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About
Historically known as the Malwa
region, Madhya Pradesh is centrally located and also easily
accessible from any major place of India. A fascinating
amalgam of ancient cities with modern urban planning is what
is fascinating about Madhya Pradesh. Decorated with Vindhya
and Satpura mountain ranges, Narmada and the Tapti Rivers,
dense forests; the whole state is dotted with temples and
forts and mosques built in unique architecture. There is much
more to Madhya Pradesh than the world famous heritage site of
Khajuraho and Sanchi. The huge and magnificent forts and
beautifully carved temples; the magnificent marble rocks at
Bedaghat and the tigers roaming freely in the thick forests,
are equally mesmerizing. The forests of Madhya Pradesh have
22% of world's total tiger population. It is the land of the
famous poet Kalidas, the land of Tansen and Baiju Bawara,
Madhya Pradesh has always had a strong cultural heritage.
The history of Madhya Pradesh dates back to 12 thousand years
and more with the rock cave paintings at Bhimbetka near
Bhopal. Some believe that the Aryans entered the central part
of India, pushing the local tribes down south of the state. It
is also believed that the state holds a history dating back to
same Indus civilization that is present in the North West part
India. Although the ancient history has left little of its
impact on Madhya Pradesh, the known history of the place comes
in light with the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. During the 3rd
century B.C. Ashoka ruled nearly entire of India, thus also
ruling the Malwa region. The Sung and the Gupta dynasty
followed the Mauryan before the Huns swept across giving away
to the Paramars nearly 1000 years ago. Raja Bhoj an important
character in the history of India belonged to this dynasty.
The Chandelas made impact in the northern part of the state
from 950 to 1050 AD. Later the tussle remained between the
Maratha and the Muslim rulers. While the Marathas captured
Indore and Gwalior while the Muslim rulers controlled Bhopal
and later the region fell in the hands of the British.
Madhya Pradesh initially was a very big state with parts of
Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and the whole of Chattisgarh
state falling into it. When the new state of Maharashtra was
formed the Marathi speaking area of Madhya Pradesh went into
Maharashtra. The state was further divided and the new state
of Chattisgarh was formed in the year 2000, thus giving a new
shape to the present state of Madhya Pradesh.
Today Madhya Pradesh has the natural beauty beyond comparison,
the various temples, form Khajuraho to Orcha to Ujjain which
are unique in its architecture, magnificent forts of Gwalior
and Mandu which still stand witness to the royal legacy of the
past and the dense forests where animals roam freely in their
most natural habitat. Infact it as from these jungles that the
famous story of Mowgli came to be alive. Rudyard Kipling came
across a real life account of a boy being nurtured by wolves
form where he took the clue and framed the world famous story
of Jungle Book.
The cuisine of Madhya Pradesh is a blend of the all the states
that it is surrounded with. One can taste the flavours of
India in Madhya Pradesh. Hinduism, Islam, Jainism and Buddhism
all have left its impact on Madhya Pradesh which is evident
all over the state. The famous sarees of Chanderi with
delicate waves and riot of colours, the dazzling lacquer work
and the heavy silver jewellery all are worth as souvenirs of
Madhya Pradesh.
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Sightseeing
Bhopal: was founded in the 11th century and was the capital of
the Parmar. But what you get to see in Bhopal today for the
most part dates back only to the 18th century. It is an
interesting city, a mixture of the traditional and
contemporary that sprawls across hills and lakes. The old
city, with its crowded markets, narrow alleys, beautiful
palaces, old havelis (manors) and fine mosques, lies
juxtaposed with the well-planned new city of broad avenues,
modern buildings and well planned residential colonies.
On a hill, a few miles from Bhopal stands the prettiest and
the oldest stupa in the world, the famous Sanchi stupa, ringed
by a stone fence with exquisite toranas at its four gates. The
stupas and ruins at Sanchi tell the tale of the spread of
Buddhism across the plains of Central India.
Gwalior was for long the seat of the powerful Maratha kings,
the Scindias. The Scindia family is still very much in the
thick of political things, having the made the transition from
rulers of the kingdom to contestants and winners of general
elections. Their influence over the city continues to be
strong. The city has a strong cultural heritage with some of
the finest exponents of Indian classical music claiming it as
home. The Gwalior Fort is the city's chief attraction.
Khajuraho: Travellers come from far and wide to see the world
famous temples of Khajuraho. The temples are unique in
architecture and stunning in their ornamentat ion. The temples
are all there is to see, but you don’t need much more than
these magnificent monuments to the gods, as you try and absorb
the breadth of man’s artistic ability and aesthetic vision
that breathe life into mere slabs of stone.
Most people visiting the state head for Khajuraho to explore
the thousand-year old temples whose outstanding architecture
and ornamentation have made them a World Heritage Site.
However, Madhya Pradesh has a lot more to offer. It has the
world’s largest cluster of stone-age rock shelters and cave
paintings at Bhimbetka; the imposing forts of Gwalior and
Indore, replete with romantic tales of valour and chivalry;
the 16th and 17th century Bundela palaces and temples at
Orchcha and ethereal Mandu, the historic capital of the Malwa
Sultans, now all but a ghost town.
Hindu pilgrims travel from far and wide to pay obeisance at
Ujjain. The holy city takes on a colorful festive ambience
when thousands of devout Hindus arrive for a ritual dip in the
river on the occasion of Simhastha (full moon to full moon of
the Indian lunar months of Chaitra and Vaisakha, around
April/May). No less popular are Maheshwar, Indore, Orchcha and
Omkareshwar, which abound in temples and bathing ghats.
If you are looking for rest and relaxation you could head
south to the cool and tranquil environs of Pachmarhi, the
highest hill station in the state (alt. 1067m). Bhedaghat is a
spectacular waterfall near Jabalpur, where the water cascades
over cliffs of white marble. Marble Rocks, as it is commonly
called, is an interesting stopover enroute to the nearby
wildlife parks at Kanha or Bandhavgarh.
The Safari
Madhya Pradesh is tiger country. Its terrain of extensive
forests of sal and bamboo and rolling grasslands harbour a
huge variety of birds and animals. Many national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries have been set up here so that the state's
wildlife can be preserved in its natural habitat.
If you’re looking to sight the majestic tiger in his natural
habitat, head for J abalpur by jeep, bus or train and from
there onwards to the Bandhavgarh National Park, 165 km
northeast, or the equally famous Kanha National Park, 165 km
southeast. This is original Kipling country, where Rudyard
Kipling found inspiration for his famous Jungle Books
(remember Mowgli?). The Bandhavgarh National Park is a compact
reserve (448 sq. km) teeming with birds and animals and the
highest population of tigers anywhere in India.
Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where an
alarming number of tigers were hunted down in pre-independence
India, Bandhavgarh was mercifully declared a National Park in
1968. This is also the area where the famous white tigers of
Rewa were first found. The park is now home to 22 species of
mammals including the regal ‘gaur’, umpteen varieties of deer,
and carnivores such as the striped hyena, jungle cat and sloth
bear and over 250 species of birds. So, it would certainly
make a very worthwhile destination. Here you could ride
through the jungle on elephant-back -- and if you keep
completely quiet and are very, very lucky, you could even spot
a tiger!
You could choose a jeep, if you prefer, though elephant-back
is a far better and quieter vantage point, to explore the
Kanha National Park, twice as large as Bandhavgarh and teeming
with wildlife. The Kanha National Park has the reputation of
being one of the best-managed reserves in all Asia. You can go
on mapped circuits accompanied by guides from the forest
department who help you to identify the animals and birds. It
is a truly thrilling experience, made more so by sightings of
the tiger, ‘gaur’, or even the tiny mouse deer (muntjac) or
rare hard ground barasingha (12-horned antelope) found only in
Kanha. If you are a birdwatcher, Kanha will give you hours and
hours of fun – the early morning being the best time to spot
the birds as they wake up to a new day. |
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