Planning an eclectic holiday in Madhya Pradesh
From visiting wildlife sanctuaries and spotting rare animals to getting some glorious, royal, glimpses at Gwalior fort, bathing in a spiritual fervour in Maheshwar, and rowing in between marble rocks, a holiday in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh can be one of the most eclectic ones in the country.
Bandavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Spread across the Vindhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is a zone of ridges, forests and meadows. Known to be the home of the Royal Bengal Tigers, it also has the highest density of tigers in India. Former hunting reserve of the king of the city of Reva, Bandhavgarh was declared a sanctuary in 1968. It is also home to the rare white tiger along with Nilgai, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and Jackal.
Gwalior fort
One of the largest forts in India, the Gwalior fort dates back to the eight century and is marked as the abode of rulers of many dynasties in history. It even has a postal stamp issued by the Indian Postal Service in its name. It was described as the pearl of Indian fortresses by Mughal emperor Babur, giving it a grand stature that lives till today.
Maheshwar Fort
The city of Maheshwar has mentions in the holy epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana, and even today attracts many pilgrims. The Maheshwar fort, which dominates the city, also houses many temples in its compound and is a popular tourist spot.
Marble rocks at Bhedaghat
About 25 kms outside the city of Jabalpur, these over 100 feet marble rocks dominate the scene. Located alongside the river Narmada, which also acts as the passage between the rocks that rise on both sides, these rocks are dubbed as the Mount Rushmore of India. Also known for a gushing waterfall at the end of the route, the spot is not only a unique one in the country, but a rarely traversed one.
Orchha
The city of Orchha was once enveloped behind a dense cover of forests and hence the name, which literally means hidden. Today, the city is known for its monuments, palaces, and cenotaph memorials. While a trip here can be historically enlightening, activities like rafting on the river Betwa can add adventurous angles to it.
Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart attracts tourists
With the objective of promoting Madhya Pradesh as an year round destination, the 5th edition of Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart will be held at Bhopal from October 5- 7 this year. Over 200 national and international buyers and about 100 representatives of distinct Indian markets are expected to participate in it.
The event will be inaugurated by dignitaries from the state and will bring together tourism stakeholders and is being supported by eminent institutions of tourism and hospitality industry including IATO, ATOAI, ADTOI, TAAI, ITTA, PATA, ICPB, TOFT, IHHA and TAFI. Some international participants attending this year’s mart include Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Thailand, Poland, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, South Africa, Mexico, Fiji, Italy, Russia, Norway, Argentina, Belgium, Ukraine and France.