I was invited last month to explore one of the least traveled regions in India: Madhya Pradesh. Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism of the region I could develop a new India crush and my time visiting this region was full of great new memories.

Madhya Pradesh is a state in the central area of India known as the “Heart of India” and is the second largest state by area and the fifth by its population, having more than 75 million people residing the state.

There are several reasons why you should add Madhya Pradesh in your India plans. Some of its best major attractions are the unique cultural heritage and wildlife, being called the Tigers State, and especially in Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, and Satpura National Parks you have the chance to see these beautiful creatures wild in nature.

Considering that one-third of Madhya Pradesh is forest, it’s a very green region and therefore very rich in wildlife. Constituting 12.30% of the forest area of India and having 25 wildlife sanctuaries and  9 international certified national parks.

Madhya Pradesh is a state with a big cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and very rich in architecture, you will find Innumerable monuments, delicately carved temples, forts, and palaces, and three heritage sites:

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

Madhya Pradesh at the World Tourism Awards

Madhya Pradesh has won Best Tourism State National award for 3 consecutive years  2017, 2016 and 2015; and in this last edition, they received 10 Awards in the last World Tourism Awards 2017 like the Best heritage city,  Best heritage walk in Indore, the Best Wildlife Guide, Best heritage Hotel, and many others.

Must visit places in Madhya Pradesh

If you love nature and wildlife Madhya Pradesh is one of the best areas to visit in India.

One of the most interesting places to visit is the Panna National Park. The park has buffer areas where tourists can visit, do trekking and even cycling and they also have the opportunity to observe tigers in their natural habitat in the wilderness, not in cages. The tigers living in Panna National Park where almost extinguished, but thanks to their program they could bring them back to this area, still their number is lower compared to other parks and they can’t assure you are going to see them. One interesting thing to keep in mind is, while the park is closed during the rainy season but the buffer area is open the whole year.

Khajuraho is a small town in the Chhatarpur District and one of the areas with the most beautiful religious monuments. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The temples are famous for their  architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures

Orchha, one of the most beautiful towns in the region. Being in one of the high points looking at the many palaces, monuments and temples in between the trees it’s like traveling back in time when the Bundela Kings where ruling the region.

The food in Madhya Pradesh

Indian cuisine is worldwide famous for its variety and flavors. The food in Madhya Pradesh was a happy surprise to me, the best of India together in one of the best dishes and mouthwatering delicacies to offer.

Some of the best local food during my trips to Indian has been in Madhya Pradesh and you will enjoy preparations such as some of the following:

• The food of Madhya Pradesh is majorly influenced by Mughal cuisine, including a wide variety of Kebabs, being the most popular the Seekh Kebabs.
• Perhaps the most popular breakfast eaten all across the country, Poha, it’s originated in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Another popular breakfast or lunch meal is Palak puri a deep-fried mixture of wheat dough and spinach best served with Raita, and pickle.
• Biryani pilaf is a common delicacy in the city, with mutton being the main type of meat.

 

Weather in Madhya Pradesh and when to visit

Madhya Pradesh like most north India has a subtropical weather, with a hot dry summer, followed by monsoon rains and a cool and relatively dry winter.

If your plans are including seeing some tigers, then the best time to visit is during summer, from April to June is the best time to spot wildlife at Panna, Bandhavgarh, or Pench National Park.

If, instead your plans are more to visit the architectural heritage, from October till March will be the ideal time to visit the monuments in Khajuraho or Sanchi, and cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior are best visited during winters.

How to get to Madhya Pradesh and moving around

The state of Madhya Pradesh is having good connectivity. Having daily flights connecting to the major cities are arriving at the airports in Madhya Pradesh are located in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and  Jabalpur.

There is also excellent connectivity through the railway system and with buses and private transportation.

 

Security in Madhya Pradesh

The feeling in this region is about a safe and secure state, where people is friendly and most of the small cities are open to receive foreign tourists without many hassles.

We could walk in every city and town having a very good feeling and experiencing local celebrations with a very local feeling.

Payment options in Madhya Pradesh

You can pay with credit cards in most of the main hotels and some restaurants but is always a good idea to carry extra cash for the small shops. For example, I’ve had some issues finding an ATM working during my stay in Orchha, but it was a holiday and might have been not the usual, so It’s always smart to have some cash just in case.

 

Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2018

What has brought me to the Madhya Pradesh was the annual travel show organized by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board held this year in the lovely city of Bhopal at the Hotel Lake View.

It was a great opportunity to get to know the heart of India and connecting with the industry. Not only one-to-one business meetings, but also the perfect environment for interacting with like-minded people.

We were exploring the region after the event with 30 other people from national and international Media as with Travel Agents and Tourism related people on a four-day trip through the best of the region.

 

I will be sharing in the following weeks my favorite places in Khajuraho, Bhopal, and Orchha, stay tuned!