Madhya Pradesh

“Hindustan ka dil”, meaning the Heart of India, is the name given to Madhya Pradesh due to its geographical location and its kaleidoscopic nature. It is the second largest state in the country in terms of area, with the capital city as Bhopal and the largest city as Indore. The state is a home to large tribal population. However, due to its enormous treasure of places to visit, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations.

The most famous pat of the state is the town of Chanderi. It is known not just for its scenic beauty in an around it, but also the pleasant beauty of the hills, lakes and forts that surround this town. The term Chanderi in itself is enough to trigger the words "Chanderi saris". These saris are mostly created out of pure silk and are known all over the globe for their intricate art of embellishing silk and cotton fabric with zari weaving.

The state of Madhya Pradesh is known to be the most desired tourist destination for the travelers. Its major attractions include forts, national parks, temples and world heritage sites. Some of them are the Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Bade Ganeshji ka mandir, The Gwalior fort, among others. 

The capital city of Bhopal is also known as the "City of Lakes". The city is made by two very beautiful lakes located in the centre of the city. Divided into two parts, the North of the city comprises of mosques, chowks, exotic havelis and crowded bazaars. Similarly, on the South, the city moves towards modernity by introducing us to the plush hotels and upmarket shopping complexes with wide roads. The Khajuraho group of monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples. They are not just a symbol of beauty but the temples also depict the nagar-style architectural symbolism. Considered as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, the beautifully carved sculptures depict every aspect of human life.

The town of Sanchi is identified with the Buddhist Stupas which are the hemispherical structures that contain relics of the Budhha and his followers. King Ashoka had ordered to make these Stupas of Sanchi to spread the Buddhist philosophy. The various stupas, temples, monasteries and an Ashokan pillar have been the calling for global audiences as well as the national. Even UNESCO has given the status of a World Heritage Site to the Mahastupa. 

"Satpura ki Rani" is another name given to Pachmarhi, the hill station situated at 1100m sits among nature and history as it attracts tourism from all over. Discovered by Captain James Forsyth in 1857, it is considered to be the most popular hill station in Madhya Pradesh that holds a treasure of ancient caves of the Buddhist era as they reside in harmony among the waterfalls. Kanha national park, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Ujjain, Jabalpurare other must visit tourist locations to experience Madhya Pradesh.

The diverse nature of Madhya Pradesh boasts of natural beauty and habitation which also draws many people to it. From free flowing rivers, to mountain ranges to thick forests with a heaven for the wildlife, Madhya Pradesh offers it all. It's not just the forts, monuments and temples that draws visitors, but also the wildlife in Madhya Pradesh.

Amongst the Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh, the Kanha National Park is the most sought after destinations. The rolling grasslands, the sal and bamboo forests and the streams at Kanha, all attract a lot of visitors. The Kanha Tiger Reserve is a major attraction as it not just has tigers but also provides habitation for the rare hardground Barasingha.

The Bandhavgarh National Park is also a major tourist destination when it comes to wildlife. It is known for the high density of tiger population in India. One can also catch a glimpse of rare birds and other animals that have found a place to settle here.

The Panna National Park is another popular wildlife destination. The major attraction of this park is the Ken River that adds to its beauty. The most popular species tourists can get to see here are the Chinkara, the Chital and the Indian gazelle. Some other species that are found here include the Sambar, Nilgai, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Sloth Bear, Leopard, striped Hyaena, common Langur, Tiger, Jackal, Blackbuck, Wild Boar, Jungle Cat. Crocodile and others.

 

Vibrant Festivals

There are many fairs and festivals that are observed in Madhya Pradesh all year round. Being a tribal state in itself, the tribal fairs and festival are celebrated eagerly here. Jhabua and Bastar are two places in Madhya Pradesh that are known for the festivities and various kinds of entertainments such as cock fighting, candid dancing etc.

 

The cultural festivals of Madhya Pradesh are also very popular. Festivals such as the Khajuraho Festival of Dances, the Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior, hold a significant place in the cultural festival celebrations. The Malwa Utsav is one of the biggest, largest and the most spectacular events of the state. Dance and music are an integral part of the festival which his celebrated in Indore and Ujjain.

 

The Ujjain Khumbh mela is a festival that is a part of the Khumb Mela which is organized four times in every twelve years in the four Indian cities of Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. This festival celebrated and victory of good in the battle against the evil.

 

The Tansen Music Festival is a platform that provides musicians a stage to turn music into magic for a period of four days. Considered as the oldest and one of the finest music festivals in India, the festival is a tribute to Tansen, the great legendary musical maestro. The festival produces some soulful rhythms of classical and folk music and also serves as a platform of opportunity for new and upcoming singers.

 

The Bhagoria Haat festival is a festival celebrated by the tribal people of the state. It is one of a kind festival where the young boys and girls choose their life partners. The main highlight of the festival is that if a boy and girl put red powder on their partner’s face, it means they like each other.

 

Mouth-watering cuisine

Madhya Pradesh is known for its different kinds of cuisines. It presents you with mouth watering dishes that come from different cultures. Some popular food items of Madhya Pradesh are Kusli, lndori puri palak ki, kebabs and biryanis. It is said that as seasons change, with them so do the cuisines. The taste an essence of the dishes here are incomparable.

 

The food from the State differs with every region. It offers delicacies from both vegetarian as well the non-vegetarian cuisines. The capital city of Bhopal is known for its spicy kebabs, korma, biryani, fish, meat and keema while the cities of lndore and Gwalior gives an opportunity to experience the delicacies made

out of milk. Bafla is one such delicacy that is prepared from wheat and serves with ghee and daal. Vegetarians can treat themselves to dishes like Bhutte ki kees that is mainly prepared from milk and corn along with other ingredients.

 

The city of lndore is the street capital of India. As the sun starts setting, the streets come alive with all kinds of delicacies. Mostly known for its snacks, Shiltanji, Badam Milk, Sabudana Khichdi and Garuda chaat are the famous dishes to name a few.

 

The State also has something to offer for the taste-buds of people who love to eat non-vegetarian food. The spicy rogan josh is a delight to eat and so are the korma, seekh kebab and the shami kebab. All these dishes bring out the Nawabi flavour and its influence on the state and form an integral part of every food lover's delight.

 

The various cultures of Madhya Pradesh can be experienced through the various cuisines. They not only deliver an unforgettable taste but leave you asking for more. Due to its location, one can see an influence of the neighboring states on the cuisine.

 

The other main tourist sites of the state account for a good amount of domestic and international tourists. To increase tourism in the state, the State has brought up a new tourism policy that focuses on eco-tourism. Although the same is still to be implemented, the success of this policy depends on the investment by the private sector.

 

Over time, there has been a keen focus on increasing the tourism of the state through various means. The growth is slow and static and thus by implementation of these measures, the government hopes in achieving a reasonable amount of economlc growth through tourism activity. Some of the measures include building a tourism friendly image. Their campaigns such as "Hindustan ka dil" and "MP mein dil hua bache sa" (current campaign), are directed towards connecting with the audience on an emotional level.