Madhya
Pradesh - Overview
Madhya
Pradesh, the geographical heartland of India, was once the biggest state of
the country by area. The state got its current shape on 1st November 2000,
following its bifurcation to create the new state of Chhattisgarh. Due to
its location in the centre of India, Madhya Pradesh has faced the historic
currents from all arounf - north, south, east and west. Experts believe that
Madhya Pradesh occupies the oldest part of the Indian subcontinent and is
also one of the earliest dwellings of human beings.
Madhya Pradesh is surrounded by five Indian states, to the north by
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to the south by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh,
to the west by Rajasthan and Gujarat. The state with a population of
60,385,118 covers an area of 308,144 sq. kms. Majority of the population is
contributed by Hindus (90%), Muslims are around 6% and rest are Christians,
Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Hindi is the main language of the state, apart
from it, several other regional languages are spoken.
Madhya Pradesh is bestowed with natural jewels like rich and diverse forest
areas, a number of nature preserves including Bagh Caves, Chambal and
Panchmarhi, wildlife sanctuaries and parks like the world famous Kanha
National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park and rivers including Narmada,
Sone, Tapti, Chambal, Mahanadi, Betwa, Indrawati and Shipra.
Apart from these, Madhya Pradesh is home to several magnificent forts,
palaces and monuments which are known for their architecture or scenic
beauty. Moreover, three ancient sites in the state have been designated as
UNSECO World Heritage sites such as the Khajuraho Group of Temples, Buddhist
Stupas at Sanchi and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.
Madhya Pradesh - History
Madhya Pradesh has an old history which dates back to pre-Christ era, to
the time of Ashoka, the great Buddhist emperor whose Mauryan empire was
powerful in Malwa. The Mauryas were followed by the Sungas who were replaced
by the Guptas. In the 4th century A.D, the Guptas came to Madhya Pradesh and
the emergence of golden era of Indian history took place. With the decline
of power, the Guptas lost the kingdom to Huns. In the first half of the 7th
century, Harshvardhan ruled over Madhya Pradesh.
In the 9th century, the Chandelas came into power who left behind hundreds
of unparalleled temples and monuments at Khajuraho. In the 10th century
during the Chandela regime, several small kingdoms also came into existence
namely - the Kachhwaha in Gwalior, Kalchuri in Narmada Valley and Parmar
kings throughout the west. After the fall of Chandelas the Pratihara and
Gaharwar Rajput dynasties occupied the kingdom. Parmars are remembered for
Raja Bhoj, who gave his name to the city of Bhopal.
Further, the historical scenario underwent continuous changes as the
invaders attacked Madhya Pradesh again and again. A series of war were
fought between the Hindu kings and Muslim rulers. In the 11th century,
Gwalior and its surrounding areas went under Muslim control and in the 13th
century Malwa was captured by the Khiljis. In the middle of the 16th
century, Mughal Emperor Akbar took over the control of this region.
With the decline of the Mughals, the Marathas came into power. During their
rule, the Marathas extended their empire from Chambal to Narmada, by
guerrilla warfare under the supervision of great warrior Shivaji. But after
the death of Scindia Madhoji of Gwalior, Maratha empire broke into places
and various independent states came into being.
Next, the Marathas were replaced by the British in 1817-18, who took
control of the Sangor Nerbudda. The British expanded their area in 1860 and
created the Central Province, with their central office at Nagpur and summer
office at Panchmarhi. In post-independent India, Barer was added with
British Central Province. The independent states of the British era were
also merged with the Central Province and renamed as Madhya Pradesh on 1st
November, 1956.
Madhya
Pradesh - Tourist Destinations
Blessed with pristine natural beauty, Madhya Pradesh offers several awesome
surprises like the picturesque mountain ranges, meandering rivers and lakes,
wildlife sanctuaries and endless miles of dense forests. In addition, the
exquisite forts, palaces and monuments still narrates the tales of their
glorious past. Madhya Pradesh, the cultural and religious hub of Hinduism,
Buddhism, Islam and Jainism, boasts of a rich folk culture, holy pilgrimage
centers and interesting tribal traditions. The colourful people of the state
celebrate several fairs and festival with a riot of colour and song. Some of
the famous tourist destinations of Madhya Pradesh include
Bhopal,
Gwalior,
Khajuraho,
Indore,
Orchha,
and Jabalpur.
Madhya Pradesh - Temples
Madhya
Pradesh is renowned for its temple art and architecture and the temples in
the state deserve a visit. Even today, after several years of their
construction, the temples of Madhya Pradesh will not fail to amaze you with
their picturesque beauty and charm.
Khajuraho Temples
are excellent example of outstanding human creativity in the form of
sculptures. Apart from Khajuraho temples, Madhya Pradesh has several other
temples namely - Omkareshwar Temple, Neelkanteswara Temple, Mahakaleshwar
Temple, Orcha Temple, Sanchi Stupas, Teli Ka Mandir, Satianusuya Temple,
Badeganeshji Ka Mandir, Deogarh Temple and Bhojeshwar Temple.
Madhya Pradesh - Forts & Monuments
In olden days, Madhya Pradesh was ruled by several rulers, who built a
number of forts as a part of defence mechanism to keep their enemy at bay.
Now, those rulers are no more, but we can still see several forts in
different cities and towns of Madhya Pradesh. Each fort is unique in its
architecture and offers its own distinctive charm. Most of the forts in
Madhya Pradesh have magnificent temples and monuments. Some of the popular
forts and monuments are Gwalior Fort, Bandhavgarh Fort, Chanderi Fort, Madan
Mohan Fort, Sanchi Stupas,
Khajuraho Temples,
Jehangir Mahal, Jahaz Mahal, Hathi Mahal, Dil Ka Mahal, Raj Mahal, Hindola
Mahal, Man Mandir Palace, Jai Vilas Palace, Lal Baag Palace and George
Castle.
Madhya Pradesh - Wildlife
With one-third of its land area covered with forests, Madhya Pradesh offers
a unique and wonderful panaroma of wildlife. Madhya Pradesh has 9 National
Parks and 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries, spread over an area of 10,862 sq. kms. In
this true haven for wildlife, you can see more than hundred bird species and
wild animals like the Tigers, Spotted Deer, Barasingha, Sloth bear,
Blue-Bull and Gaur roaming freely. Kanha National Park was one of India’s
first nine Protected Areas selected under Project Tiger. Apart from Kanha,
Madhya Pradesh has other four Project Tiger areas namely - Panna,
Bandhavgarh, Pench and Satpura. Most popular wildlife parks are
Kanha National Park and
Bandhavgarh National Park.
Madhya Pradesh - Resorts
Of course, the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho, lure millions of tourists to
Madhya Pradesh from across the world, but the state is also known for many
other attractions. For the tourists visiting the state, Madhya Pradesh
offers plenty of resorts which provide world class facilities to guests.
Prominent resorts of Madhya Pradesh are
Tiger's Den Resort,
Tiger
Trail's Safari Lodge,
Nature
Heritage Resort,
Ken River Lodge,
Lawania Jungle
Resort and
Jass
Trident Hotel.
Madhya Pradesh - Arts & Culture
Because of its central location, Madhya Pradesh has derived the cultural
elements from different parts of the country. Boasting of a rich art and
cultural heritage, Madhya Pradesh offers a unique charm which attracts the
attention of visitors. In this beautiful land of contrasting variety, arts
and crafts provide a fine glimpse of master craftsmanship. Handicraft items
like delicately woven silk or cotton blended sarees, block printed fabrics,
stuffed leather toys, folk paintings, woodcraft, stonecraft, ironcraft,
metalcraft, terra-cotta, pappier mache, gold thread embroidery, ornaments
etc. are enough to sweep you off your feet in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh is home to around 40% of India’s aboriginal tribes,
like the Bhils, the Baigas, the Maria and the Murias. Culturally, Madhya
Pradesh is India’s one of the most happening places, where a stage
play, a dance festival or a poetry recital always keeps on happening.
Madhya Pradesh - Cuisine
Madhya Pradesh is not confined to a particular type of cuisine, in fact,
the cuisine in the state varies from region to region. The southern and
eastern parts are rice and fish dominated, while the people in north and
west like wheat and meat based cuisine. Milk and milk-based preparations are
more commonly used in Gwalior and Indore. Apart from these, the people of
Madhya Pradesh are also fond of sweets and namkeens. Some of the specialties
which will pamper your taste-buds include Kusli, Lassi (Buttermilk), Lavang
Lata, Cashew Barfi, Jalebi, Khurma, Shikanji, Sabudana ki Khichadi, Moong
Dal Ka Halwa and meat products like spicy Rogan Josh, Korma, Keema, Biryani
and Kababs.
Madhya Pradesh -Fairs & Festivals
Almost all the religious festivals of the Hindus, Muslims and other
religions are celebrated in Madhya Pradesh with great enthusiasm. Apart from
these, the tribal fairs and festivals of Madhya Pradesh are major
attraction. Tribal fairs and festivals are a celebration of the ethnic
lifestyles of the colurful tribes of the state. Among the tribal festivals,
the Jhabua festival is marked by interesting revelry, drinking bouts and
exhilarating entertainment like cock-fighting, dancing, music etc. In
addition to tribal festivals, cultural festivals are also celebrated in the
state, popular among them are Khajuraho Dance Festival and Tansen Music
Festival in Gwalior.
Madhya Pradesh - Hill Stations
Panchmarhi, the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh, attracts large number
of tourists every year. Situated at an altitude of 1,067 metres, Panchmarhi
is flanked by the lofty peaks of the famous Satpura range. With a landscape
characterized by rugged hills, thick forest and deep ravines, Panchmarhi
offers a visual treat for you. Amongst the major attractions of Panchmarhi
are the fantastic views at the time of dusk and dawn, which will leave you
completely spellbound. Other nearby attractions are Bee Falls, Chauragarh
Dhupgarh, Jatashankar, Mahadev cave, Pandav caves and Tamiya.
Madhya Pradesh - Shopping
Madhya Pradesh, a land of crafts and craftsmen, promises you an exciting
shopping experience. In fact, when you visit the state, you can’t
return without doing some shopping. Madhya Pradesh is known for its textile
products and traditional handicraft items. You can shop in a government
Emporia, named as Mriganayani, or head for the bustling streets and narrow
lanes for shopping in Madhya Pradesh. Specialty of Madhya Pradesh include
Zari work, Zardozi embroidery on lehengas and sarees, Beaded Purses, Iron
Craft & Metalcraft, Carpets, Folk Paintings, Silver and Brassware,
Stuffed Leather and Velvet Toys, Jute Crafts, Bamboo work, Cane work and
Wood work.
Climate
Madhya Pradesh boasts of a typical tropical climate. Summers are hot and
humid in most of the regions, while the winters are cool and comfortable.
Summer season spreads from April to June, when the maximum temperature soars
up to 44°C at certain places. Monsoon arrives the state in late June
and remains till September, with the average rainfall of 1000m to 2000m.
Winter begins in late November and reaches to its peak in the month of
December and January. During winters the temperature varies between 27°C
to 10°C.
Best Time to Visit
November to February
Madhya Pradesh - Transportation
Airlines: Madhya Pradesh is well-linked by airways with
major cities of India. Several airports are located within the state, major
ones are Bhopal, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Indore and Jabalpur. A number of public
and private airlines operate frequent flights from important places of India
to the airports of state.
Railways: Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh is the
main rail head of the state. A number of important trains connect Bhopal
with the other cities of the state and rest of the country.
Roadways: Good network of National Highways and State
Highways connect the cities and towns of Madhya Pradesh with other cities
and towns of India. Bhopal is the ideal base to visit Madhya Pradesh as most
of the tourist destinations are located at a convenient distance from the
town.
