Mukti Sharma
The Hot and dusty lands of Madhya Pradesh is a vast land locked expanse of
scrub – covered hills, sun parched plains and dense trees making for
one third of the Indian Forests. With the
Narmada River flowing in
from Orissa and Bihar, to the fringes of Western Ghats, its a transitional
zone between Gangetic lowlands in north and high dry Deccan plateau to the
South.
The very first traces of human endevour are the 10,000 years old paintings
on the lovely Hills of
Bhimbetka,
a day trip to sprawling capital of Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal. Near to it
is the
Ashokas
dissemination of Buddhism in Stupa Complex at
Sanchi. These are also
the finest early Buddhist remains in Asia. From here you move on to the rock
Cut Jain and Hindu Caves at
Udaigiri which
recall the dynasties which succeeded the Mayurans, and the Andhras to Guptas
in the fourth Century.
Lost in the deep country side, equidistant from
Agra and
Varanasi is the
sandstone shrines at Khajuraho or the
Khajuraho Temples.
The reminders of Chandellas, responsible for some of the most exquisite
temples of the sub - continent, the Khajurahos can be reached either by
Jabalpur, Satna or Jhansi. Just South of Jhansi, the ruined yet beautiful
Capital of Bundella kings, Orchha lies. The entire
Orchha Palaces gets transformed
in a Golden City as the morning light of the sun illuminates it into Gold!
From Orchha move on to the romantic Ghost Town of Mandu, Capital of Malwa
Sultans. Mandu can be reached in a day from Indore, the second largest city
of Madhya Pradesh.
Apart from these, Madhya Pradesh also has the second largest number of
Tigers in the Country.
Kanha National
Reserve Park is very famous for its
Neel Gais, birds, leopards,
gaurs, hiran, chitals, barasinghas.
Bandhavgardh
too is a popular destination for the Tigers. Both of these are known for
their fauna countrywide.
The best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is in the months of November –
February. In the months of April, May and June the temperature soars quite
high touching more than 40 Deg C. But then if you want to a number of tigers
at a time then this hot season is good, as the wild cats come out to drink
water and can be seen in groups....
