Madhya Pradesh is called the Heart of India because of its location in the centre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc. Innumerable monuments, but exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts & palaces are dotted all over the state. Madhya Pradesh has won Best Tourism State National award for 3 consecutive year i.e. 2017,2016 and 2015.
Kanha National Park
Satpura National Park
Sanjay National Park
Madhav National Park
Van Vihar National Park
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park
Panna National Park
Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
National Chambal Sanctuary
There are 10 national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from tiger, the national parks in Madhya Pradesh have animals like Leopard, Gaur, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Barasingha, Samber Deer, Wild Boar, Monkey, Peacock, etc.
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| Bhedaghat Dhuandhar Falls, Jabalpur |
The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau streaked with the mountain ranges of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, the State has everything. The hills give rise to the main river system - Narmada and the Tapti, running from east to west, and the Chambal, Sone, Betwa, Mahanadi west to east. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers dotted with hills and lakes and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan environment.
One half of the state is forested and offers a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife. In the National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Shivpuri and many others one has the rare opportunity to see the tiger, the bison and a wide variety of deer and antelope in sylvan surroundings.
World heritage sites
Although the modern state of Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1956, its cultural heritage is ancient and chequered. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces on hilltops, raise in the visitors mind visions of empires and kingdoms, of the great warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints and philosophers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The famous Sanskrit poet-dramatist Kalidasa and the great musician of the Mughal court, Tansen, were from Madhya Pradesh. They are known all over the world.
Three sites in Madhya Pradesh have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO:
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
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| Kandariya Mahadeva Temple largest temple in Khajuraho |
Madhya Pradesh being very large geographically and the history being spread over several millennia, a developing a comprehensive picture of heritage and architecture is a monumental task.
National Parks
Madhya Pradesh is home to several National Parks, including:
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| Bandhavgarh National Park |
Kanha National Park
Satpura National Park
Sanjay National Park
Madhav National Park
Van Vihar National Park
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park
Panna National Park
Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
National Chambal Sanctuary
There are 10 national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from tiger, the national parks in Madhya Pradesh have animals like Leopard, Gaur, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Barasingha, Samber Deer, Wild Boar, Monkey, Peacock, etc.
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| Bagh Caves |
There are also a number of nature preserves, including:
Pachmarhi
Amarkantak
Bagh Caves
Bhedaghat
Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
Sone GharialSidhi
Ghatigaon
Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Narwar
Chambal
Kukdeshwar
Narsinghgarh
Fairs and festivals
Customs and beliefs in each area in Madhya Pradesh have added colours to the fairs and festivals. Shivratri in Khajuraho, Bhojpur, Pachmarhi and Ujjain; Dusshera in Jabalpur, Ramanavami in Chitrakoot and Orchha, Bhagoriya dance in Jhabua and the annual festival of dances at Khajuraho are events for the tourists to remember. The Malwa festival in Indore, Mandu and Ujjain, and the Pachmarhi festival bring alive the rich folk and tribal culture of the state in colourful celebrations. Gwalior trade fair is India's second largest trade fair. It is organised in various sectors which includes electronic sector, automobile sector, food sector, fun (jhula) sector etc. Gwalior carnival is a newly introduced festival in 2012. It was organised for 22 days in December. It is planned to organise carnival every year. Nimar Utsav takes place every year in the holy city of Maheshwar in the Hindu month of Kartika on the occasion of Kartika Purnima. The festival lasts for 3 days with a cultural programme at Ahilya Ghat in Maheshwar.
Hill stations
Panchmarhi
Amarkantak
Shivpuri
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| Narmada from the Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar |
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