About Madhya Pradesh State of India

Madhya Pradesh is divided into ten divisions which comprise fifty districts. Major agglomerations are Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Gwalior. These towns are also commercial hubs as well as major education centers.

Also known as MP, it is the second-largest state in India with a substantial population of tribal and migrants. Hindi is the most popularly spoken language besides English and regional languages. The Capital City is Bhopal which is close to Jabalpur and Indore. Indore is the commercial hub of the state with many manufacturing units in its industrial areas. It is also a major trading center.

Being rich in mineral wealth and forest cover the economy thrives on mining, manufacturing, trade, and commerce. The locals rely on minor forest produce as means of income.

After separation from Chattisgarh, the state retains an area of 308,252 km² and has a population of more than 74 million. The level of literacy is seventy percent plus. The gender ratio is 931 females to 1000 males and is going higher every year.

MP Geography

Political Madhya Pradesh

Tourism Destinations

Wildlife Safaris in Madhya Pradesh

Culture & History of MP

Madhya Pradesh is enveloped by two major plateaus namely the Vindhya and Satpura Ranges. The former lies in the North West while the latter runs Southeast. The two hill ranges converge at Amarkantak Hills which is also known as Maikal Range. The two ranges are heavily forested but remain fragmented in the present time.

Amarkantak Hills Ranges are the origin of the major river system called Narmada which flows from East to West. Lot many dams have been built on this river. The other river that originates from Amarkantak is the Son River which merges with the Ganges.

The tributaries of Narmada are Banjar, Denwa, Tawa, Machna, and the Sonbhardra rivers. The Vindhyas contain rivers that flow from the South to the North of India. These systems are Chambal, Shipra, Kali Sindh, Parbati, and Kuno; Sind, Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken. The eastern part of the Ganges basin consists of the Son, the Tons, and the Rihand rivers.

Plateaus and valleys which are branches of the Satpura and Vindhyan ranges are:

• Kaimur Plateau
• Narmada valley
• Wainganga valley
• Gird Region
• Bundelkhand
• Malwa Plateau
• Nimar Plateau
• Jhabua Hills
• Leeshiv

The soil types support good agricultural practices. The primary soil types are:
Black Soil (Malwa Region)

• Red Soil (Baghelkhand)
• Yellow Soil (Baghelkhand)
• Alluvial Soil Northern Madhya Pradesh
• Laterite Soil Central India Highlands
• Mixed Soil Gwalior & Chambal Division

The State is divided into districts with regions comprising political seats. Some of the seats are reserved for tribal, scheduled castes, women, and the rest are general. The Legislative Assembly comprises 230 seats. The members elect the Chief Minister who has executive powers while the constitution head is the Governor. Elections are held after a gap of five years

At present, the Chief Minister is Shivraj Singh Chauhan he belongs to Bharatiya Janta Party.

Madhya Pradesh also sends 11 representatives to Rajya Sabha and 29 representatives to Lok Sabha which governs the Center.

List of Divisions:

• Jabalpur
• Gwalior
• Bhopal
• Rewa
• Indore
• Ujjain
• Narmada Puram
• Shahdol
• Sagar
• Chambal

List of Districts:

• Raisen
• Rajgarh
• Sehore
• Vidisha
• Bhopal
• Bhind
• Seopur
• Morena
• Ashok Nagar
• Datia
• Seopuri
• Guna
• Gwalior
• Dhar
• Burhanpur
• Alirajpur
• Barwani
• Indore
• Khandwa
• Khargone
• Jhabua
• Balaghat
• Chhindwara
• Narsinghpur
• Jabalpur
• Mandla
• Katni
• Seoni
• Hoshangabad
• Harda
• Betul
• Singrauli
• Satna
• Rewa
• Tikamgarh
• Sidhi
• Damoh
• Sagar
• Panna
• Anuppur
• Umaria
• Shahdol
• Dindori
• Shajapur
• Mandsaur
• Neemuch
• Ratlam
• Ujjain
• Agar Malwa
• Dewas

Sprawled across the center, Madhya Pradesh is often called the heart of India. It is a State with unique characteristics, culture, and topography. The State excels in geographical beauty and is one of the greenest in the country.

Madhya Pradesh has a large forest cover besides other ecosystems like grassland and wetlands. It has a large expanse of rivers and lofty mountain ranges. The State is the beholder of the ancient history of kings and queens and the rich tribal culture. The ancient monuments in modern India excel as tourism destinations and elaborate the cultural wealth of the state.

In the case of historical monuments, Gwalior has much to offer. So do other cities like Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Indore. Palaces & Forts, Ancient Temples, Chattris, and many other architectural wonders enthrall the tourists.

Wildlife tourism is one that takes the cake. The world's most popular tiger reserves are found in MP. Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench are the best places to see tigers in the wild. Other places are Panna, Satpura, Madhav National Park, and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. These destinations are ideal for birding in MP as well.

Organized package tours in MP are the best means for sightseeing and wildlife safaris in the State. A large number of tourists visit Madhya Pradesh every year especially during the winter holidays and at the time of major festivals.

Some of the popular destinations are:

Pachmarhi: is situated atop the Satpura Mountain Range. The resort thrives on abundant biodiversity and natural formations. The verdant greenery and panoramic splendor are unparalleled by any place in India. The destination is also a wildlife sanctuary with home to many Central Indian Mammals and Birds. Along with Satpura and Bori, it constitutes Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. Summers are the best time to visit this Hill Station thanks to its cool climes. The way to reach is to arrive at Pipariya Station on Bhopal - Jabalpur rail line. From Pipayria the resort is a one-hour ride.

Khajuraho Temples: In the Chhattarpur District of Madhya Pradesh, there are ancient wonders carved out of hard sandstone rock. The temples were built by Chandela Kings in the 9th Century AD. As of now, 20 temples are left in good condition some contain erotic carvings on the outer walls. The town attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world to see the magnificent architecture of the erotic monuments. There are many hotels and luxury resorts for accommodation at Khajuraho. In order to reach one can take a direct train from New Delhi or Jhansi City in Uttar Pradesh. The temple town is well connected with New Delhi, Varanasi, and Mumbai by flight services.

Amarkantak Hills: The River Narmada originates from the hills of Amarkantak hence it is a major pilgrimage center for the Hindus. The destination has many temples and ashrams of the Gurus. It is also a biosphere reserve and encompasses Achanakmar Sanctuary as well.

Ujjain: Situated on the banks of River Shipra, the city is a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus. Famous Kumbh Mela (fair) is held here every year. One of the twelve Jyotirlinga sacred to Hindus resides here in Mahakaleshwar Temple.

Sanchi: The stupas are the most ancient stone structure in India and date back to 3 BCE. They are architectural wonders and house the relics of Buddha. There are a number of Buddhist monasteries worth visiting here.

Mandu: This ancient city is a romantic destination with a turbulent history of savage takeovers. The city is cordoned by twelve impressive gateways that have turned the destination into a fort city. The romantic tales of Baaz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati still echo in the ancient palaces and forts. The enigmatic ambiance of the resort makes it an ideal honeymoon location.

Shivpuri: This is a hill resort with pleasant surroundings. The destination is home to wild animals and birds at nearby Madhav National Park. Chand Patha Lake and George Castle are major attractions here.

Well known for its wildlife, MP holds a high population of Bengal tigers in India. They are conserved in protected areas designated as National Parks and Tiger Reserves. The State is rich in wildlife and is home to unique mammals, reptiles, and avian species. There are many places for wildlife watching. The best are in some of the newly introduced places such as Satpura National Park and Nauradehi WLS.

The most visited places for safaris in the State of Madhya Pradesh are:

• Kanha National Park MP
• Bandhavgarh National Park MP
• Pench National Park MP

These are the three tiger reserves that are hubs of tourism in Madhya Pradesh. The parks exhibit amazing biodiversity with immense floral wealth and wildlife. Tigers can be easily seen here on a safari. Other animals that are seen are bison, spotted deer, sambar, and wild dogs. Leopard and sloth bear are sighted with luck. The reserves are rich birding areas and offer magnificent sightings of forest species.

Among other places for safaris are Chambal River Sanctuary, Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, Panna Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Tiger Reserve, and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

The safaris in the parks are organized from 1st October to June 31st every year. Winters and summers offer the best chance to track the tiger in the wild. Elephant shows also increase the chance of big cat sightings.

In MP, a major impact on culture has arisen from cities like Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhopal, and Indore. The Gonds ruled these cities in earlier times, subsequently, many other dynasties occupied them. A notable impact on history and ancient architecture is seen in Gwalior, Mandu, Orchha, and Bhopal.

Other places that have significant history are Ujjain in Malwa and Vidisha. The State was subsequently brought under control by the British who defeated the Maratha Rulers who dominated in many provinces before being driven out.

The urban settlements were culturally prosperous throughout. Development in art was the key feature. Many small places also contributed to the cultural development of the State.

The tribal communities formed the bulk of artisans in the State. Even now artifacts crafted by these communities are much in vogue. The tribal culture is unique with customs and practices dating back to the Gondwana Land before the tectonic plate movement began.

Classical & Folk Music

Music was much patronized by the Maharajahs in the State. Maihar & Gwalior were at the forefront in the earlier days. Ustad Ala Uddin Khan was a renowned composer and musician guru of the Maihar Gharana.

The Gwalior Gharana produced many stalwarts during its heydays. Indian Classical Music was widespread and prevalent in the State with performers in major towns like Ujjain, Indore, and Jabalpur.

The local folk music abounds patronized by different tribal and migrant communities. Though not very popular nowadays this form of music still exists in remote pockets.

Cuisine

Simple food comprising of lentils. rice. wheat, meat, poultry, and vegetables prepared in a simple way is the normal diet. Most of the exotic recipes and styles came along with the migrants from other states to primarily a tribal domain.

Hence the cuisine displays the impact on the country as a whole more so among the migrant communities. In restaurants, North and South Indian food is widely prevalent. In households Dal Batti, Baign Bharta, and vegetable curries are popular. Towns like Indore, Bhopal, and Jabalpur offer a wide variety of foods in the eateries. Chaat an ensemble of tangy street food is very popular all over the State.

Fast foods like bhel puri, patis, Pani puri, samosa, and aloo bonda are widely prevalent. These are the forte of small eateries and food stalls on handcarts typical to India. Samosa and Aloo Bonda are usual tea stall snacks seen everywhere. Small eateries are popular for Southern dishes.

Global fast-food chains are also making inroads in urban localities. Macdonald's, Domino, KFC, Subway, and some others have their outlets in major towns.

Madhya Pradesh is the heart of India and has homogeneous weather patterns throughout the State. The intensity of monsoon rains may waver with one district surpassing another. Most of the districts receive an average rainfall of sixty inches. Monsoon begins in June and lasts till September.

The ideal weather liked by most is during the mid-Jan to mid-March whence the weather is neither too cold nor hot.

Winters are freezing, but it does not snow since the temperature hangs around 4 degrees centigrade while dipping to zero at night in some districts.

Summers are uniformly hot and the maximum temperature in direct sunlight could touch 45 degrees centigrade.

The best season to visit Madhya Pradesh is winter but for destination wise the matter differs. Tourists visit Pachmarhi the most during the summer and rain. Likewise, Mandu turns into romantic heaven during the rains. Khajuraho temples are most visited during the winter and during Khajuraho Dance Festival in MP.

The tiger reserves experience high tourist traffic during the winters and holiday seasons, especially during the Hindu festivals (Holi, Diwali), X'MAS, and New Year. Many holidaymakers from India prefer to visit these natural heavens during the summer holidays, heat notwithstanding.