Madhya Pradesh - Central Provinces and Berar - Heart of India

 

ATTRACTIONS OF MADHYA PRADESH

Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India” because of the lot many things that it has to offer. It has been home to the cultural and spiritual heritage of almost all religions. Innumerable monuments, intricately carved temples, stupas, forts, and palaces are dotted all over the State.

The area covered by the present-day Madhya Pradesh includes the area of the ancient Avanti Mahajanapada, whose capital Ujjain (also known as Avantika) arose as a major city during the second wave of Indian urbanization in the sixth century BCE.

Madhya Pradesh is particularly famous for its Khajuraho temples which exhibit erotic sculptures depicting the ancient India Kama Sutra text. The great Sanchi Stupa constructed during King Ashoka's reign is situated here in Bhopal.

Situated in the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh is a multifaceted paradise for tourists. From natural wonders like waterfalls, lakes, forests, and caves to man-made wonders such as temples, forts, and dams, the state has a plethora of places to explore.

For the tourists, however, it is best when visited during the winter (October - march) and monsoon (July - September) season as the temperature remains pleasant through the day (with mostly moderate rainfall during monsoons) allowing them to explore the tourist attractions to their satisfaction.

1. Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India that forms the central Indian highlands. The national park is being popularized as the Tiger reserve and interestingly is being declared as one of the finest wildlife areas in the world. Spreading across two revenue districts the Mandala and the Kalaghat, Kanha National Park was declared a reserve forest in 1879 and revalued as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933. Its position was further upgraded to a national park in 1955.

The Kanha National Park is spread across the area of 940 sq km in the Maikal chain of hills. By bringing up the buffer and core zone all together, the Kanha Tiger Reserve has a total area of 1945 sq km.

The landscapes and the surrounding luxurious meadows along with the wooded strands and the dense maroons of forests offer magnanimous sightseeing experiences for nature lovers. Making the land more beautiful and adorable, the crystal clear streams amidst the dense jungle cleanses the surroundings and makes the wildlife unrivaled. This vivacious land has been the source of inspiration for Rudyard Kipling, a famous writer for his outstanding creation- “The Jungle Book”.

The Kanha National Park is the ideal home for wide ranges of wild creatures; right from the mighty tigers to the most populated Barasingha and the countless species of plants, birds, reptiles, and insects. This reserve has fascinated many travelers around the corners of the world with its well-developed infrastructure specially meant for them. The best location here to enjoy the most is the Bammi Dadar, also known as the Sunset Point.

2. Sanchi

Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Buddhist monuments of Sanchi are one of the oldest stone structures in India. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the Great Stupa was installed in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty. The sculptures and monuments present at the site are a fine example of the development of Buddhist art and architecture in Madhya Pradesh. The stupa sits atop a hill in Sanchi, 46 km from the city

 of Bhopal. 

This large hemispherical dome, more than 50 ft high with a diameter of more than 30m was constructed to honor Lord Buddha and houses many important Buddhist relics. It is meant to serve as a sacred burial mound for the distributed remains of Lord Buddha.

Sanchi is known for its ancient Stupas, monasteries, the Ashoka Pillar, Toranas or ornate gateways with intricate carvings and other remnants of the rich Buddhist culture which date back to the 3rd century B. C. It is one of the most important places for Buddhist pilgrimage and pilgrims from around the world visit this place.

3. Indore

Indore is the largest and the most populous city of Madhya Pradesh. Located on the Malwa Plateau, the charm of this city lies in its rich cultural heritage which has been preserved over centuries and along with the hints of urbanization.

Thanks to the rich black soil of the Malwa Plateau, Indore has prospered into being the fourth largest center of the cotton textile industry in India. It is also justly famous for its beautiful bangles. Indore can be called the 'food city'. It has great variety and taste in food.

Indore has been one of the forerunners in the development of the country in the era of modernization. One of the educational hubs in the country, Indore has both an IIT and an IIM. Indore is also the cleanest city in India. Indore has over the years established itself as the hub of trading and industrial practices in the state.  The city of Indore gets its name from the Indreshwar Mahadev temple. It is believed that Lord Indra meditated on this land and led Swami Indrapuri to establish this temple. Try out some local delicacies like Indori Poha at Sarafa Bazaar while you are in Indore.

The best season to visit Indore is the winter season. The temperature remains comfortable and is apt for visiting the places of interest in Indore. The best months to visit are October, November, December, January and March. Summers of Indore are extremely hot and exhausting.

4. Gwalior

One of the most beautiful cities of Madhya Pradesh in India, Gwalior is very famous for its marvellous palaces, old temples, and medieval fort. Being the birthplace of the great musician Tansen, the city is also highlighted for its majestic history and rich cultural heritage.

Home to a number of palaces, temples and monuments, the city has a glorious history and a rich culture to offer. Breathtaking views, a brush with the good old days, local delights and a royal stay are a few of the things you don't want to miss.

A culturally rich city with all things beautiful, Gwalior has had a glorious history with prominent dynasties ruling the region in the past. With all its forts and palaces and parks and museums, Gwalior is definitely worth a visit!

The weather in Gwalior is extreme with hot summers and cold winters. If you are the adaptive kind, this destination can be visited throughout the year, but the most ideal time to visit is in the months of September to February.

5. Pachmarhi

If you love to experiment, Pachmarhi is definitely worth a trip. It is home to 65 breathtaking waterfalls and several other scenic places like Gupt Mahadev, Jata Shankar, and Chaura Gad.

It has been the location of a cantonment (Pachmarhi Cantonment) since British Raj. ... Pachmarhi is a hill station of central India. It is also famous for Satpura Tiger Reserve, Satpura National Park, Lord Shiva, Pandavas of Mahabharata.

Blanketed in lush greenery, Pachmarhi– the only hill station of one of the most visited travel destinations in India, Madhya Pradesh. The state is famous for its rich history, heritage sites and dense forest, and Pachmarhi does add yet another flavor to this Central Indian curry.

Serene Pachmarhi Situated at a mounting height, Pachmarhi, popularly known as 'Satpura ki Rani' (Queen of Satpura) sits beautifully amidst the Satpura range. This attractive town was snuggled in the hills and forests until it was discovered by Captain James Forsyth in 1857.

6. Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park was formerly a royal hunting reserve of the princely state of Rewe, where the first white tiger was found in the wild. It has the highest known density of Bengal tigers in India.

Bandhavgarh National Park is a national park of India, located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh, with an area of 105 square kilometers (41 sq mi), was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993. The current core area is spread over 716 square kilometers (276 sq mi).

Formerly a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa, the Bandhavgarh National Park is world-renowned as a tiger reserve and it is known to have the highest density of Bengal tigers in the world. The frequent sightings of royal tigers make this national park a must-visit for all wildlife enthusiasts. In 2012, around 44-49 tigers were living in the park. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of avifauna.

The park got its name from the Bandhavgarh fort situated at the height of 800 m high cliffs nearby. The fort is in ruins now, but an hour trek to the fort is worth it as it provides ample views of the surroundings. The jeep safaris are amongst the most popular activities taken by visitors.

7. Ujjain

Ujjain is a quiet little town in Madhya Pradesh that is mostly famous for being the home to the Mahakaleshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Mahakaleshwar temple is visited by numerous pilgrims and travelers every year.

This holy city in the state's southwest is regarded as one of the seven holiest cities in India, making it one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Ujjain is particularly associated with Lord Shiva in the fierce form of Lord Mahakal, the destroyer of all elements, who protect the city.

Ujjain, considered to be one of the holiest cities of India, is an ancient city situated on the eastern bank of the Shipra River in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. Ujjain is one of the four sites for the Kumbh Mela, the largest peace-time gathering on the planet that attracts 100 million people to the festival.

This makes Ujjain an important place of Hindu Pilgrimage. To add to that, it is also home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines to the god Shiva. Ujjain is one of the most glorious cities of ancient India as it was also known to be the educational hub of various Indian scholars. The immense wealth of Ujjain in terms of religion, architecture, and educational value makes this is a top attraction amongst not only Indian travelers but also amongst foreign tourists as well. Ujjain is located at a distance of 52 km from Indore, which is also the nearest major airport.