Location :
Madhya Pradesh
Capital :
Bhopal
Tourist
Attractions : Bhopal,
Sanchi, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Ujjain,
Indore and Mundu
Best Time
To Visit : October to
March. |
Tourism in
Madhya Pradesh
At the heart of India, the magic of Madhya
Pradesh lies in its exquisitely carved
temples, proud fortresses and variety of
wildlife. Most of the state is a high
plateau, historically known as the Malwa
region. Home to many pre-Aryan tribes such
as the Gonds and Bhils, Madhya Pradesh is
still overwhelmingly Indo-Aryan with the
majority of the people speaking Hindi.
Besides, Gwalior city, MP's other
attractions are: Udaygiri, an excursion from
Bhopal, with notable cave sculptures of
religious themes, the medieval city of
Orchha with exquisite palaces and cenotaphs,
the Khajuraho temples, cave paintings at
Bhimbetka , Sanchi , unmatched repository of
Buddhist art and architecture, the city of
love, Mandu .
Capital: Bhopal,
the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a
fascinating amalgam of an old historic city,
and modern urban planning. It is situated on
the 11th century city, Bhojapal, founded by
Raja Bhoja but the present city was
established by an Afghan soldier, Dost
Mohammed. Today it presents a multi-faceted
profile: the old city with its marketplaces
and fine old mosques and palaces still bears
the aristocratic imprint of its former
rulers, among them the succession of
powerful Begums who ruled Bhopal from 1819
to 1926. Equally impressive is the new city
with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks
and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined
modern edifices.
History:
The history of Madhya Pradesh goes back to
the time of Ashoka, the great Mauryan ruler.
To the Chandelas, however, goes the credit
of building the fantastic monuments of Eros,
Khajuraho, in the north of the state.
Between 12th and 16th centuries, the region
saw continuing struggles between Hindu and
Muslim rulers and invaders. The fortified
city of Mandu in the southwest, was the
scene of frequent battles. Madhya Pradesh
finally fell to the Mughals.
Culture:
The state's cultural lineage is ancient and
checkered. Madhya Pradesh occupies a special
position in the history of music. The
Gwalior gharana is among the most prominent
arbiters of style. The rivalry of Tansen and
Baiju Bawra is remembered in fantastic
detail to this day. In modern times, the
revival of north Indian classical music was
accomplished by the legendary Ustad Allaudin
Khan, guru of famous sitarist Pt. Ravi
Shankar and sarod player Ali Akbar Khan. MP
also has a rich tribal culture: the
bison-horn dance of the Muria tribe in
Madhya Pradesh is a dynamic interpretation
of nature's mating season.
The People:
Hindus form the majority of the population,
but there are significant minorities of
Muslims, Jains, Christians, and Buddhists
and a small population of Sikhs. Hindi is
the official and most widely spoken
language; tribal languages include Bhili and
Goni, as well as eastern and western Hindi
dialects. The second most important common
language is Marathi. Agriculture dominates
the Madhya Pradesh economy. MP is also
famous for its sari weaving, embroidery and
beadwork
Tribals:
A number of tribes occupy Madhya
Pradesh, including the Bhil, Baiga, Gon,
Korku, Kamar, Kol, and Maria. Many of the
tribal traditions are still vital and
strong, although they have been exposed to
outside cultural influences. A great deal of
tribal mythology and folklore is also
preserved; e.g., the Gon bards still sing of
the legendary deeds of Ling-pen, the
mythical originator of the tribe. All tribes
retain myths and legends regarding their
origins, and they have songs for the
ceremonies of birth and marriage, together
with folktales, riddles, and proverbs
illustrating their cultural heritage.
CLIMATE:
The climate is monsoonal, with much of the
rain falling from June to October. The
March-to-May season is hot and dry, and
temperatures everywhere are higher than 29º
C. Winters are usually pleasant and dry.
Generally, rainfall decreases westward and
northward; in the east and southeast it
averages 60 inches or more, dropping to 40
inches or less in the west and less than 30
inches in the Chambal River valley to the
north. Best time to visit: September to
February.
Population:
74 million
Festivals:
Khajuraho dance festival in March; Navaratri
in Sept/Oct; The Malwa festival in Indore,
Mandu and Ujjain and the Panchmarhi
festival.
Tourist Offices:
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development
Corporation Ltd., 4th floor, Gangotri,
T.T.Nagar, Bhopal-462003.
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development
Corporation Ltd., C\O Hotel Tansen, 6,
Gandhi Road, Gwalior. T
Government of India Tourist Office, Opp.
Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho -
471606.
Regional Office, MPSTDC, Tourist Bungalow
Complex, Khajuraho.
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development
Corporation Ltd., 74, World Trade Centre,
Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Bombay-400005.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Barua Sagar
Panchmarhi
Kanha park
Bandhavgarh park
Udaygiri
Mandu
Sanchi
Shivpuri
Videsha
Jahaz Mahal
Raj Mahal
Jai Vilas Palace
Asharfi Mahal
Hindola Mahal
Marble Rocks
Deogarh
Pench National Park
CITIES & TOWNS
Bhimbetka
Bhopal
Bhojpur
Gwalior
Jhansi
Khajuraho
Indore
Ujjain
Omkareshwar
Maheshwar
Jabalpur
Bhedaghat
Orchha
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India
Travel Guide / States / Madhya Pradesh Travel Guide
