A Holiday in Madhya Pradesh

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....