Madhya Pradesh (MP), situated in the centre of India, is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The state has two hill ranges, the Vindhya and Satpura, that have traditionally served as physical boundaries between north and south India. It also has a number of rivers, such as the Narmada, Tapti, Chambal, Betwa, Ken and others, which make it fertile. The Narmada, which runs between the two hill ranges, is the most important river and is worshipped in many places as a goddess. These natural features have created a landscape of plateaus, river valleys, hills, and forests, but mostly the state is a plateau with low hills. The state has an area of 308,252 km2, a population of 60.4 million and the capital is Bhopal. However, the largest city and the commercial capital of the state is Indore.
Geographic Regions:
This large state can be split into four parts: central, with Bhopal as its base; northern, with Gwalior as base; eastern with Jabalpur as base; and western, with Indore as base. The state also has the largest tribal belt in the country, in the Bastar region.
Climate:
Madhya Pradesh has a subtropical climate. It has an almost unbearably dry summer (April-June), with temperatures hovering between 47º C maximum and 35 º C minimum every day. The monsoon sets in around 10 July and it rains till September. Due to India’s peculiar shape and hill features in MP, it rains heavily in the south-eastern districts, over 220 cm, decreasing with north and eastward travel to 100 cm, though the average rainfall is about 140 cm. Winter is cold and dry, at times dropping to below zero.
How to Get There:
By Air: MP has five domestic airports, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Khajuraho. There are five airstrips, at Ujjain, Khandwa, Guna, Tekanpur (near Gwalior) and Satna. Air traffic is still on the upswing.
By Rail and Road:
Buses and trains together almost all of Madhya Pradesh, except in the undeveloped tribal regions, which see only sporadic road traffic. An extensive road network is on the cards. The rail network across the state is extensive, with 20 important railway junctions, including a zonal HQ. The quality of the roads in the interior is substandard, though it is expected to be improved.
Demographics: MP is a motley mix of ethnic groups, tribes, castes, creeds and communities.
The people of Madhya Pradesh include locals and imports from other states. 88 % are Hindus, Muslims (9%) and Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs make up the rest. Scheduled castes (11%) and scheduled tribes (18%) make up a fair percentage of the population of the State. There are over 46 recognised tribes in MP. The main language of the region is Hindi, with regional influences on the dialect. Some major cities have English as their second and, at times, third language behind Marathi, which is spoken in the southern most areas contiguous to Maharashtra. At the same time, certain districts have banned English from schools and offices.
MP is a primarily rural and its largely tribal economy runs on agriculture and forest-produce.
Cities to Visit:
The cities that should feature on your itinerary are Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Rewa, Satna, Guna, Shivpuri and Itarsi. Ujjain is a holy city for the Hindus and hosts the Kumbh Mela, attracting millions of pilgrims, every 12 years.
Places to Visit:
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments including Devi Jagadambi temple; the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other sites include Bandhavgarh, Ajaigarh, Chanderi, Asirgarh, Bawangaja, Dhar, Chitrakuta,Omkareshwar, Gwalior, Indore, Shivpuri, Burhanpur, Orchha and Pachmarhi.
The dedicatedly erotic Khajuraho temple complex is unique. Of the 85 temples built in 100 years, from 950 AD - 1050 AD, only 22 remain. Not much is left to the imagination. It is reachable from Agra by air.
Monuments:
Shaukat Mahal and Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, Rajwada Palace in Indore, Gwalior Fort and Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior, Madhav Vilas Palace and George Castle in Shivpuri and
Jatashankar Cave Temple and Christ Church in Panchmarhi are a few of the hundreds of
monuments in this state.
