Madhya Pradesh is blessed with ten national parks which are a major tourist attraction here. Madhya Pradesh also has a rich cultural and historical heritage that has also been an integral part of the country. Some of the famous places in Madhya Pradesh are Ujjain, Khajuraho, Orchha, Nagpur, Jabalpur and Gwalior. All of these have contributed immensely to Madhya Pradesh tourism all this while.

Depending upon the theme of your holiday, Madhya Pradesh could be visited throughout the year. But the best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is from October till March as the climate remains cool and befit for sightseeing and indulging in activities. Do carry warm clothing, as the temperature could touch the bottom of the mercury level. You can explore nature at Pachmarhi any time of the year, and some places are more pleasant in the monsoon whereas some regions are good for winter.

Madhya Pradesh’s cuisine comprises a wide variety of traditional food items which vary regionally. Wheat is the staple food of the state. Some famous vegetarian dishes include poha and jalebi, bhutte ki khees, and dal bafla. Popular non-vegetarian dishes include gosht korma, kebabs, and roghan josh. Sweet dishes like mawa-bati, khoya jalebi, shrikhand, and chikki are also local favourites.

Bamboo Work, Metal and Iron Craft, Tribal Accessories, Carpets and Dhurries, Dhokra, Silk, Maheshwari and Chanderi Sarees, Pottery, Leathe Items, Beaded Purses and Fabrics.

Hindi is the official language of Madhya Pradesh and it is the widely spoken. Apart from Hindi, the languages of Bundeli, Bagheli, Nimari, Marathi, Sindhi, Urdu, and Malwi are the commonly spoken regional dialects.

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES – (AS OF FEBRUARY 2023)

• Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

1. KHAJURAHO

Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Madhya Pradesh, is known around the world for its stunning temples adorned by erotic and sensuous carvings. A small town located in the Bundelkhand region, Khajuraho is a brilliant example of Indian architecture and its culture back in the medieval period.

Places to visit in Khajuraho: Dulhadev Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshman temple, Parsvanath temple, Devi Jagdamba temple, Varaha Temple

2. BHEDAGHAT

Bhedaghat is known for the Dhuandar Falls (Dhuan means smoke and Dhar means flow), a huge cascade of water that falls from a height of 98 feet. Boating in Bhedaghat especially during the moonlit night would surely make up for an unforgettable experience.

3. PACHMARHI

Pachmarhi is the only hill station and is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh. Pachmarhi is also often known as “Satpura ki Rani” or the “Queen of the Satpura Range”. Situated at an altitude of 1,067 metres, the picturesque town is a part of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home to leopards and bison.

Places to visit in Pachmarhi: Bee falls, Jata Shankar Caves, Pandava Caves, Dhoopgarh, Handi Khoh, Mahadeo hill

4. GWALIOR

Gwalior is a historic city located in Madhya Pradesh. Popular because of the hilltop fort, Gwalior is full of palaces and glorious temples giving this city a majestic charm which speaks volumes of its glorious past. Visit the various monuments and museums, eat the local delicacies like namkeen and go boating in Tighra Dam while you are in the city.

Places to visit in Gwalior: Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Palace, Gujari Mahal, Man mandir palace, Tomb of Tansen, Teli Ka Mandir, Saas Bahu temple, Scindia Museum

5. KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Located in a central region of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is the largest National Park in central India and has been ranked as one of the best parks in Asia. Among the 22 species of large mammals, the royal Bengal tigers are one of the major attractions. One of the best tiger reserves in India, the present-day area stretches over the 940-kilometre square which is divided into two sanctuaries: Hallon and Banjar.

6. ORCHHA

Orchha is a historical town located on the banks of river Betwa in Madhya Pradesh, known for its grand palaces, and intricately carved temples. Famously known as the city of palaces, it is world-renowned for the classic mural paintings, frescos and Chhatris (cenotaphs) that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers. Orchha’s old-world charm casts a spell on tourists from all around the world.

Places to visit in Orchha: Jehangir Mahal, Orchha Fort, Ram Raja temple, Raja Mahal, Chaturbhuj temple

7. BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK

Formerly a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa, the Bandhavgarh National Park is world-renowned as a tiger reserve and it is known to have the highest density of Bengal tigers in the world.

8. SANCHI

The Buddhist monuments of Sanchi are one of the oldest stone structures in India. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the Great Stupa was installed in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty.

9. UJJAIN

Ujjain is one of the four sites for the Kumbh Mela, the largest peace-time gathering on the planet that attracts 100 million people to the festival. It is also home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines to the god Shiva.

Places to visit in Ujjain: Mahakaleshwar Temple, Kal Bhairav temple, Ram Mandir Ghat, Harsiddhi Temple, Kaliadeh Palace, Bade Ganeshji ka Mandir, Mangalnath Temple

10. OMKARESHWAR

Stradling the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the holy city of Omkareshwar houses one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas. Shaped in the form of Hindu religious symbol ‘Om’, due to the merging of two valleys and a central pool of Narmada waters, it derives its name from ‘Omkara’ which is just one other name of Lord Shiva. It has two ancient shrines- Omkareshwar and Amarkareshwar. The sacred town also boasts of architectural wonders and scenic beauty, in addition to the pilgrim sites.

Places to visit in Omkareshwar: Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple, Kedareshwar temple, Siddhanath Temple, Sri Govinda Bhagavatpaada Cave

11. MAHESHWAR

Located on the banks of the River Narmada, this gorgeous town is largely referred to as the temple town of Madhya Pradesh. It also holds a lot of mythological and historical importance given the fact that it has found a mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

This was the capital of Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom Rani Ahilyabai province, Holkar. She beautified the city with many buildings and public works, the Maratha architecture and this city was also home to her extravagant palace. Maheshwar is a renowned hub for its production of Maheshwari sarees, which makes this place a paradise for shopaholics.

Places to visit in Maheshwar: Holkar Fort, Mandleshwar, Rajwada, Narmada Ghat, Jaleshwar Temple, Ahilya Fort

12. MANDU

Mandu, a city located in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, is the epitome of architectural excellence. This city is testament to the unconditional love between Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Mandu also boasts of the oldest erected monument of India.

Places to visit in Mandu: Jahaz Mahal, Rani Rupmati’s Pavilion, Baz Bahadur’s Palace, Jami Masjid, The Hindola Mahal, Ashrafi Mahal, Jain Temple, Champa Baoli and Hammam

13. INDORE

Indore is the largest and the most populous city of Madhya Pradesh. Located on the Malwa Plateau, the charm of this city lies in its rich cultural heritage which has been preserved over centuries and along with the hints of urbanisation. One of the educational hubs in the country, Indore has both an IIT and an IIM. Indore is also the cleanest city of India.

Places to visit in Indore: Rajwada, Lal Bagh Palace, Khajrana Ganesh temple, Sarafa Bazaar, Annapurna Temple, Kanch Mandir, Indore Museum, Bada Ganpati

14. BHOPAL

The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is famous for the pair of artificial lakes (Upper Lake and Lower Lake) that split the city. The city will catch your attention through its breathtakingly beautiful havelis and museums as well as Nawabi food that is an absolute delight for foodies.

Places to visit in Bhopal: Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Van Vihar National Park, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Moti Masjid, Jama Masjid, Taj-Ul-Masjid, Bharat Bhavan, Archaeological Museum

15. BHIMBETKA

The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent, and thus the beginning of the South Asian Stone Age. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Bhimbetka is home to more than 500 rock shelters and caves which have a large number of paintings. The oldest paintings are considered to be 30,000 years old, but some of the geometric figures date to as recently as the medieval period.

16. JABALPUR

Jabalpur is an ancient city located on the shores of river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. An industrial city, Jabalpur is now gaining popularity as a tourist destination because of its splendid ghats, the 98-foot high Dhuandhar waterfall, marble art, and historical and cultural structures.

The Bhedaghat-Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls are the most prominent tourist attractions in Jabalpur. Apart from this, the 17th-century Madan Mahal Fort situated near Narmada river and the famous Chausath Yogini Temple located near Roopnath are must-visits. Besides them, Balancing Rock is another site which is must-see for tourists in Jabalpur.

Places to visit in Jabalpur: Dhuandhar Falls, Bhedaghat Marble Rocks, Balancing Rock, Chausath yogini temple,  Pisanhari Ki Madiya, Dumna Nature Reserve, Rani Durgavati Museum

17. AMARKANTAK

Amarkantak, also known as “Teerthraj” (the king of pilgrimages) is located amidst the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges in Madhya Pradesh. Situated at an altitude of 1065 meters, Amarkantak is a hill station that offers visitors some of the most exquisite temples that one will ever see. The Narmada River, one of India’s Holy Rivers, originates from Amarkantak rendering this place special.

Apart from being the birthplace for the river Narmada, Amarkantak also serves as the confluence point for the rivers Narmada, Sone and Johila.

Places to visit in Amarkantak: Narmadakund, Kapil Dhara, Trimukhi Temple, Mai ki Bagiya, Sonakshi Shaktipeeth Temple

18. UDAYAGIRI CAVES

‘Udayagiri’ means the mountain of the sunrise, and is a historical Hindu ritual site home to twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Otherwise known as ‘Vishnu Padagiri’ meaning “the feet of Vishnu”, the Udayagiri Caves are extensively carved with iconographies of Hindu Gods, namely Vishnu, Durga and Shiva containing legendary stories of the gods and their shrines. Udayagiri hills hold twenty caves dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism sculptures from the Gupta Era.

19. KUNO NATIONAL PARK

The Kuno National Park is located in the Morena and Sheopur districts in Madhya Pradesh. One of the many gems of the state, the Kuno National Park is nestled near the Vindhyan Hills. With an area of 748 sq. km, the park is located within the larger Kuno Wildlife Division. It boasts of rich biodiversity. However, there were no lions, tigers, giraffes or cheetahs. The recent addition of cheetahs has put Kuno National Park on the global map of conservation and rehabilitation.

20. PENCH NATIONAL PARK TOURISM

With the majestic Pench River flowing through the greens and a variety of wildlife to be spotted in the rocky terrains, Pench National Park served as an inspiration for the famous novel ‘The Jungle Book’. One can enjoy many different experiences along with the wildlife safari on the boat rides, such as catching a glimpse of the tribal life and viewing some famous local dams and temples along the way.

The Pench National Park is open to visitors from 1st October to 30th June each year. It remains closed during the monsoon season. Generally, the months of November to February is considered to be the best time to visit the park.

21. PANNA

Panna is a town situated in Madhya Pradesh and holds a lot of historical significance. A former Gond settlement, Panna is a small city in the heart of the country, which boasts of being the only city with diamond reserves. Panna is also most notably known for the Panna National Park which is a world heritage site and a significant initiative towards wildlife conservation in India.

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