What are the best places to see in Madhya Pradesh

After reading this post I remembered about my father who stayed in this great city and served in a Defence accounts department. He used to say that Marble rocks along the Narmada river are very famous, and he used to bring many kinds of marble rock household items whenever he visits. He used to say that one should visit on Pournami day to enjoy the full marble formations amidst moonlight. The nearest Railway station is Jabalpur and there is also a fort nearby to the Railway station. Though we have not visited the place, it seems to be interesting for those who visit the place for the first time.

In Madhya Pradesh which is in central India, there are many old cities which will give us some insights about Indian history and its past glory. There are some of India's best wildlife spots and national parks.

The following are some of the important places in this State. All the places are well connected by road and trains. There are good facilities to stay and enjoy the trip. I feel June and July are the best months to visit these places. It will not be very hot or very cold and rains also may not be that much and may begin by middle July.

1. The Khajuraho erotic temples are very good for visiting. This is one of the top places in India to visit. More than 20 temples are than in this area. The sculptures are very nice to watch.

2. Satpura National Park is a very nice place to spend time in nature. You will not find many people This is a forest which is protected and visitors are allowed to go on foot in this area. There is a waterfall also in this area. Cycling, jeep safaris, night safaris and canoe safaris are also allowed in this forest.

3. Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks are on the list of best natural parks of our country. The park is having dense green valleys and rocky hills. There is an ancient fort. This park is having tigers, sloth bears, deer, leopards, birds, etc.

4. Maheshwar is also known as the Varanasi of central India. It is a small holy town and there is a Lord Shiva temple in this place. This place is on the banks of the Narmada river,

5. Kanha National Park is rich in bamboo forests, lakes, streams, and open grasslands. In these forests, you will find tigers, swamp deer and many more animals and birds. This area is a very good place to enjoy nature. Many endangered animals are saved here.

6. The three places Ujjain, Mandu and Omkareshwar are well known as "Golden Triangle". Ujjain is one of the sacred cities of Hindus. It is one of the four places where the Kumbh Mela will be performed. Mahakaleshwar Temple in this place is one of the 12 Jyotirlingams. Mandu was the home of the Mughals. Mandu's buildings, encircled by a 45-kilometre wall and have 12 gateways. Omkareshwar is an island in the Narmada river. This Island is known to appear like "Om" when it is viewed from the top. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingams.

7. Gwalior is famous for the hilltop fort located in this city. The history of this fort stretches back over 1000 years. There are many palaces and temples to visit inside the fort. Man Mandir Palace is the best attraction here. The Tomb of Tansen is also an attraction in this place.

8. Sanchi Stupa is one of India's oldest Buddhist monuments. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by Emperor Ashoka in 262 BC. The place is having a number of stupas, temples, monasteries, pillars and relics. This place is near to Bhopal. You can stay in Bhopal and visit this place.

9. Orchha is located on the banks of the Betwa River is a peaceful place. There are many well-preserved temples in this area. The Jahangir Mahal is the largest and most impressive place that one should visit. You can reach this place from Gwalior in 90 minutes by road.

10. Madhya Pradesh's capital city is Bhopal. The Tribal Museum in this city tells about the lifestyles of the tribes of this region. The Taj ul Masjid, Jama Masjid, and Moti Masjid are worth seeing. There are two lakes, the Upper Lake and Lower Lake. The Bhimbetka rock shelters are reachable from this place in an hour.

There are many places worth visiting in Madhya Pradesh. In fact it has a variety of tourist places catering to the expectations of all sort of tourists ranging from leisure seeking to adventure takers. Those who are interested in understanding the cultural heritage of some culturally vibrant places and also those who have interest in wildlife, Madhya Pradesh has much to offer. For religious people also this state has many famous temples and religious places.

Though there are many places and spots of interest in Madhya Pradesh but the prominent ones are -

1. Patalpani Falls - It is situated in Kekariya Dabri area in Indore district. The fall is very magnificent especially in rainy season. People go to this place for trekking also.

2. Choral Dam - It is a very popular tourist and picnic place near Indore and has a breath taking natural beauty. The water here is actually the backwater of the river Narmada.

3. Rajwada - It is a spectacular seven storied structure in Indore only. It is one of the cultural heritage building built in Indo-Saracenic style. There is a nominal entry ticket here and the timings are 10 to 5 PM.

4. Gulawat Talab - This lake is situated in the valley of Gulawat in Indore and home to the beautiful lotuses. Dense bamboo forests and exotic birds attract the tourists here.

5. Bhojtal (Upper Lake) - This is a very popular lake in the Bhopal and a famous tourist place. There are activities of parasailing, kayaking, canoeing etc going here.

6. Ralamandal - This a place near to Indore and ideal for exploring the nature in an area ranging about 4 sq. km. It has various types of flora and fauna in its lap and there is much to learn here. There is an entry fee for Ralamandal.

7. Taj-ul-Masajid - This is one of the most elegant mosque in India. The mosque is situated in Bhopal and famous for its annual congregation of 3 days when a lot of tourists visit here.

8. Sanchi Stupa - It is the most remarkable Buddhist monument in India and located in Sanchi near Bhopal. It was built in the time of emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty. Every tourist reaching here is impressed by the magnificence of this structure. There is an entry fee and timings are from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

9. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters - This is one of the famous archaeological site and is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is one of the main tourist places near Bhopal and well known for rock shelters and paintings. These paintings are more than 30000 years old.

10. Bee Falls - It is a very popular tourist spot located in the Pachmarhi area. It becomes a crowded place in the summer when people come here to save themselves from the scorching heat.

11. Jata Shankar Cave - It is in Pachmarhi area and is a famous temple of the lord Shiva and there are 108 Shiva Lingam there. It is a religious cum tourist attraction place.

12. Dhoopgah - It is a trekker's delight and situated in Pachmarhi area in the Satpura range. It offers a brilliant sunrise and sunset scenes along with scenic landscapes.

13. Raja Prapat Falls - They are in Pachmarhi area and are known as the most spectacular falls especially in rainy season. The water falls from a height of about 350 feet. This is really a wonderful destination for the tourists.

14. Dhuandhar Falls - This is about a 90 feet fall on the river Narmada. This is a tourist place in Jabalpur and many tourist visit it in the evening time to see the sunset effect in the surroundings.

15. State Tribal museum - It is a unique museum showcasing the tribal life and culture along with their handicrafts and other things of interest. It has a nominal fee and timings are 12 AM to 8 PM.

16. Orchha Fort - It is in Orchcha area. It is sculptured in Mughal influenced Rajput architecture.

17. Chhatris Royal Tombs - These are the iconic marvels of our history and are the one of the most popular attraction sites. They are present in the Orchha area.

18. Chaturbhuj Temple - It is also inOrchha area and is famous as a spiritual place.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

19. Bhedaghat - This is in Bhopal and there are the tall rocks around the river Narmada. A boat cruise in the river is a fascinating experience. There is an entry ticket and timings are 9 AM to 5 PM.

20. Pandav Caves - It is in Pachmarhi area only and it is considered the resting place of Pandava brothers while they were going on exile. These are very fascinating caves and people have interest in mythology can explore more here.

So these were some of the popular and well known places in Madhya Pradesh. There are many others which can also be explored by the tourists. Some of them are Bhojpur Temple, Raisen Fort, Handi Khoh, B.Kanchanna Ghat, Raneh Falls, Beni Sagar Dam and Orchha Nature Reserve, Jai Villas etc.

Madhya pradesh is a great destination for tourists and we have many such destinations which are worth for tourist point of view.

1. Natural tourism destinations.

a. Bhopal city.

Bhopal is a twin city, one is the old part and the other is new city. The Bhoj tal or Bada talab is the largest man made lake in India. Bhopal is known as the lake city of India, the city has a large number of both man made and natural lakes. Also we can see mosques, serpentine alleys, chowks, milling crowds, exotic havelis and crowded bazaars in Bhopal city. Lakshmi Narayana temple, Zardozi craft, Moti Masjid, The Taj ul din Masjid, Van vihar National park, Sair sapata, Zari work are other attractions in Bhopal.

b. Jabalpur
Jabalpur is situating on the banks of Narmada river. You can watch 100ft marble mountains at Bheda ghat. Dhuandhar water falls which 98ft height in Narmada River is a famous attraction in Jabalpur.Dumna natural park is one of the biggest natural park in India with 1058 hectors wide. Tilwara Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes immersed is also an attraction here. Rani Durgavati Museum, Chousat yogini temple, Madan Mahal Fort, Bargi Dam are another famous attractions in Jabalpur.
c. Panch marhi
This place popularly known as "Satpura ki rani", the place situated amidst the Satpura Hills. It is the most famous hill station in Madhya Pradesh. This place included in the UNESCO's heritage list because of its scenic beauty. Rajat prapat waterfalls is one of the highest waterfalls in India. Another interested places are Jata sankar caves, Pandava caves, Monsoon in Panchmarhi, Bison lodge, Chauragarh temple, Mahadeo hills, Chota Mahadeo and Satpura national Park.
d. Parsili
This is a natural tourism centre where we can walk and enjoy the view with barefoot. This is one of the best birds watching place and so famous among bird lovers. Parsili situated near the banks of Banas. Sanjay-Dubri National Park is located at a distance of just 10 km from Parsili.
2.Heritage Destinations
a. Gwalior
Gwalior fort is known as 'the pearl amongst fortresses in India'. The Vishnu temple inside Gwalior Fort where inscripted first time "0". Gwalior known as Tanzen's city, every year Tansen Music festival celebrating year. Hockey maestro Dhyanchand from this city. Another scenic places areGjari mahal, sarod ghar, Gwalior fort, Man singh palace, Sarod temple, Gopachal, Tigra Dam etc.
b.Orchcha
Orchha, nestled on the banks of river Betwa, founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput Chief, Rudra Pratap. Main attractions in Orchacha are Metal craft, Jahangir Mahal, Raja mahal, Laxmi Narayan temple, Ram raja temple, Chathurbhuj, Orchcha bird sanctuary and river rafting.
c. Chanderi
It is a city formed in 11th century. It is the home of famous Chanderi saris. This is the place where only Juma masjid in India which don't have any minars. Main attractions are Chanderi fort, Budhi Chanderi, Parmeshwar taal, Shehzadi ka roza, Chanderi Museum etc.

Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in India. It has got the vast cultural heritage and is known as Gondawana. One needs to travel length and breadth across MP to enjoy the different places. Some of the unforgettable places located in MP are indicated below-
1) Bhopal -
Bhopal is the capital of MP and is considered as city of lakes and by all means, the place is eye - captivating. The city is the combination of history, mesmerising beauty and full of modern planning. You may visit the following places-
1) Upper Lake
2) Lower Lake
3) Bhojpur
4) Birla Museum
5) Minto Mall
6) Gohar Mall etc.
2) Indore -
Situated in the bank of rivers Khan and Saraswati, it is the most eye catching city surrounded by beautiful architecture. The attractions of the city are as follows -
1) Central Museum
2)Patal Pani Waterfals
3) Tincha Fall
4) Town Hall
5) Nehru Park
6) White Church etc
3) Gwaliar -
The city provides the glimpses ancient history including the fine architecture. This would prove to be a unique place in terms of rich cultural heritage. The leading attractions of this place are-
1) Gwaliar Fort
2) Sun Temple
3) Teli Ka Mandir
4) Madav National Park
5) Tigra Dam etc.
4) Next place is Khajuraho
Khajuraho's sculptures are unparallel in the sense of their unique carvings reminding us of the best creations of the olden times. Best attractions of this place are as follows -
1) Khajuraho's temple
2) Benisagar Dam
3) Panna National Park
4) Kalinjar Fort
5) Ajaigarh Fort etc.

5) Jabalpur -
Jabalpur is definitely a lovely tourist place with the arena of beautiful places providing authentic beauties and is surrounded with the historic monuments making your stay worthwhile.Some attractions are
1) Bargi Dam
2) Narmada Valley
3) Rani Durgavati Museum
4) Madanmohan Fort
5) Bhedaghati etc
Other notable places are Sanchi,Omkaleshwar, Mandu, Ujjain etc. These places would enrich your experience in terms of tourism and would derive immense satisfaction. You may avail of guide - service if you so require.

Some more to list to visit in MP are:

1. Pench National Park: It is inspired by the famous novel 'The Jungle Book'. It has more than 1300 species of plant of which some of the dying and endangered plants. Pench River flowing in the middle of the national park, peaceful environment and rich dense forests with a variety of flora and fauna makes it an ideal tourist spot.

2. Shivpuri: It is located at a height of 478 meters above sea level with vast historical importance. The place is named after Lord Shiva and holds significance to the pre-Independence times as Tatya Tope, the great freedom fighter was hanged to death.

3. Amarkantak: It is also known as "Teerthraj" and situated at an altitude of 1065 meters and the origin of holy rivers of India, the Narmada is from Amarkantak. It is believed that Kabir Chabutra, the place where Sant Kabir, the spiritual poet meditated.

4. Udayagiri Caves: It is also known as Vishnu Padagiri meaning "the feet of Vishnu". It is famous for its Rock-cut Caves as it houses nearly twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha. The fifth cave which has the statue of Lord Vishnu as the Boar-Headed Varaha saving Bhoomidevi. The 20 caves are divided on the basis of religious sects. 10 of these have been dedicated to Shaivism, 9 to Vaishnavism, 1 to Jainism.

5. Tincha Falls: It is one of the most popular waterfalls located 25 km away from Indore city. The water descends from a height of 300 feet with a small pond near the foot of the falls. The water in the pond is still against the high roaring of water from its origin.

6. White Church: The church is named St. Ann's Church, built in the year 1858, with European architectural by the British and 25 km away from Tincha falls. It got its name due to its white appearance. During its foundation day i.e. on 9th August, a huge procession and afternoon mass is offered every year.

7. Kanch Mandir: This is a Jain pilgrimage center and is made of glass tiles and mosaics. The walls, ceilings, and floors is plastered with glasswork. It is 25 km from Tincha Falls which was built by Seth Hukumchand Jain.

8. Hanuwantiya - It is one of the island situated in the Indira Sagar river. The island has many rich trees that stand tall and wild animals. Many migratory birds and deers can be seen easily flapping their wings and grazing on the island. You can indulge in Jet Ski, Scuba diving, Water zorbing, Snorkelling, Water Parasailing, etc.

9. Vidisha - It is located near the state capital, Bhopal and at a joining of Betwa and Beas rivers. The place has historical importance as it was used by the Maurya Dynasty, the Guptas, the Khilji dynasty, the Mughals, the Greeks and even the Britishers. It has many royal monuments, temples, and ruins.

10. Sonagiri or The Golden Peak - It is located 60 km away from Gwalior which has at least a hundred Jain temples spreading all across with amazing architecture. The Samavasara( preaching) of Chandraprabhu, the eight Teerthankartook place here. There is a rock cut statue of Chandraprabhu dating back to 5th-6th century along with statues of Lord Parsvnath and Lord Sheetalnath.

Some more places to visit if you find time are:
a) Khajrana Ganesh Mandir - established by Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar of the Holkar dynasty in the year 1735.
b) Maa Vaishno Dham - It is the smaller and similar replica of the famous Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu.
c) Gomatgiri Temple - The temple has a gigantic Gomateshwar sculpture that stands tall at 21 feet which is a smaller replica of the Bahubali Gomateshwar idol at Shravanbelagola.
d) Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary - It was established in 1905 by the Holkar clan of Indore. It has a variety of wild animals, like Leopards, Black Bucks, Elephants, Barking Deer, Sambhar, etc.
e) Shell City Water Park - The water park constructed in the year 1990 with a variety of pools and water slides. It is spread over 22 acres.
f) Indira Sagar Dam - The dam is surrounded by green trees with blue waters. The place is quiet and peaceful and perfect to relax and spend time with nature.
g) Boriyamal Island - It is famous for its scenic beauty filled with lush green forests, animals and colorful birds.
and the abundant wildlife that it houses
h) Heliodorus Pillar - Also known as Khamba Baba, believed to be erected in 113 BCE by Heliodorus who was a Greek ambassador. The pillar is in front of the temple of Vasudeva and erected to honor God Vasudeva.
i) Udayeshwara Temple - It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated in a small village, Basoda at a distance of 50 km from Vidisha.
j) Rose Garden - The park has variety of roses here, with distinct smells and colour. It was constructed as part of the Jayant Project by Northern Fields Ltd and always remains clean, tidy and peaceful.

Madhya Pradesh is located in Central India and second largest State. It is also known as Heart of India. Some of the major cities of Madhya Pradesh are Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Sagar, Ujjain etc. There are so many beautiful places with historical importance to visit in Madhya Pradesh. Some of the good places to visit are :

Bhopal:
Van Vihar: It is a famous national park having wide range of birds and animals like sambar, chital, lion etc. and more than 200 bird species.
Sair Sapata: It is an entertainment zone for kids as well as elder peoples. It has many adventurous activities, Play Park, toy train and many more things. You can enjoy with family.
Bhopal lake: It is the most beautiful attraction of Bhopal. If you go there you must visit this. Boating in paddle boats or shikara make it more enjoyable.
Madhya Pradesh Tribal museum: It has theme galleries and beautiful sculpture.

Gwalior:
Gwaior Zoo: It is very beautiful zoological park build by Madho Rao Sindhia. Some of the rare animal species are there. Golden peasants, bison, black bucks, hyena, sambhars,spotted deer, and white tiger are found here.
Chhatri of Jhansi Ki Rani (Samadhi of Rani Laxmi Bai): t is the Samadhi sthal of Maharani Laxmi Bai located in Phool Bagh.
Man Mandir Palace (Gwalior Fort): This fort is existed since 10th centuary. It shows very ancient monuments and sculture.
Tomb of Tansen: It is located near Tomb of Muhammad Ghaus (Tansen's Guru).

Indore
Rajwada Monument: It is a historical place located in Indore city. It is a seven stories structure located near Chhatris. It is a fine example of ancient architecture and royal grandeur.
Lalbagh Palace: It was made by Holkars and spread over an area of 28 acres and shows the taste of the holkar rulers.
Kanch palace: It is a famous Jain Temple located in Indore city and made by built by Sir Seth Hukumchand Jain.
Central Museum: This museum has great historical significance. It includes medieval and pre-medieval Hindu and Jain sculptures.

Raisen
Raisen Fort: It is located 23 km away from Bhopal. It is a haunted fort and famous for its mysteries.
Some of the famous temples are there like Tirupati Balaji, Bhojeshwar Temple, Hinglaj Devi temple etc.
Some other interesting places to visit are Chouki Garh fort, Barna Dam and Sanchi Stupa.

Ujjain
In Ujjain, several temples are there like Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Kal-Bhairav Temple, Harsiddhi Temple, Chintaman Ganesh Temple etc.
Besides Jantar Mantar also called the Vedh Shala Observatory, is located at Jayasinghpura.
Ram Ghat is located near Harsiddhi Mata temple on the banks of the Kshipra river where the Kumbh mela is held.

Orchha
Main visting places in Orchha are Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Chhattris and Ram Raja Temple.

Jabalpur
Bedhaghat : It is located in Jabalpur. It is a small town well known for beautiful rocks and water falls namely Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Fall.
Some other tourists spots are Chausath Yogini temple, Rani Durgavati Museum, Madan Mahal Fort, Pisanhari Ki Madiya and Dumna Nature Park.
Rani Durgavati Museum: This museum is located in Bhavartal garden near bus stand in Jabalpur.

Some other major tourists attractions are :
Vidisha; Bhimbetka Rock Shelter; Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur; Cactus Garden, Ratlam; Shri Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga, Mandhata; Chanderi Fort Palace, Chanderi; Indira Sagar Dam, Khandwa; Khajuraho; Bajrangarh Fort, Guna; Rajat Prapat waterfall, Pandava Cave, Bee falls, Apsara pool, Jata Shankar Cave, Handi Khoh, Dhoopgarh, Satpura National Park, Bison Lodge and Chota Mahadev in Pachmarhi.

There are many wild life sanctuary and national parks in Madhya Pradesh like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench National Park, Madhav National Park, Shivpuri,
Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Itarsi, Satpura National Park, Hoshangabad. If you are a nature lover you will definitely want to visit any of these places.

I also visited some of the cities like Bhopal and Gwalior. I visited Gwalior in the month of July. At this time there was so much hot and humidity and visited Bhopal in month of December and again in the month of February. So, I think December or February is the best months to visit in Madhya Pradesh. Famous food includes Poha jalebi , Biryani etc.