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TRAVEL MADHYA PRADESH IN INDIA

Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India as the name suggests 'Madhya' means centre and 'Pradesh' means state, is a land interspersed with the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges along with the deep valley of rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea on the west coast of India and Bay of Bengal on the East coast of India. Be it heritage, culture, history or wildlife, name it and the 'Tiger State' has it all with numerous monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces reminding us of the glory and richness of the Indian history. Madhya Pradesh in India is a state rich in flora, fauna and wild life with its forest reserves sheltering a lot of endangered species in their natural habitat. Madhya Pradesh is home to several National Parks, including 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, and Pench National Park.

Madhya Pradesh is a comprehensive picture of the culture and heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam owing to its geographically humongous size and a history which spreads over centuries. Several cities in Madhya Pradesh are extraordinary for their architecture and or scenic beauty. Three sites in Madhya Pradesh have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: the Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) including Devi Jagadambi temple, Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003). Other architecturally significant or scenic sites include Ujjain, Sanchi with ancient Buddhist movements, Bhopal the lake side capital city, the city with beautiful forts, i.e., Gwalior, Panchmashi, the hill station, and Amarkantak, the source of the Sai and Narmada rivers. This mystic land of Madhya Pradesh in India, rightly called as the land of the kings and tribals, till date preserves the culture of the aboriginal tribes like Bhils, Murias, Baigas and Marias at its best.

Bandhavgarh National Park
set amongst the vindhya ranges, is located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh in India. The national park is named after the most prominent and ancient hillock of the area 'Bandhavgarh Fort', which was said to have been given by Lord Rama to his younger brother Laxman to keep a watch on Lanka, that's why Bandhav meaning brother and Garh meaning fort and hence Bandhavgarh. Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh in India is the smallest national park with the highest density of population of tigers. This is also known as the white tiger country and in the year 1951 Mohan was the last white tiger captured by Maharaja martand Singh and is now stuffed and displayed in the palace of Maharaja of Rewa. North India's most deciduous forests around Bandhavgarh had been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve, of the Maharajas of Rewa and their guests prior to becoming a national park in 1968 and since then, numerous steps have been taken to retain Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt natural habitat. With the formation of the Wildlife Protectio Act of 1972 and Project Tiger, bent to save the Tigers in their wilderness and Wildlife, it was realized that the area of 105 sq. km of prime Bandhavgarh habitat was not enough for preservation and protection of wildlife so in 1982, three more ranges namely, Khitauli, Magdhi and Kallawah were added to Tala range (the original Bandhavgarh National Park) to extend the area of Bandhavgarh to 448 sq. km.

There are 39 caves scattered throughout the park and around the Bandhavgarh fort, aging back the 1st to the 10th century carrying inscriptions in Brahmi script, serve as a nursery and shelter to the cubs of the tigers during a time when they are at their most vulnerable hence Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tiger population. The biggest attraction of Bandhavgarh is the tiger and its sightings which go with this saying about the park "In any other Park, You are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see (at least) one." Bandhavgarh houses 37 species of mammals, more than 250 species of birds, about 70 species of butterflies, a number of reptiles. The commonly visible species are the great Gaur or Bison, Sambar, Barking Deer and Nilgai although the richness and tranquility of grasslands also invites pairs of Sarus Cranes to breed in the rainy season.

Kanha National Park
a true haven for its wildlife and an irresistable attraction for all the wildlife addicts, streaches over 940 sq.km of natural splendour in Madhya Pradesh in India. Kanha gets its name from Kanhar, the local term for the clayey soil in the valley bottoms, or from Kanya, a holy man who once lived I this forest village. The description of the forest and wildlife in Kipling's Jungle Book matches the present day Kanha National Park to the core details. Ever since the creation of Kanha Tiger Reserve in the year 1974, numerous stringent conservation programmes have come into force and have given Kanha its reputation for being one of the finest and best administered National Parks in Asia The visitors to the Kanha National Park are well educated by the park authorities and the guides about the park, the creatures living there in their natural habitats and how different species interact with each other and their environment. Kanha is not only the habitat of Tigers but also one of the rarest hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).

Sanchi
located 46 km from Bhopal in the heart of the state of Madhya Pradesh in India, is a small village famous for its stupar, monastries, pillars and temples dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous monument is the 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi which was built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, one of the biggest followers and preacher of Buddhism, and is presently designated as World Heritage site. Even though the structures here are made of stone but they are constructed in the manner of wood. The gateways are covered with narrative sculptures and show scenes from the life of the Buddha integrated with everyday events that would be familiar to the onlookers and make it easier for them to understand the Buddhist creed as relevant and close to their lives. The stupas at Sanchi were made from the money donated by the local people to attain spiritual merit which gave them a lievage to select the favourite scene from the life of Lord Buddha and have their names inscribed on it. This reason also accounts for the rando repitition of particular scenes on the Stupa. These Buddhist sites are the finest specimens of early classical art in India which form the seedbed for the entire vocabulary of later Indian art.

Bhopal
originally called 'Bhojpal' is named after his founder King Bhoj (1000-1055 AD) of Parmara i.e. Bhoj from his name and Pal from the dam he constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal, is a multi-faceted capital city of Madhya Pradesh in India with its old city still bearing the aristocratic imprints on the market places, forts and mosques and on the other hand the new city is very impressive with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. Bhopal carries the abstruseness, the discord, the charm and the dynamism of a city where the past coexists in harmony with the present. Bhopal is cleaner and greener than a lot of cities in India and its two lakes are still the nucleus of the city. The forts and mosques of Bhopal are testimony to the grandeur of past and provide a marvelous treat to the eyes and depict the different cultures which existed in the past.

Gwalior
122 km from Agra, a city in Madhya Pradesh in India, is a cradle of multitude of dynasties which gained new dimensions from warrior kings, poets, musicians and saints right here and left their imprints in the culture of Gwalior. The magnificent momentoes of a glorious past of the Pratiharas, Kacchwahas and Tomars have been preserved with care, giving Gwalior a unique and timeless appeal. Gwalior is an ancient seat of Jain worship visible in the remains at Gwalior in form of hundreds of caves or rock-cut sculptures, excavated in the rock on all sides. Gwalior fort is one of the most formidable fortresses in India. The palace of Maharaja Man Singh of 15th century is a very interesting and classy Hindu work in the Gwalior Fort in India. In 1516, the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan added palaces to this Fort area and in 1897 it also became a home to the Scindia School, a well regarded institution founded by the late Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior. The latest addition to this fort has been a Sikh Gurudwara. Gwalior is also blessed with a classical music maestro Miya Tansen whose anniversary is celebrated as Tansen Samaroh every year for three days with outstanding performances of classical music stars.

Khajuraho
designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, is the largest group of medival temples in Madhya Pradesh in India famous for their erotic sculptures.Khajuraho temples, built from 950 to 1050 AD by Maharaja Chadravarman of Chandela dynasty, were originally 80 Hindu temples and today 22 of the remaining temples constitute one of the world's greatest artistic wonders revealing human passions at its best. The Khajuraho temple complex of Madhya Pradesh in India, enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each flanked by two golden palm trees, is the finest example of Indian architectural styles that has gained popularity due to its salacious depiction of the traditional way of life during medieval times. Khajuraho temples have attained the glory of Himalayan peaks in the world credited to their sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today. Khajuraho temples adhere to north Indian shikhara temple style and Panchayatana plan of four subordinate shrines on four corners and the main shrine in the center of the podium, which comprises their base or layout. A few of the temples are dedicated to the Jain pantheon and the rest to Hindu deities - to God's Trio, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and various Devi forms, such as the Devi Jagadambi temple.

Shivpuri
summer capital of the Scindia's of Gwalior is a nature's heaven of luxuriant forests and undulating hills in the beautiful state of Madya Pradesh in India. The dense forests of Shivpuri were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors when great herds of elephants were captured by Emperor Akbar. Later the tigers roamed the wooded hills and many magnificent beasts were 'bagged' by royal Shikaris. Today Shivpuri is a sanctuary for rare wildlife and avifauna. Its royal past has thus been transformed into a vibrant, hopeful present. Shivpuri's royal ambience still lives on in the exquisite palaces and hunting lodges and graceful, intricately embellished marble Chhatris (cenotaphs) erected by the Scindia rulers.

Chitrakoot
'the hill of many wonders', nestles peacefully in the northern spurs of the Vindhyas of Madhya Pradesh in India, is a place of tranquil forest glades and quiet rivers, and streams where calm and repose are all pervading. This loveliest of nature's gifts is also hallowed ground, blessed by the gods and sanctified by the faith of pilgrims. For Chitrakoot's spiritual legacy stretches back to legendary ages: it was in these deep forests that Rama and Sita spent eleven of their fourteen years of exile; here, that the great sage Atri and Sati Anusuya meditated; and here where the principal trinity of the Hindu pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, took their incarnations. Through the time in memorial sufferers and seekers, poets and visionaries, princes and noblemen have sought and found solace in Chitrakoot, drawn inspiration from its sublime natural beauty, gained spiritual strength from its serene temples and, in turn, become part of the hallowed legend that is Chitrakoot.

Jabalpur
considered being a Sanskardhani, literally meaning a "cultural centerplace", is a city located in the Mahakoshal region in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. The numerous gorges in the neighboring rocks have been taken advantage of to surround the city with a series of lakes, which, shaded by fine trees and bordered by fantastic crags, add much beauty to the suburbs. The famous Bhedaghat waterfall, 20 km from Jabalpur, is also known as Dhuandhar (Dhuan meaning smoke) because the water droplets at the fall rise in a concentrated mass and create the illusion of vapours. Jabalpur is also famous for volcanic rock formations called the Balancing Rocks of Jabalpur and the old caves called Chausatyogini containing statues of ancient origin.

Orchha
founded in the 16th century by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap, is a town lying on the banks of River Betwa near Jhansi in Timkamgarh district of Madhya pradesh in India. Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone and frozen in time as a rich legacy to the ages. In this medieval city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries have retained much of their pristine perfection. Orchha possesses an imposing fort, dating from the early 17th century, which contains a number of palaces and other historic buildings. The most noteworthy of these are the Rajmandir, a massive square building with almost absolutely plain exterior; and the Jahangirmahal, of the same form but far more ornate, a singularly beautiful specimen of Hindu domestic architecture. Numerous cenotaphs dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa river. Elsewhere about the town exist fine temples and tombs, among which may be noticed the Chaturbhuj temple built on a vast platform of stone