Madhya Pradesh, as the name suggests, is situated on Central India and
is surrounded by different states. It is a huge state mainly consisting
of fertile planes and this is the reason, a lot of agriculture
activities takes place here.
From the tourism point of view, Madhya Pradesh has a lot of history in
its culture. Tourists might be interested in pre-historic paintings,
monumental forts and different forms of traditional Indian art. 
Madhya Pradesh is famous for its numerous tribes, found in the deep
jungles. The traditions and cultures followed by these tribes are very
interesting and usually bring in a lot of researchers from around the
world to study their culture.
Madhya Pradesh is the land of the mighty Rajputs, who were considered to
be efficient landlords and brave warriors. There are various historical
forts in Madhya Pradesh which have illustrated paintings on their fort
walls, giving an idea on life before man invented technology.
Madhya Pradesh is a large state, which was later cut into another state -
Chhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh is divided into Northern Madhya Pradesh,
Western Madhya Pradesh and Eastern Madhya Pradesh.
Northern Madhya Pradesh: A major city in Northern Madhya Pradesh is the historic town of Gwalior.
Gwalior is famous for its forts and numerous temples, with the Gwalior
fort being the most visited by tourists. The Gwalior fort has a lot of
interesting history behind it, which makes it one of India’s top
monuments.
Madhya Pradesh Tours
Madhya Pradesh Tours
Gwalior has interesting temples in its territory. The famous ones among
the lot of them are the Kheda Pati and Achaleshwar temples. This makes
Gwalior a major pilgrim destination, bringing in tourists from all
around India.
Gwalior is one of the popular cities in the Gird region of India in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The destination attracts tourists for its rich historical and religious significance, which is evident in forts, palaces, museums, temples and kunds.
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| Gwalior Fort |
While visiting Gwalior, tourists can explore various attractions like Gwalior Fort and numerous kunds within the fort. It is believed that the fort was built during the 8th century and comprises museums, temple and forts. The fort is popular for its beautiful surroundings and blend of different architectural styles.
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| Gwalior Fort |
Gwalior Fort is situated on an isolated rock, offering views of
entire Gwalior town. Full of medieval architecture, the fort houses a
number of historic buildings including Man Mandir, Gujari Mahal cum
museum, Teli-ka-Mandir Temple and many others.
To highlight the importance of this fort, the Indian Postal Service has issued a postage stamp with a picture of the fort. It is one of the biggest forts in India and historical records state that it was built in the 8th century.
To highlight the importance of this fort, the Indian Postal Service has issued a postage stamp with a picture of the fort. It is one of the biggest forts in India and historical records state that it was built in the 8th century.
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| Way TO Gwalior Fort - Gwalior |
Known as ‘The Pearl in the Necklace of the Forts of Hind’ by the Mughal Emperor Babur, the fort attracts thousands of tourists every year. The fort was constructed in two parts; the first part constitutes the main fort that was built during the early rule of the Tomaras. Apart from this, other buildings present in the fort were constructed by Raja Man Singh Tomar for his queen, Mrignayani during the 15th century.
The groundwork for the Gwalior Fort was started by Raja Suraj Sen, around 1,000 years ago. Constructed on the advice of Sage Gwalipa, the fort witnessed the rule of various dynasties including Rajput kings, Kacchawa Pal Dynasty, Pratihara rulers, Muslim rulers, Tomaras, Lodi Dynasty, Mughals and the British.
Spread across an area of about 3 sq km, the fort was constructed at a height of 100 metres above the city. Surrounded by walls of sandstone, the fort has three temples, six palaces and number of water tanks. The southern part of the fort attracts many tourists due to its rock faces with intricate carvings of the Jain tirthankars.
Timing: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Admission Fees (Subject To Change):
INR 5 (Indians)
INR 100 (Foreign Nationals)
Free (Children below 15 years)
Phool Bagh:Phool Bagh is situated within the vicinity of Gwalior Railway Station.
Constructed by late Madho Rao Scindia, Phool Bagh comprises a
residential palace and a museum along with other buildings.
The garden was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1922 on his visit to Gwalior. Gwalior zoo along with a temple, a mosque and a Gurudwara are situated in the garden. Moreover, there is a Theosophical Lodge and a prayer place within the campus of Phool Bagh.
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| Sas - Bahu Temple |
Sas-Bahu Temple
The Sas-Bahu Temple was constructed by the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty of Gwalior in the 11th century. The regional dynasty is called as the Kachchhapaghatas and is known for starting wielding power. The name of the temple is a short form for Shastra Bahu, another name of Lord Vishnu.
Located near the eastern wall of the Gwalior Fort, the temple has idols of Lord Vishnu. Constructed by King Mahipala, the doorway offers tourists a wide view of idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
The temple also comprises a stone carved three-storeyed building, which is designed without arches. Adding to the beauty of temple, the carved pillars along with a stairwell provide support to the huge structure.
Situated adjacent to each other, there are a number of temples that attract tourists for their carvings and sculptures. The smaller temple is the exact replica of the larger one. The roof of the larger temple is decorated with a huge lotus carving, designed by an architect of the medieval period.
Raised on a platform, the walls of the temple have scriptures, figures and intricate stone works and is an example of the architectural skills of sculptors belonging to the 11th century
The Sas-Bahu Temple was constructed by the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty of Gwalior in the 11th century. The regional dynasty is called as the Kachchhapaghatas and is known for starting wielding power. The name of the temple is a short form for Shastra Bahu, another name of Lord Vishnu.
Located near the eastern wall of the Gwalior Fort, the temple has idols of Lord Vishnu. Constructed by King Mahipala, the doorway offers tourists a wide view of idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
The temple also comprises a stone carved three-storeyed building, which is designed without arches. Adding to the beauty of temple, the carved pillars along with a stairwell provide support to the huge structure.
Situated adjacent to each other, there are a number of temples that attract tourists for their carvings and sculptures. The smaller temple is the exact replica of the larger one. The roof of the larger temple is decorated with a huge lotus carving, designed by an architect of the medieval period.
Raised on a platform, the walls of the temple have scriptures, figures and intricate stone works and is an example of the architectural skills of sculptors belonging to the 11th century
Orchha
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| In Bundelkhandi (Local language), Orchha literally means ‘hidden land.’ |
Orchha's rapid development brings with it the chaos rooted in the lack of urban planning that is typical of India... inadequate roads, non-existent or choked drains and fast accumulating piles of waste. Being a small town of about 10,000 inhabitants, these problems are not insurmountable but require a strong dose of good governance and transparency in the use of public money. That is why the strengthening of local democracy is so important.
So is the empowerment of the women of Orchha who remain constrained by traditional attitudes concerning their roles and capabilities. Meeting women from other cultures has made them aspire to more independence for their daughters. Coming together to form self-help groups and undertake remunerative activities has transformed many of their lives.
Fort Complex: The fort complex is a great place to visit; hit this first to obtain an all-day ticket good for all the sights in Orchha. Divided into 3 parts, it consists of Three Part - Raj Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Rai Praveen Mahal.
Raj Mahal
One of the important tourist attractions in Orchha is the Raj Mahal that was started by Raja Rudra Pratap, but after his death in 1531, the construction was completed by his son Bharti Chand and the final touches to the Mahal were added by Raja Madhukar Shah who further built several other monuments in Orchha. After entering the Raj Mahal premises you will witness the lively murals encompassing a variety of spiritual and secular themes. This palace is a fine example of Mughal architecture with stone jali work.
Jahangir Mahal
Take a stroll in the exquisite and intricately carved Jahangir Mahal built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate Emperor Jahangir’s visit to Orchha. The palace is crowned by graceful chhatris and complementing the exteriors are the interiors of this palace that represent the finest work of the Bundela School of Architecture. The Jahangir Mahal is decorated with geometric patterns, paintings of peacocks and flowers. You can get a great view of soaring temples from this palace.
Rai Praveen Mahal
The third magnificent palace in Orchha is Rai Praveen Mahal that was built in 1618 by Maharaja Indrajit Singh. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens with flowerbeds and shrubs trimmed in various artistic shapes. As the legend goes this Mahal was built in honour of the ‘Nightingale of Orchha’, Rai Praveen who was well known for her enchanting beauty, poetry and music.
Temples
You can also visit the beautiful Laxminarayan Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple that attracts many tourists. Spotted around the area are various shrines and memorials each with its own history.
| How to Reach Orchha by Air The nearest airport to Orchha is Gwalior Airport that is 113 kms from Orchha and Khajuraho Airport that is 155 kms away. You can hire a taxi or bus to reach Orchha from these airports. |
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| How to Reach Orchha by Rail The nearest railway junction to Orchha is in Jhansi that is 16 kms away. |
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| How to Reach Orchha by Road Orchha is well-connected by road to the places like Jhansi, Gwalior and Khajuraho. You can hire a taxi or bus to reach Orcha from these places. |
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| Getting Around Orchha Rented taxis and cycle rickshaws are the common modes of transportation in Orchha. The more energetic can hire bicycles. Orchha is easily crossed on foot so simply walk around and enjoy this historic town. Madhya Pradesh Tours 
A
UNESCO world heritage site
in central India, Khajuraho is a famous tourist and
archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva,
Vishnu,
and Jain patriarchs. Khajuraho was one of the capitals of the Chandela
kings, who from the 9th to the 11th century CE developed a large realm,
which at its height included almost all of what is now
Madhya Pradesh state.
Situated in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, the town of Khajuraho
has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The town is
famous for its imperial temples. The temples were built by the rulers
of Chandela dynasty between 10th and 11th century. The construction of
the temple just took around 100 years to complete. There were around
85 temples in the area but now only 22 exist. Rest are nothing more
than ruins. They sure have gained popularity due to the erotic
sculptures carved on the walls. However such sculptures cover only a
small portion. The major share of sculptures are depicting the daily
life of people in the rural India.
Major Attractions
The biggest tourist
attractions of Khajuraho are the many temples that adorn the face of
this unique town. Temples of Khajuraho are the greatest artistic gift
given by the Chandela Kings to the world. The walls of these temples
are carved with erotic statues and sculptures. Temples have been
divided into three group, Western Group, Eastern Group and Southern
Group according to their location in the town.
The Western Group
There is a entry fee of Rs. 10/- (for Indians) and USD $ 5 (for
foreigners) to enter the Western Group of temples. (If you have a ticket
from Taj Mahal, you can use it here again.) All the temples are open
from sunrise to sunset.
These are the richest and largest of all temple groups
Light and Sound Show at Western group of temples - After visiting
the temple complex is over, the sound and light show, narrated by the
Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachhan, is held every evening.
Entry ticket Rs. 120/- for Indians and Rs. 300/- for foreigners (Please Check Before Booked).
The Eastern Group There are mostly Hindu and Jain Temples in the eastern group. They are situated closer to Khajuraho temple.
The Southern Group The southern group is also called Jain group of Temples. They are situated 5 km to the southeast of the town.
Fun Festivals
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Khajuraho, is a small village situated in the Chatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. This tiny village is one of the major tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh, due to the presence of the world famous temples. Tourists from far and near visit this place to view these temples which are known for supremely artistic representation of human sexuality in those days, and magnificent temple architecture. The different cultural festivities associated with Khajuraho also promote tourism in Madhya Pradesh.
Distance
from major cities
How to reach there
For More Information or Tour Programme for above destination write us - travelmitra@gmail.com
Anupam Gupta (Mr.)
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