Tourist Places in Madhya Pradesh

Tourist Places in Madhya Pradesh – The Heart of India

India, the country where incredible is a way of life and where every nook and corner has something unique, interesting, and awe-inspiring to offer, never fails to surprise. It is a country whose natural landscapes, rich culture and heritage need a lifetime to explore.

Madhya Pradesh, the state which is literally the heart of India is in many ways a microcosm of the country itself. The state of Madhya Pradesh is a rich medley of diverse experiences. The tourist places in Madhya Pradesh India range from the splendor of nature to the mastery of man-made marvels. It is embellished with gems of Indian heritage and culture. While ancient religious sites spread an aura of spirituality, the majestic roar of tigers welcomes one to Madhya Pradesh, the tiger land of India. This is the region that inspired Rudyard Kipling to weave the story of Jungle Book which ultimately elevated him to the realms of immortality.

Madhya Pradesh had eluded us for long and it was a matter of time before its magic pulled us to its fold. The time came when we were invited by MP tourism to cover the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart happening in Bhopal, the historic capital of Madhya Pradesh. The icing on the cake was, of course, the tantalizing glimpses of the state that we would have as part of the trip, though of course there would be many more tourist places in Madhya Pradesh to explore for which we would need to head back again.

Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart

The Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart is an event that provides a wonderful forum for B2B interaction between buyers and sellers in the travel and allied industries. It attracts participation from national as well as international buyers and media. The event was a colorful extravaganza in the salubrious environs of the city of lakes, Bhopal.

The event itself was orchestrated very well with an eye on not only providing a forum to the visitors for discussing and cementing business deals but also on providing a flavor of the rich culture and heritage of Madhya Pradesh.

Noor-Us-Sabah, The Light of Dawn

Our introduction to the rich and fascinating history and heritage of Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal, in particular, started right from the word go. Immediately after landing we checked in to what was once the palace of the last Begum of Bhopal and now a beautiful heritage hotel called Noor-us-Sabah Palace.

The palace stands atop a hilltop overlooking the Upper Lake and staying there was all about experiencing the grandeur and royalty of an era that has faded into history. The palace was built in the year 1920 by Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal for his daughter Abida Sultan, who later migrated to Pakistan and joined the Foreign Service there.

Bhopal – The Land of The Begums

The unique history of the rule of the Begums of Bhopal opened up before us further when we went on an early morning heritage walk that took us to Taj-ul-Masajid, known as the “Crown among mosques”, one of the largest mosques in Asia.

There, as the crimson rays of the early morning sun kissed the magnificent edifice of the Taj-ul-Masjid, we listened with bated breath to the fascinating history of the rule of the Begums of Bhopal. Sikandar Malik of Bhopal Heritage Walks kept us glued to his narrative which took us back in time to the Bhopal of yore. The most interesting and striking aspect of the history of Bhopal is the successive rule of the four Begums of Bhopal under whom the region flourished and prospered. Their reign is a tribute to women power in the region that dates back to centuries ago.

Qawwali – The Soul of Madhya Pradesh

When you are in Bhopal, the city of lakes and the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, there are four must-do activities without which a trip to Bhopal is incomplete. This fact was also emphasized by none other than the Principal Secretary & Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Mr. Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS).

The four experiences of Bhopal are listening to Qawwali, going for a heritage walk to learn about the history of Bhopal, visiting the Tribal Museum, and relishing the local delicacy Bhopali Kabab.

Qawwali is a form of music that is devotional and is an integral part of Sufism or Islamic mysticism. A Qawwali is categorized based on its content. When it is sung in praise of God or Allah, it is known as Hamd. A Naat is a form of Qawwali that is sung in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, while a Ghazal is a song that bursts forth in the praise of a loved one or nature.

We were intoxicated by the mystic music of Qawwalis rendered by a group led by one of the youngest singers of the genre, 21-year old Shabir Ahmed from Khairabad, who is the youngest professional Qawwali singer of India and has been singing since the age of ten. As the evening transformed into night, the Jehan Numa Palace Hotel which was the venue for the cultural programme was swept away in waves of melody and mysticism.

The Tribal Museum – Bhopal

The Tribal Museum which is said to be one of the must-see places in Bhopal was a wonderfully designed and curated showcase of the life of the different tribals of Madhya Pradesh. The day to day life, art, culture, religious practices, music, games, and much more are brought to life in vivid and vibrant color through the various exhibits.

Pachmarhi – Queen of the Satpura

As part of our visit to Madhya Pradesh, we did cover the hill station in Madhya Pradesh. We spent a day and two nights at the picturesque hill station of Pachmarhi which is about 195 kilometers from the capital city of Bhopal. Situated at an altitude of 1067 meters above sea level and covered by rich forest cover predominated by Teak and Sal trees, Pachmarhi offers a cool escape from the heat of the plains. Cascading waterfalls like Bee Falls, panoramic viewpoints like Dhoopgarh which at an elevation of 1,350 meters is the highest point in the state, and spiritual sites like Jatashankar, make Pachmarhi an ideal family getaway.

Pachmarhi is also home to many heritage bungalows that date back to colonial times, a legacy of the British settlement that once thrived here.

Pench – Jungle Book Come Alive

If you are in Madhya Pradesh, it is unthinkable if you were not to visit one of the tiger reserves of the state. The state which is the second largest in the area is blessed with a forest cover of more than 30 % and has as many as six tiger reserves. Pench National Park is one of the tiger reserves that is situated on the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra border. It is a lush and beautiful forest with a diverse range of flora and fauna. It is a great place to spot tigers and other wildlife and enjoy a real jungle experience as you meander through the dense forest in an open jeep. We loved our time in Pench and were lucky to spot a majestic tiger which walked with disdain in the distance, reminiscent of a scene straight out of Jungle Book.

It was a short trip to Madhya Pradesh. But what we saw of the state, its culture, and people has whetted our appetite for more. There is so much to see in Madhya Pradesh and yes this trip has changed our lives as we yearn to return back for a more thorough and immersive experience of the region.

We want to head back to Madhya Pradesh to admire the architectural marvels of Khajuraho, Mandu,  and Orcha. The roar of the tigers beckons us to Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks while the spiritual aura of Sanchi seems to pull us to its fold. The temple bells of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, and Amarkantak seem to echo our names. The long lost chapters of history at the Bhimbetka caves seem like a call from the past while the heritage and culture of Gwalior and Indore call us back to experience their richness.

Such is the magic of Madhya Pradesh that once will never be enough, a state that is truly magical and epitomizes the very spirit of Incredible India.

We were hosted by Madhya Pradesh Tourism / MPTM. However, the views and opinions expressed here are our own.

You might want to check out our other posts related to Madhya Pradesh:

Pench National Park – Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, India
Places To Visit In Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, India

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