- Tourism in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is not called the "Heart of India" only because of its location in the centre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage ofHinduism ,Buddhism ,Jainism andIslam . Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the State.The natural beauty
The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau streaked with the hill ranges of the
Vindhya s and theSatpura s, the State has everything. The hills give rise to the main river system - Narmada and theTapti , running from east to west, and the Chambal,Sone ,Betwa ,Mahanadi west to east. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers dotted with hills and lakes and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan surroundings.One third of the state is forested and offers a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife. In the National Parks of
Kanha ,Bandhavgarh ,Shivpuri and many others one has the rare opportunity to see the tiger, the bison and a wide variety of deer and antelope in sylvan surroundings.World heritage sites
Although the modern state of Madhya Pradsh came into being in 1956, its cultural heritage is ancient and chequered. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces on hilltops, raise in the visitors mind visions of empires and kingdoms, of the great warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints and philosophers; of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. India's immoral poet-dramatist
Kalidasa and the great musician of the Mughal court,Tansen , were from Madhya Pradesh.Several cities in Madhya Pradesh are extraordinary for their architecture and or scenic beauty.
Four sites in Madhya Pradesh have been declaredWorld Heritage Site s byUNESCO :
*The Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
*TheDevi Jagadambi temple (1986)
*Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
*TheRock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)ignificant sites
Other architecturally significant or scenic sites include:
*Amarkantak
*Asirgarh
*Bawangaja
*Bhopal
*Chanderi
*Chitrakuta
*Deorkothar
*Dhar
*Gwalior
*Indore
*Maheshwar
*Mandleshwar
*Mandu
*Omkareshwar
*Orchha
*Shivpuri
*Sonagiri andUjjain . Madhya Pradesh being very large geographically, and the history being spread over several millennia, a developing a comprehensive picture of heritage and architecture is a monumental task.National Parks
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
*Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh .Nature reserves
There are also a number of nature preserves, including:
*Amarkantak
*Bagh Caves
*Bhedaghat
*Bori Nature Reserve
*Ken Gharial
*Ghatigaon
*Kuno Palpur
*Narwar
* Chambal
*Kukdeshwar
*Narsinghgarh
*Nora Dehi
*Pachmarhi
* Panpatha, ShikarganjFairs and festivals
Customs and beliefs in each area in Madhya Pradesh have added colour to the fairs and festivals.
Shivratri inKhajuraho ,Bhojpur ,Pachmarhi andUjjain ;Ramanavami inChitrakoot andOrchha ,Bhagoriya dance inJhabua and the annual festival of dances atKhajuraho are events for the tourists to remember. TheMalwa festival inIndore ,Mandu andUjjain , and thePachmarhi festival bring alive the rich folk and tribal culture of the state in colourful celebrations.Gallery
ee also
External links
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