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Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh, famously referred to as the “Heart of India”, is a state situated in the central part of India and bordered by the State of Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Chattisgarh to the southeast, Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat to the southeast, and Rajasthan to the northwest. It is the second largest state of India, covering an area of about 308,252 square kilometers. There are 52 districts distributed within 10 divisions namely Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Narmadapuram, Chambal, Sagar and Shahdol. Indore is the largest city of Madhya Pradesh while Bhopal is the capital here and situated in the west-central part of the state. 

Seven cities (Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna and Sagar) of this state have been selected under Smart cities mission. 

Hindi is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. Besides Hindi, every region has its own dialect and language spoken is Malvi, Bundeli, Nimadi, Bagheli, Gondi, etc.

According to the remains of Homo erectus found in the Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh might have been inhabited in the Middle Pleistocene era. The region was ruled by the various powerful dynasties such as Nanda, Maurya, and Gupta. The medieval period saw the rise of Rajput clans including the Chandela and Paramara. The Chandellas constructed the majestic temples at Khajuraho, which represent the culmination of Hindu temple architecture in Central India.  In the modern period Madhya Pradesh moved from the hands of the Muslim rulers to Maratha Empire, and later to the British Empire.

When India became independent in 1947, the new states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal were formed out of the Central India Agency. In 1950, the former British Central Provinces and Berar and the princely states of Makrai and Chhattisgarh were integrated to create Madhya Pradesh, with Nagpur as the capital of the state. With the States Reorganization Act of 1956, the states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh, and the southern Marathi-speaking districts of Madhya Pradesh to the Bombay state (now in Maharashtra).  In Nov 2000, as part of the Madhya Pradesh reorganization Act, the Southeastern portion of the state separated to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.

The heart of India, Madhya Pradesh is bestowed with two of the twelve Jyotirlingas (Mahakaleshwar and Omkaleshwar), three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986), Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003), and a city which hosts Kumbh Mela after every twelve years.

Madhya Pradesh has unique and multifaceted culture. It conjoins people belonging to different religions, castes and communities, which truly reflect the concept of Indian secularism.  The state has three distinct tribal groups, namely Bhils, Gonds and Oraons. The traditional dress for men is dhoti; mirzai and bandi which is type of jackets; and Safa which a kind of turban. The traditional dress for women is lehanga-choli where lehanga is long skirt and choli is its top blouse with differed styple of odhni. Kathir and silver ornaments are worn by people of Madhya Pradesh over traditional dresses. Tattoo is another important element of traditional clothing that can be seen on hands and foreheads of the rural and tribal communities. The dress of urban Madhya Pradesh is similar to other parts of India, men can be seen wearing shirts and pants and women wear saree or salwar suits.

The major traditional dances of Madhya Pradesh are Karma, Ahiri, Baredi or Yadav Dance, Kaksar, Saila, Sugga, Rai, Naurata and Bhagoria. The state is noted for its classical and folk music. Dhankul, Gooning, Relo, Leja, Chait Parah music is common among people of Madhya Pradesh and often accompanied by musical instruments like flute and harmonium.

The cuisine of Madhya Pradesh varies from region to region; each region has its own cultural and historical legacy. Some of the popular traditional dishes of the state are kusli, lavang lata, jalebi, malpua, pilaf with peas, palak puri, daal baflas, seekh kebabs, bhutte ka kees, biryani, Bhopali gosht korma.

Apart from national festivals, Madhya Pradesh hosts various cultural and heritage events that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world and gives travellers a whole new experience, making their trip memorable. Some of the events are Tansen Samaroh (classical Music), Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh, Lokrang Festival, Ujjain Kumbh Mela, Malwa Festival, Pachmarhi Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival and Gwalior Trade fair (introduced in 2012).

Some of the events are Tansen Samaroh (classical Music), Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh, Lokrang Festival, Ujjain Kumbh Mela, Malwa Festival, Pachmarhi Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival and Gwalior Trade fair (introduced in 2012).

Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) is the state animal, dudhraj (Indian paradise flycatcher) is the state bird and Medonna lily (Lilium candidum) is the state flower of Madhya Pradesh.

The exotic land is a mixture of rich history, heritage, Nature, awe inspiring art, spirituality, wildlife, museums and much more. The state has 9 National Parks, 6 Tiger Reserves and 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries, of which the best known are Bandhavgarh National Park for white tiger; Kanha National Park for barasingha; Madhav National Park for bird sanctuary; and the National Chambal Sanctuary for river dolphin, gharial, crocodiles and various large terrestrial animals.

Gwalior, Khajuraho, Orchha, Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar, Sanchi, pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Bhimbetka are some of the famous destinations in Madhya Pradesh for domestic and foreign tourists. There are also options for amazing adventure activities like Zip-lining, Trekking, Mountain climbing, Parasailing, River rafting, camping, and Wildlife Safari for adventurous lovers to add more memories to their Madhya Pradesh tour.

TOUR PACKAGES OF MADHYA PRADESH

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