Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, often called the “Heart of India” is a state located in the central India. This historical land shares its boundaries with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh is known for its religious hubs of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam, Khajuraho temples, impregnable forts, exquisitely carved Jain temples, palaces, which are the glorious reminders of erstwhile era of the royal Rajas and Maharajahs. Endowed with immense natural beauty and splendour, Madhya Pradesh is also famous for its wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, which are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Indore
Indore is a city in west-central India. It’s known for the 7-story Rajwada Palace and the Lal Baag Palace, which date back to Indore’s 19th-century Holkar dynasty. The Holkar rulers are honored by a cluster of tombs and cenotaphs at Chhatri Baag. The night market Sarafa Bazar sells street food. East is the Indo-Gothic Gandhi Hall and clock tower. The Jain temple Kanch Mandir has a mirrored mosaic interior.
Ujjain
Ujjain is an ancient city beside the Kshipra River in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. An important Hindu pilgrimage destination, it’s known for the centuries-old Mahakaleshwar Temple, a towering structure with a distinctively ornate roof. Nearby, Bade Ganesh Temple houses a colorful statue of Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu deity. Harsiddhi Temple features a pair of tall dark pillars studded with lamps.
Omkareshwar Temple
Omkareshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. It is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is on an island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the Narmada river; the shape of the island is said to be like the Hindu ॐ symbol.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the twelve Jyotirlingams, shrines which are said to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is situated on the side of the holy river KShipra
Mandu
Mandu is an ancient fort city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It’s surrounded by stone walls dotted with darwazas (gateways). It’s also known for its Afghan architectural heritage. Landmark buildings include Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, a domed marble mausoleum, and the vast Jami Masjid mosque, with courtyards framed by colonnades. The imposing, centuries-old Jahaz Mahal palace stands between 2 lakes.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This biodiverse park is known for its large population of royal Bengal tigers, especially in the central Tala zone. Other animals include white tigers, leopards and deer. The mix of tropical forest, Sal trees and grassland is home to scores of bird species, including eagles. To the south are the remains of the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Kanha National Park, also known as Kanha Tiger Reserve, is a vast expanse of grassland and forest in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Tigers, jackals and wild pigs can be spotted in Kanha Meadows.
The elevated plateau of Bamhnidadar is home to birds of prey. Animals often gather at the watering holes of Sondar Tank and Babathenga Tank. The park’s flora and fauna are documented in the park’s Kanha Museum.
Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.
Gwalior
Gwalior is a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It’s known for its palaces and temples, including the Sas Bahu Ka Mandir intricately carved Hindu temple. Ancient Gwalior Fort occupies a sandstone plateau overlooking the city and is accessed via a winding road lined with sacred Jain statues. Within the fort’s high walls is the 15th-century Gujari Mahal Palace, now an archaeological museum.
Jabalpur
Jabalpur is a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. On a rocky hilltop on the western outskirts of the city is the Madan Mahal Fort, built in 1116. Farther west, the centuries-old Pisanhari Ki Madiya Jain temple offers views of the city. Another Jain temple, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, sits on the shore of a lake in the north. The central Rani Durgavati Museum displays intricately carved sculptures.
Bhedaghat
Bhedaghat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is situated by the side of river Narmada and is approximately 20 km from Jabalpur city. Its most famous sights are the Dhuandhar Falls, Marble Rocks, and the Chaunsath Yogini temple.
Pench National Park
Pench National Park is a national park in India’s Madhya Pradesh state, established in 1975. It includes Pench Tiger Reserve and derives its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves, the well-forested areas of Seoni and Chhindwara districts respectively. It was declared a sanctuary in 1965, raised to the status of national park in 1975 and enlisted as a tiger reserve in 1992.
Bhopal
Bhopal is a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It’s one of India’s greenest cities. There are two main lakes, the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. On the banks of the Upper Lake is Van Vihar National Park, home to tigers, lions and leopards. The State Museum has fossils, paintings and rare Jain sculptures. Taj-ul-Masjid is one of Asia’s largest mosques, with white domes, minarets and a huge courtyard.
Orchha
Orchha is a historical town situated in the district of Tikamgarh in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Most tourists visiting Orchha come to experience the history of the place or visit the many temples sprawling the cityscape. The temples include the Chaturbhuj Temple, he Laxminarayan Temple, and the Ram Raja Mandir. Palaces in Orchha are the Jehangir Mahal, the Rai Parveen Mahal, Raj Mahal, and Sunder Mahal.
Vidisha
Known extensively for its architectural marvels and ancient grandeur, Vidisha is an old city located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, not far from the capital city of Bhopal. This historical city, referred to as Besanagar in the medieval period, finds mention in several literatures including the Pali scriptures and in the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Satna
Situated in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, Blessed with a plentitude of dolomite and limestone, Satna, thus, boasts being one of the few large cement producing areas of the world. Cement production is one of the prime industries of Satna and contributes significantly to the economy of the region. The city is famous for hosting various sites of religious importance such as the Chitrakoot Dham, Sai Baba Mandir in Dhawari, Rawatpura Sarkar Ashram, Sharadha Devi Temple, Venkatesh Temple, and Maihar. Madhavgarh Fort, Jagatdev Talab, and Gidhakoot are other places of attraction in Satna.
Chhindwara
Chhindwara is a major district in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, which is well known for its tribal culture and natural beauty. Whereas the Radha Devi Caves, the Chhota Mahadev Caves, Tamia hills, etc. are visited by a large number of art and history buffs from all over the country and abroad.
Sacred Sanchi
The town of Sanchi is synonymous with Buddhist Stupas – hemispherical structures typically containing relics of the Buddha or his followers. The Stupas of Sanchi were constructed on the orders of Emperor Ashoka to preserve and spread the Buddhist philosophy. Sanchi has been protecting these beautiful and sacred architectural wonders, just the way these wonders have been safeguarding ancient history and art of the Mauryan period.
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the prehistoric paleolithic and mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times.
Devout Chitrakoot
Boasting a spiritual legacy that very few cities in India can match, Chitrakoot is known to be of great religious and mythological significance. It is in the deep forests of Chitrakoot that Lord Ram and Sita spent eleven of their fourteen years of exile. A regular feature in Indian folklore, Chitrakoot dates back to the mythological times and was the meditation shrine of many legendary sages and is believed to be frequently visited by Gods and Goddesses. Known as the ‘Place of Many Wonders’, Chitrakoot nestles in the northern Vindhya range of mountains. The place has a unique sense of spiritual wonder that will take you back to your childhood fairy tales and fables.