwalior has been the power centre of a number of dynasties like Kachchhapaghatas, Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and Scindias. The city has witnessed several wars, among which the most famous is the fierce battle that took place between British and Indians under the leadership of Tatya Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, who was martyred here. Legends of Tatya Tope and Lakshmi Bai still abound in the folklores of the region. A magnificent creation in white, the imposing Jai Vilas Palace and Museum is a spectacular European-style castle sitting in the heart of Gwalior. Opulent from every angle, the palace boasts several unique items from the private collection of the erstwhile rulers of Gwalior. Designed by British Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Michael Filose under the aegis of Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia in 1874 at a cost of INR 1 crore, the palace is inspired by several European architecture styles. The first storey of the palace is Tuscan, the second, Italian-Doric and the third draws ideas from Corinthian design. From its 12,40,771-sq-ft area to the endlessly large Durbar Hall, everything in the palace is larger than life. The interior of the Durbar Hall glitters with gilt and gold and boasts two gigantic chandeliers and one of Asia’s largest carpets. It is said eight elephants were suspended from the ceiling of the hall to check if it could take the weight of these two chandeliers weighing 3.5 tonne. Another section that holds pride of place is the banquet hall with a model train made of solid silver that ran along a track on the edge of a gigantic dining table, carrying after-dinner brandy and cigars around. The palace also had a suite of solid crystal furniture and was reached via a staircase with crystal balusters. The museum occupies around 35 rooms of the palace and showcases among other items from the royal family’s collection, a transport section, which includes a silver buggy, silver chariot, palanquins, and vintage luxury cars. The museum also houses rare paintings by Indian and European masters. Lithographs of Napoleon and Tipu Sultan are some of the rarest collections of the family that are displayed in the museum. The majestic Gwalior Fort, stretching along a 3-km-long plateau, overlooking the city sprawled way beneath, is an unmissable sight. Dominating Gwalior's skyline, the 8th-century architectural marvel seems to be standing guard at one end of the city. Home to hundreds of kings over the centuries, the palaces, temples and other buildings inside the fort complex have been built over a period of time and show the influences of different dynasties. Among these structures, the most popular is the Teli-Ka-Mandir and Man Singh Palace. Built in the Dravidian style, the Teli-Ka-Mandir temple is covered with fine carvings. The tallest structure in the compound, the 30-m-high temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and most probably built in the 9th century, is also considered to be the oldest structure here. With a tall gateway-tower or gopuram, that seems to have been inspired by Dravidian architectural forms, the carvings on the walls of the temple are from northern part of the country. A massive image of Garuda, Lord Vishnu's mount, is a popular attraction. The Man Singh's Palace, built by king Man Singh, a Tomar ruler, in the 15th century is known for its brilliant blue ceramic tile design. Visible on the facade of the fortress from a distance, these designs in blue are iconic of the fort itself. Interestingly, the marvels of the fort begin much before you enter the complex, with several massive sculptures of Jain tirthankaras carved into the rock faces in and around the fort. Built by kings of the Tomar dynasty, these large sculptures bestow benign smiles as one walks up to the fort's main gate. There are nine large and many smaller sculptures, including a stunning 17-m-high standing representation of the first tirthankar, Adinath, located around the complex. The fort complex also houses the Gujari Mahal built by Raja Man Singh for his beloved queen Mrignayani. Other notable structures are Karan Palace, the Jehangir Mahal and Shah Jahan Mahal with fine lattice work, traces of which can be spotted across walls, windows and archways. Walk across the remnants of these palaces, through the bathing area, where it is said kings and queens cooled themselves during the scorching summer months. Nearby is the Jauhar Kund, a tank where women of the royal household self-immolated (jauhar) themselves in in 1231, when Gwalior was on the brink of being captured by sultan Iltutmish. The fort is also home to the illustrious Scindia School. Indore Snuggled at the heart of the Malwa Plateau, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the city of Indore is home to grand monuments, ancient temples and architectural delights that are a legacy of the mighty Holkar dynasty kings, who were the erstwhile rulers of the region. Rooted in history, Indore is a bustling city that has a busy culinary scene, vibrant bazaars, along with a profound spiritual connection. In fact, its name has been derived from the 18th-century Indreshwar Temple. A trading hub between the Deccan region and Delhi during the 16th century, Indore was founded in the 18th century by Rao Nandlal Chaudhary, the chief of the landlords of the region. As one flips through the pages of history, it is revealed that the ancestors of the city were landlords of Malwa. It flourished as a well-planned capital city of the Holkars on the banks of River Saraswati (now nonexistent) and River Khan (Kahn). Indore museum or the Central museum is one of the oldest museums in the Malwa region that houses a fine collection of art and artefacts from medieval and pre-medieval eras. The exhibits on display range from sculptures of Hinglajgarh, an ancient fort in the Mandsaur district to sculptures from the early Gupta and Parmara times. It is believed that the Parmara style originated in the city of Indore and its main features include depiction in stone, intricate ornamentation and proportioned figures. While the first gallery of the museum houses stone tools, ornaments and domestic use articles, its second gallery displays an exquisite range of Hindu mythological carvings. The museum is located near the General Post Office in Indore and is open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days, except Monday. Jabalpur Located at the heart of the state of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur is a city that offers tourists many natural wonders, mythological lore and historical heritage. The most popular attraction is the marble rocks. It is a deep gorge lined by gigantic mountains of marble carved by the Narmada river that flows through. The intriguing marble rock formations rise as high as 100 ft and the sight of the river rushing through the 8-km-long gorge is awe-inspiring. Jabalpur also acts as the gateway to the green heart of the state: the famous tiger reserves of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench. Apart from these, there are many smaller reserves nearby. Some of these are the Virangana, Panpatha and Nauradehi wildlife sanctuaries that make for thrilling explorations. Come to Jabalpur to witness the confluence of modernity and ancientness, along with wildlife, including the spotted deer, birds, wild boar, barking deer, wild dog, chital etc. Another fascinating stopover is the Ghughua National Park, which is home to fossils of plants, seeds, flowers as well as fruits. Historically, the area was known as the Mahakaushal region and it is believed to be the land blessed by the great Jabali rishi. The Gond kings were supposedly so enthralled by the beauty of the region that they decided to make it a favoured place to relax. This is not hard to believe as one strolls through the magnificent Vindhya range and lush forests that make up the ecological backdrop of the region. Archaeologists, geologists and zoologists all flock to this place because of the innumerable treasures it holds. Bandhavgarh National Park The national park is a world famous tiger reserve where India’s first white tiger was found. The tiger density here is also the highest known in India. Bandhavgarh is spread over the Vindhya mountain range and is home to more than 22 species of mammals, 250 species of birds and 70 species of butterflies. It also boasts a variety of vegetation and landscapes of tall grass and thick sal forests. This facilitates the survival of a large range of animals and birds in the park. Primate species like common langur and rhesus macaque can also be found here. The national park offers jeep safaris as well as elephant safaris to provide travellers with unique experiences. The park is divided in three zones, the Tala, the Magdi, and the Bamera. The Tala is the most popular as it offers maximum opportunities for sighting the tiger. One should not miss the elephant shows that are organised in the Madgi zone. The Bandhavgarh Fort is another attraction nearby. Local legend says that this fort was gifted by Lord Rama to his younger brother Lakshmana. The word 'bandhav' in the local dialect means brother and 'garh' translates into fort and thus the nomenclature of the fort has been derived from the legend or vice versa. The region itself has archaeological evidence dating to about 2,000 years ago. The man-made caves with inscriptions and rock paintings are definitely worth a visit. Kanha National Park Home to the majestic royal Bengal tiger, the Kanha National Park is spread over an impressive area of 940 sq km. It is commonly believed that this park, with its lush green meadows and thick sal forests so enchanted the English author Rudyard Kipling that he used it as background for his iconic novel 'The Jungle Book'. The park also holds the distinction of bringing back the barasingha (swamp deer) from the brink of near extinction. The park is also home to other majestic animals like leopard and wild dogs. The award-winning National Geographic film, ‘Land of the Tigers’ was also shot here. The sprawling acres of lush verdant greens of the national park offer many incredible natural views. Head over to the popular Bamni Dadar, or the sunset point, which offers an amazing view of the landscape dotted with grazing sambars and gaurs. A safari through the park where one can sight animals in their natural habitat is indeed an unforgettable experience. Considered to be one of the best managed parks in Asia, Kanha Tiger Reserve was created in 1974 as part of Project Tiger. The park is known for the stringent conservation programmes to preserve flora, fauna and the local eco-system. The park is closed during peak summer so it is best to make travel plans for Kanha during the winter months, between mid-October and end of June. The winter months also see a lot of migratory birds making their way to Kanha and hence birdwatching opportunities are ample. Khajuraho If stones could speak, the Khajuraho temples would create melodies! Situated in Madhya Pradesh and cradled by the Vindhya mountain range, the heritage town of Khajuraho is famed for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed temple complex that features Hindu and Jain houses of worship. These temples are famous for their stunning intricate sculptures depicting different aspects of life: spirituality, love, friendship, sports, royalty and most significantly, awe-inspiring art. Based on their geographical location, the temples are categorised into three groups: Eastern, Western and Southern. Believed to have been built in a relatively short period of time spanning over 100 years, i.e. between 950-1050 AD, the complex boasts 22 temple structures that remain from the initial group of 85. Forgotten for centuries, they were rediscovered in the 1850s and restored. The temples were conceived and built under the rule of the Chandela dynasty. The ornate craftsmanship transforms the life-like sculptures on the temple walls into works of art and is an ode to life, love and joy. There is an interesting story about how the town got its name. It is said that as the Chandela rulers began constructing the temples, they got the entire area enclosed by a wall. The wall had eight gates flanked on either side by khajur or date palm trees, which is found in abundance in this region. The temples were, thus, called khajura vatika, or bearing khajura. Panna National Park Located around 40 km from Khajuraho, Panna was the capital of Maharaja Chhatrasal’s kingdom in 17th century AD. The town, meaning emerald, is a diamond mining centre. It is also popular for the Panna National Park, one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries of India that is home to tigers and several other species of wildlife. With the meandering Ken river and spectacular waterfalls, the national park attracts both wildlife enthusiasts and adventure seekers. One can spot the gharial, a huge reptile of the crocodile family found only in the Indian subcontinent, and a variety of flora and fauna here. Spend a day or two here, and explore the park in a jeep or on the back of an elephant. Earlier, the park was the hunting ground of the erstwhile rulers of Panna, Bijawar and Chhatarpur states. The Panna National Park is the 22nd Tiger Reserve of India. Orchha Beguiling temples, monuments lost in history and an abundance of folklore make Orchha a jewel in the crown of the state of Madhya Pradesh. This small, pastoral town is popularly known as Raja Ram's kingdom, maybe the only place in the country where Lord Rama is revered as a beloved king and not just a god. Boasting an amazing blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture dating back to the 16th century, Orchha was at the heart of many prominent royal dynasties for nearly 300 years. This history lives on in the splendid monuments that punctuate the quaint town shrouded in mystery and sitting by the softly flowing Betwa river. Add to this the sweet smell of custard apples permeating the air, and you may start to unravel the mesmeric charm of this “hidden place” (the meaning of Orchha). At the heart of Orchha's heritage is the Orchha Fort complex. Situated on an island in the Betwa, this complex is a maze of palaces, forts and temples. Divided into three parts: Raj Mahal, Jahangir Mahal and Sheesh Mahal, the fort hides within it secret passages, exquisite murals and resplendent residential quarters of kings and queens. Orchha was established as the capital of the powerful Bundelkhand empire by king Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501 AD and then ruled by several kings. Interestingly, here the Betwa splits into seven channels, also known as Satdhara. Legend says that this is in honour of the seven erstwhile rulers of Orchha. Also honouring its royals are the intricately carved chhatris or cenotaphs, which are iconic of the city itself. Sanchi Suffused with serenity and spirituality, Sanchi is a treasure trove of stone edifices surrounded by hills of rolling green. A prominent site in the Buddhist circuit, Sanchi has been bestowed a rich legacy of Buddhist monuments - from the Sanchi Stupa to the Ashoka Pillar. Walking through the many edifices one can’t help but be taken back to the times when saffron-clad Buddhist monks must have thronged Sanchi, perhaps chanting “Buddham Sharanam Gacchami”. The tranquil beauty of Sanchi is a testament to the power of one man, emperor Ashoka of the mighty Mauryan dynasty. True to its purpose, Sanchi has been a silent yet a patient witness to the rise and fall of empires, quietly assured of its place in history and mythology. The intricate carvings adorning the numerous monuments document the many teachings one can get from the life of Lord Buddha. It is said that Ashoka, in a turn of events, transformed from a violent warrior to a benevolent ruler. This change of heart is said to have come about after the vicious battle of Kalinga that took many lives. So much bloodshed is said to have filled the emperor with guilt. The experience changed Ashoka and he ordered the building of stupas to safeguard the many Buddhist relics and to propagate Buddhism. He ardently believed that the philosophy of Buddhism held the potential of positive transformation that the world needed. It is believed that the hill on which the Great Stupa stands might have inspired Ashoka to choose this as the site of the religious centre he established. The earliest Buddhist architecture of Sanchi has been dated to the early Mauryan period in 3rd century BC and the youngest is attributed to 12th century AD. Several new edifices were raised during this time and the Great Stupa was decorated with balustrades, a staircase and a harmika. The Andhra-Satavahanas added elaborate gateways to stupa 1 in 1st century BC. The Gupta period, in turn, saw the construction of many temples and sculptures in their characteristic style. It was also during this time that four statues of Lord Buddha, sitting serenely under canopies were erected in front of the four entrances of the Great Stupa. Sanchi prospered greatly between the 7th and 12th centuries AD. Ujjain “The town fallen from heaven to bring heaven to earth”, was how the famous Sanskrit poet Kalidasa had described the ancient city of Ujjain. Located at the heart of Madhya Pradesh, this ancient city is a labyrinth of bustling lanes that weave through temple clusters, earning Ujjain the moniker, “the city of temples”. One of the seven sacred sites of Hinduism, Ujjain is located on the banks of the holy Kshipra (Shipra) river that is the venue for the largest spiritual congregation in the world, the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years. The city is resplendent as a bride during Simhast Kumbh, which attracts millions of devotees from all over the world to take a dip in Kshipra river, with a belief that it would absolve them of their sins. Hindus also believe that doing so will help them attain moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Since the city has been under the patronage of various rulers, its rich heritage and vibrant arts and crafts are diverse and unique. It is very popular for traditionally printed textiles like batik, bagh, Bhairavgarh print and screen. Shop for sarees and yardages printed in any of these techniques. The history of Ujjain can be dated back to 600 BC when it was home to hundreds of temples. It was once under the powerful Mauryan empire and even emperor Ashoka had once ruled over this region. It is said that once, when Ashoka was sent to Ujjain by his father Bindusara to subdue an uprising , he was injured and was treated by Buddhist monks, the king's first encounter with Buddhism, a religion he later turned to.
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