Madhya Pradesh (literally "the Middle Land") with an area of 443,446 sq km is the largest state of India. Situated in the centre of the country, the state consists of a plateau with a mean elevation of about 1600 feet. The state's land is interspersed with the mountains of the Vindhya and the Satpura ranges along with deep valley of rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal in the east and into the Arabian Sea in the west. With almost a third of India's forest reserves, the state is rich with some of the finest deciduous hard woods in the world. The Mahadeo Hills (Satpura range) is the home of tiger, panther, Indian bison and the myriad herbivores. Not surprisingly.

National Park and Sanctuaries like the Kanha National Park have been established. Besides, the state has a history spanning into centuries. Historic remains dot the whole artistic activity, 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 are some of the prominent tourists; attractions. Be it history, heritage or wildlife, the 'Tiger State' of India is as magical and majestic as the prized animal itself. A never miss land for Travelmasti !!

Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, forts and palaces peppered all over the land, reminding one of emperors and kings, warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints and philosophers--this is the mystic land of Madhya Pradesh, the geographical heartland of India. The state is the second largest state of India, but after Chhattisgarh’s coming into existence, its area is no longer as large as it used to be. Home to a number of aboriginal tribes like the Bhils, the Baigas, Maria and the Murias, Madhya Pradesh constitutes 40% of India's aboriginal population--the Adivasis. It is primarily the land of Kings and primitive people, of rugged mountains.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh
Explore India into its States & Cities as Explained by its travel themes. Select amongst hundreds of suggested tours or Write to us for a program specially designed for you ! Welcome to India! the tours or Write to us for a program specially designed for you ! Welcome to India! the Land of Maharajas which has witnessed an era of civilization and human evolution.

» Bandhavgarh National Park
This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India.

This is also White Tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger, Mohun, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajahs of Rewa.

» Pench Tiger Reserve
Pench Tiger Reserve is the real land of Mowgli, "The Kipling country" and the area of the famous ''The Jungle Book". Rudyard Kipling was awarded the first noble prize for literature in 1907 for his brilliant work, which includes the jungle book. There existed a real human child who was nurtured by wolves. This child was caught by Leut. John Moor under the guidance of Col. William Sleeman in 1831. Rudyard Kipling took the clue from Willium Sleeman's writing on Wolf nurturing childrens and a book on "Camp life of Seoni" by R.A. Sterendale.

» Kanha National Park
Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).

This is original Kipling country of which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle Book. The same abundance of wild life

Madhya Pradesh Museums
State Museum, Bhopal
Central Museum, Bhopal
Birla Museum, Bhopal
Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
H H Maharaja Jiwaji Rao ScIndia Museum, Gwalior
Archaeological Museum, Gwalior
Central Museum, Indore
Archeological Museum, Sanchi
Archaeological Museum, Khajuraho

Arts & Crafts
in the heartland of India lies the State of Madhya Pradesh. Filled with lush forests, magnificent monuments, exuberant festivity and blissful solitude. in this land of wonderful and contrasting variety, handicrafts lend a touch of mystique - a charm unique to Madhya Pradesh. They radiate an aura, exhibit hereditary skills, whisper painstaking craftsmanship and evoke an urgent desire to learn more about the land and its colourful people.

A deftly woven silk or a cotton blended saree. Block printed fabrics, stuffed leather toys or floor coverings. Folk paintings, bamboo, cane or jute. Woodcraft, stonecraft, ironcraft. Metalcraft, terra-cotta, papier mache. Zari work (gold thread embroidery), ornaments, dolls... each hand-crafted product of Madhya Pradesh is charming enough to sweep you off your feet.

All varieties of handicrafts in Madhya Pradesh are available under the brand Mriganayanee Collections in the Mriganayanee Emporiums of Madhya Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation located at Bhopal, indore, Pachmarhi, Sanchi, Jabalpur and Khajuraho. Mriganayanee Emporiums in Noida (New Delhi), Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Panaji, Chennai, Bangalore, Calcutta and Kozhikode also stock these beautiful handicrafts.

Fairs Festivals

» Khajuraho Dance Festival
An annual event, held every evening for a week. Renowned classical dancers perform in an open-air auditorium, the Western Group of Temples forming an inspiring backdrop. This festival has gained acclaim the world over.

Khajuraho Festival of Dances draws the best classical dancers in the country every years, who perform against the spectacular backdrop of the floodlit temples. The past and the present silhouetted against he glow of a setting sun, become an exquisite backdrop for the performers. In a setting where the earthly and the divine create perfect harmony - an event that celebrates the pure magic of the rich classical dance traditions of India. As dusk falls, the temples are lit up in a soft, dream-like ethereal stage.

The finest exponents of different classical Indian styles are represented - Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, and many more. With international status under Government of India program categories, this seven day extravaganza is a unique treat for connoisseurs from all over the world.

» Shivaratri
A festival usually falls in March, devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva. The Bundelkhand region is a stronghold of shasivities and many devotees travel hundreds of kilometers to worship at the Matangeshwar Temple. A 10 - day -long Bazaar is held where traders, peddlers and gypsies from other parts of the state display their traditional fare and a variety of handicrafts. A rural circus, folk theatre, magic shows and merry-go-rounds add to the fun and frolic.

» Tansen Music Festival
A pillar of Hindustani classical music, the great Tansen, one of the 'nine jewels' of Akbar's court, lies buried in Gwalior. The memorial to this great musician has a pristine simplicity, and is built in the early Mughal architectural style. More than a monument, the Tansen's Tomb is a part of Gwalior's living cultural heritage. It is the venue of the annual Indian classical festival held here in November-December. Renowned classical singers of the land regale audiences through five mesmerizing night-long sessions of the much-loved classical ragas.

» Bhagoria Haat
This colorful festival of the Bhils and Bhilalas, particularly in the district of West Nimar and Jhabua, is actually in the nature of a mass svayamvara, a marriage market, usually held on the various market days falling before the Holi festival in March. As the name of the festival indicates, (bhag-to run) the youths run after choosing their partners, and elope and are subsequently accepted as husband and wife by society through predetermined customs. It is not always that boys and girls intending to marry each other meet in the festival for the first time. In a large number of cases the alliance is already made between the two, the festival providing the institutionalized framework for announcing the alliance publicly. The tradition is that the boy applies gulal, red powder, on the face of the girl whom he selects as his wife. The girl, if willing, also applies gulal on the boy's face. This may not happen immediately but the boy may pursue her and succeed eventually.

» Dussehra
Celebrated by all Hindus of India on the tenth day after Navratri (September or October), Dussehra is celebrated as the day of Rama's victory over king Ravana, or as a day on which the Goddess Kali destroyed the buffalo-demon and liberated the world. The Dussehra festival celebration at Jagdalpur is unique in its perspective and significance.

Dussehra starts with worship at the temple of Kachhingudi, a local goddess. A seven-year-old girl of the weaver caste is chosen and ceremonially married to the priest of the shrine. This girl symbolizes the goddess. After a while she goes into a trance and is asked to grant the safe conduct of the celebration.