Madhya Pradesh is the India’s second
largest state. The word Madhya Pradesh literally means
central province. Geographically, Madhya Pradesh is the
heart of India. Madhya Pradesh is the southernmost state
of the landlocked states in India. The size of the state
is so large that the time is 40 minutes ahead of the
local time zone in Ramanujgang, a town on the eastern
border of the State and Jabhua, on the western border.
Inspite of its central
position it has all the characteristics of a marginal
territory. The western region has been part of the
north-south corridor of population movement for over
4,000 years. Some of the major towns in Madhya Pradesh
are Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur. Bhopal is the
capital of Madhya Pradesh. Most of the people speak
Hindi or some dialect of Hindi. The climate of Madhya
Pradesh is very hot and dry in summers and pleasant in
winters. So, the best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is
from September to March. |
Madhya Pradesh has some of the
magnificent archaeological and historical sites and
superb buildings. The stupa at Sanchi is one of the
finest monuments in India. The Chandela temples at
Khajuraho are testimony to a period of great artistic
merit and the splendid fort and palaces at Gwalior
reminds of the magnificence of many Indian princely
states. Mandu occupied a strategic position on the
important corridor from Delhi to the western seaboard.
This delightful hilltop fort and citadel of palaces,
mosques and tombs was fortified as early as the 6th
century AD, and under the Muslim Sultans of Malwa it was
named as Shadiabad, the City of Joy. Ujjain is one of
the seven holy cities of India and a center of Hindu
pilgrimage. The Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh
National Park are the famous national parks in Madhya
Pradesh. |