Madhya Pradesh Top Destination
Indore the cleanest city of India 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 urbanisation.
Indore is possibly the best place to catch a glimpse of the life and times of the holkar dynasty. It is here that you find a fine amalgamation of art and culture of several regions and era in its various attractions, including palaces and temples. In Indore you can visit CentralMeuseum,White Church,Kanch Mandir,Khajrana Ganesh Temple, Lal Bagh Palace, Rajwada ,Bada Ganpati.Evening you can enjoy at Sarafa market & Chappan Dukan known as foodies paradise.
Omkareshwar is another pilgrimage destination in Madhya Pradesh. The holy city of Omkareshwar houses one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas. The city shaped in the form of Hindu religious symbol ‘OM’, due to the merging of two valleys and a central pool of Narmada waters, it derives its name from ‘Omkara’ which is just one other name of Lord Shiva.It is 100 km from Indore, on the bank of holy Narmada river. Mamaleshwar temple in Omkareshwar is the actual Jyotirlinga temple. It is also called Amareshwar temple
Maheshwar town, located on the bank of Narmada River. It is developed during Holkar dynasty, especially under rule of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. It was capital of Holkar dynasty till year 1818. Here temples and Ahilya fort are the prominent tourist attractions. In addition to this, you can also do boatride in Narmada river.It is 95 kms from Indore.
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 travellers 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.
Ujjain Tourist Attractions Includes:
Mahakaleshwar Temple, Sandipani Ashram, Iskcon Temple, Harsiddhi Temple, Ram Ghat, Shakti Peeth, Bade Ganesh Ka Mandir,Shani Mandir-Triveni Etc
Mandu is testament to the unconditional love between Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. It is also known as “City of Joy”. Here you can visit to number of monuments in well preserved condition which includes Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal Rani Roopmati Mahal etc. Mandu is located in picturesque location and counted in photogenic destination.It is 95 kms from Indore
Bhopal the capital of Madhya Pradesh,derived its name from Raja Bhoj. It is also known as the City of Lakes for natural as well as artificial lakes and also considered as one of the greenest cities in India. The city has number of tourist attractions such as Upper Lake, Lower Lake,Shaurya Smarak, Indra Gandhi Sangralaya, Taj-ul-Masajid, Birla Temple, Van Vihar.
Sanchi Stupa is a Buddhistmonument, positioned approximately 50 km from Bhopal and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stupas had been built around the 3rd century with the aid of King Ashoka, a renowned follower of Buddhism. Stupas are large hemispherical domes, in which Buddha’s relics have been kept of their critical chamber. One of the best-preserved stupas in India is the Sanchi Stupa. It is surrounded by using a railing with 4 carved gateways going through all the 4 directions.
At a distance of 10 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Udayagiri Caves are a group of rock-cut caves located at Udaigiri village in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in India, and among the must include places in Sanchi Tour Packages.
Udayagiri, literally means the ‘sunrise mountain’, was a Buddhist and Hindu site by the 2nd century BCE. The place is also referred to as Visnupadagiri which means the hill at ‘the feet of Vishnu’. The Udayagiri Caves are a group of 20 rock-cut caves from the early years of the 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples and iconography in India. Besides, these caves have rock-cut water tanks, and some have shrines and monuments on top.
Vihar.
Jabalpur ‘The land of White Marble’ aka ‘Sanskardhani’ is an ancient city located on the shores of river Narmada. It is the 3rd largest city of Madhya Pradesh.
The Bhedaghat-Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls are the most prominent tourist attractions in Jabalpur. When you visit there, Do take a boat ride at Panchvati Bhedaghat for a mesmerizing view of the White marbles.
Jabalpur also embrasses its travellers with historic & Adventurous points of interests. To name a few, you can visit the famous Bargi Dam, Balancing rock, Rani Durgavati Madan Mahal fort, Rani Durgavati museum Osho Ashram, Dumna nature Park etc. Don’t forget to visit Kachnar city where around 76 feet tall Lord Shiva statue is a sight to behold.
Right from experiencing the surreal beauty of Marble rocks at Panchvati, to enjoying the Natural beauty at Dhuandhar waterfallsor attend the Spiritual Aarti at Gwarighat in the evening, you will have get to spend a holiday worth remebering.
Kanha National Park is the largest National park in Madhya Pradesh with 940 sq. Km under it is considered to be one of the best administered parks in Asia. It is located 190 km from Jabalpur which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Kanha National Park vividly portrayed in Kipling’s Jungle book, its sal forests, grasslands and the streams are the haunt of the majestic tiger. Fauna includes leopard, gaur, barking deer, black buck, the rare hardground barasingh and over two hundred avian species.
Barahsingha was very close to extinction when a successful breeding programme at Kanha National Park brought the animal back. It is interesting to know that now ‘Bhoor Singh the Barasingha’ is the official mascot for Kanha National Park.
Basically a Day or Night Jungle Jeep Safari in the park and bird watching will surely leave you with a lifetime thrilling experience.
The Four Core Zones of the park are Kanha, Kisli, Mukki& Sarhi.
Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh is a place of legendary significance. It got it name from Bandhavgarh Fort which is of great importance as it is believed to have been gifted by Lord Rama to his younger brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka. Therefore this fort is named Bandhavgarh as “Bandhav” means brother and “Garh” means fort.
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. You will be surprised to know that All the white tigers of the world trace their roots to Bandhavgarh.
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh is the first in India to launch ‘The Hot Air Balloon Safari’ for tourists. You can now explore the unseen gems of Bandhavgarh National Park at its resplendent best. An aerial view of the restricted buffer zone and core zone will be an exclusive experience for the safari lovers.
The sight of the majestic tiger, up close and personal, is said to trigger a sense of awe in you, of the kinds you would have only experienced in your childhood.
The three Core Zones of the park are Tala, Magadhi, & Khitauli. It is located 190 km from Jabalpur which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Amarkantak, also known as “Teerthraj” (the King of pilgrimages) is located amidst the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges in Madhya Pradesh. Situated at an altitude of 1065 meters, Amarkantak is a hill station that offers visitors some of the most exquisite temples that one will ever see.
Three rivers – the holy Narmada, the Sone and the Johila emerge here from the womb of Amarkantak. A rising stream of Narmada can be seen at The Narmada Udgam Temple which is the most visited place in Amarkantakrendering this place special.
Amarkantak is draped with lush mango trees and hence it is believed that the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa visited Amarkantak and called it Amrakoot. This can be witnessed at Mai Ki Bagiya, which is a grove of mango and banana trees.
Every year on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, devotees in abundance gather here to attend the special event.Narmada Udgam temple is surrounded with wonderful natural wonders like Narmada kund, Sonemuda (the source of river Sone), plunging Dugdhara falls and the Kapildhara falls.
The group of ancient temples of the Kalachuri period such as Machhendranath, Pataleshwar and Kailash Narayan, Shri Yantra Mandir, Mrityunjay Ashram, Bhrigu Kamandal are some more places to see in Amarkantak that you can note miss.
At a short distance from Amarkantak is the Kabir Chabutra, where the mystic poet Sant Kabir is said to have meditated and achieved salvation.
The rich natural heritage and spiritual vibes of Amarkantak will fill your heart with happiness and positivity.It is located 230 km from Jabalpur and only 125 km from Bilaspur (C.G) which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Pench National Park is named after the majestic Pench River flowing through the greens and a variety of wildlife to be spotted in the rocky terrains.
Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli’s adventure and his battle with the furious Sher Khan is based on this very landscape in Madhya Pradesh. The places described in the ‘The Jungle Book’ are the locations marked at Alikatta village and the Seoni hills. This is the reason, Pench Tiger Reserve is also popularly known as ‘Land of The Jungle Book’.
The major attractions of the Pench Tiger Reserves are Jungle Walk, Jungle Safari, Night Safari, Trekking, Wildlife Viewing from Machan and village tour. Jungle Safari can be done in the Core & Buffer Zone of the park respectively. The Core Zones of the park are Jhamtara, Karmajhiri, Touria and Touria is the main Core zone amongst the three. It is located 190 km from Jabalpur and only 90 km from Nagpur which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Indore
Panna is a town situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh and holds a lot of historical significance. It is a small city in the heart of the country, which boasts of being the only city with diamond reserves. The royal past of this destination dates back to mid of 17th Centuary AD, when it became the capital of Maharaja Chhatrasal’s kingdom
Panna is also most notably known for the Panna National Park which is a world heritage site and a significant initiative towards wildlife conservation in India. It was Awarded best maintained National park of India in 2007 by ministry of tourism of India. While many of us are obsessed with tiger sightings, Panna National Park boasts of seven different species of vultures.
Ghariyal, a huge reptile found only in the Indian subcontinent, can be spotted at Ken Ghariyal sanctuary.
The Core Zones of the park are Hinouta, Madlaand Madla is the main Core zone amongst them. It is located 30 km from Khajuraho which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Madhya Pradesh, is known around the world for its stunning temples adorned by erotic and sensuous carvings. A small town located in the Bundelkhand region, Khajuraho is a brilliant example of Indian architecture and its culture back in the medieval period. The architecture of these Hindu and Jain temples depict the erotic forms of love, the carvings on the walls display passion in the most sensuous yet aesthetic ways.
These temples are divided into three groups: Eastern, Western and Southern & believe to bebuilt between 950 to 1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty, the sheer confrontational nature of these carvings shows a stark paradox with the conventional Indian ideals about eroticism, leaving everybody spellbound.
Plan a trip to Khajuraho around February when you can also attend and witness Khajuraho Dance Festival. This grand cultural extravaganza is a stunning blend of art and architecture. One gets to experience a wonderful symphony of mesmerising classical dance performances being performed by renowned artists coming from different cities and town in India.
Maihar is a small town in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh in India which is basically known for the Maa Sharda Temple. It is considered as one of the 51 Shakti peethas of goddess Parvati.
What adds to this divinity is how Maihar got its name. The name means ‘Necklace of Mother’. It is believed that when Lord Shiva was carrying Sati, her necklace fell down here.
The revered Hindu temple is perched atop the Trikuta Hill and is an important pilgrimage spot of the Hindus. Not only this, the temple experiences a large footfall of tourists as well. Since the temple is situated on top of a hillock, some of the devotees (especially the elderly people) face a lot of difficulty climbing up the 1063 steps to reach the destination. So the ropeway was introduced for the convenience of the pilgrims.
Along with its treasure of holiness, Maihar also holds the honour of producing some of the best Indian Classical musicians. The founder of Maihar-Gharana, and popular orchestra Maihar band is mentored by Ustad Alauddin Khan, who belongs to Maihar.
It is located 170 km from Jabalpur & 40 km from Katni which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
Chitrakoot, a small town situated in the north Vindhya range, is located over the districts of Satna in Madhya Pradesh and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to have got its name owing to the presence of ‘Cheetal’ (deer) in the region. It holds great importance according to Hindu mythology and the epic Ramayana. Legends have it that Chitrakoot was the place where Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana stayed for eleven and half of their fourteen years of exile making it a revered site among pilgrims.
According to Ramayana, Chitrakoot was the place where Bharata, brother of Ram came to visit Ram and ask him to come back to Ayodhya and rule the kingdom. It is also believed that the principal gods of Hindus, (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) took incarnations here. This divine city is also known as the ‘Hill of many wonders’ and it totally justifies the name.
Chitrakoot mountain range has numerous places of great religious importance like Kamad Giri, Bharat Milap Temple, Hanuman Dhara, Janki Kund, Lakshman Pahari, Devangana and much more.
Chitrakoot is also the place where Goswami Tulsidas, author of ‘The Ramcharitmanas’, spent many years of his life. There aremany lively fairs which are organized on different occasions and festivals. Not many know that Chitrakoot is also home to the only university in the world specially made for the differently-abled, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University.
Chitrakoot is a unique sense of spiritual wonder, Chitarkoot makes you reimagine the prehistoric past in the present.It is indeed the gift of nature and the gods.
It is located 80 km from Satna which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
The historic town of Orchha, nestled on the banks of river Betwa, was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput Chief, Rudra Pratap. It is known for its grand palaces, and intricately carved temples. Famously known as the city of palaces, it is world-renowned for the classic mural paintings, frescos and Chhatris (cenotaphs) that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers.
Here, the river Betwa splits into seven channels, also called the Satdhara. Legend goes that this is in honour of the seven erstwhile Chiefs of Orchha. It is the only river in Madhya Pradesh where you can enjoy river rafting.
The major attractions in Orchha include Ram Raja Temple (the only place where Lord Ram is worshipped both as a God and a king), Laxmi Narayan Temple (known for its unique architecture which is a melange of a fort and a temple), and the Jahangir Mahal (built in hour of Mughal emperor Jahangir). The medieval architecture of Orchha’s palaces and temples is a visual delight for photographers.
It is located 120 km from Gwalior & 20 km from Jhansi which has very good connectivity from all the major cities in India.
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated at a distance of 50 km from the city of Bhopal. It has the oldest-known rock art in India, as well as is one of the largest prehistoric complexes to be seen. Legend says Bhimbetka is derived from ‘Bhimbaithka’ meaning ‘the sitting place of Bhima’, from Mahabharata. Out of the 760 rock shelters, 500 are adorned with paintings. The painting of an enormous red bison attacking a man is visible only when the sun is just right. Thousands years old art gallery hides amongst the massive, black boulders of Bhimbetka.
Bhojpur is just 30 km from Bhopal, a town that houses one of the biggest Shivlingas in the country in its beautiful Shiva temple. Vihar.
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. It is one of the most popular destinations in Madhya Pradesh and is a treasure trove of rich history and nature’s bounty.
This serene hill station of Madhya Pradesh has number of tourist attractions such asBee Fall, Pandav Caves, Bison Logde, Reechgarh, Dhoopgarh Sunset Point, Chauragarh in the forest area of Satpura National Park which can only be explored by the local Gypsies easily available there.
The other places to be visit in the Non Forest area are Bada Mahadev, Gupt Mahadev,Jata Shanker, Para Sailing Point, Pachmarhi Lake and can easily be reach by personal vehicle.
Besides scenic beauty, if you are interested in wildlife tourism you can enjoy adventure activities like Jeep safari in Satpura tiger reserve whose Panarpani entry point is located at Pachmarhi itself.
Satpura tiger reserve spreads over an area of 202 square miles and gets it’s name from the Satpura hill ranges. The forest enclaves at the Satpura National Park provide habitat for several endangered and threatened species, other than a variety of different plants and animals.
Madai is a reserved forest and an integral part of the Satpura Biosphere Project. It is located at the entrance of the most exquisite and beautiful forests in India – Satpura. It delights you with its rich wildlife, sprawling meadows, unending backwaters and spell-binding views that leave you awestruck. At Madai and Satpura Tiger Reserve you can indulge in a jungle safari and have an amazing wildlife and bird watching experience. It is located at a distance of 90 km from Pachmarhi.
Gwalior is a historic city located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.Gwalior is full of palaces and glorious temples giving this city a majestic charm which speaks volumes of its glorious past.
Gwalior is best known for its imposing hilltop fortwhich was famously described as ‘The pearl amongst fortresses in India’ belong to Maharani Laxmi Bai ‘The Verangana’. The city stands as the testimony of Royal dynasties that ruled over the decades. Their influence is clearly seen in the many regal structures that dominate the cityscape. In a sense, Gwalior continues to retain a medieval majesty.
One of the Royal family amongst the rulers of India Scindia Family ruled here over a decade. Their palace Jai Vilas Palace now converted into a museum has the largest carpet in the world which took almost 12 years to weave and two most massive chandeliers in the world that weight close to 3.5 tonnes, A unique feature of the Palace is an elongated dining table, on which a silver train with cut glass carriages is rallied around to serve delicacies, after-dinner brandy or cigars to important delegates during get-togethers.
Gwalior holds an unparalleled taste and popularity in Hindustani Classical Sangeet, and has retained Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest and prominent Khayal Gharanas. Legendary musicians like Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior and sang for the royal court of Gwalior.
The melody of classical Indian music can be best witnessed in Tansen Samaroh which is organised to pay a tribute to the legendary musician and a master of classical music, Tansen. The soul-stirring performances bring the evening alive. The aim is to celebrate the true essence of music and enjoy the melody that comes with each unique performance during the festival. Every year, the event is being organised from 26th- 30th Dec at different venues of Gwalior.
Visit the various monuments and museums, eat the local delicacies like Namkeen and go boating in Tighra Dam while you are in the city.