tourism in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh travel provides the visitors to experience the very quintessence of India's natural splendor, and rich artistic and cultural heritage. The state of Madhya Pradesh in the central region of India is an absolutely dream-come-true for traveling enthusiasts. There are a number of fabulous wildlife sanctuaries that house some of the rarest and the most sought after specimens of flora and fauna found in the Indian subcontinent. The state is also the home to the breathtaking Khajuraho temples and has a number of old and historic cities. The wide range of handicrafts produced by the tribal population of the state make shopping in Madhya Pradesh a highly delightful activity.

Madhya Pradesh has a long and illustrious history that dates back to the ancient times of Indian history. Originally known as the kingdom of Avanti, Madhya Pradesh has been the seat for a number of great dynasties that ruled India, including the Mauryas, Kushanas and the Guptas. It was an important place for the practice and propagation of the Buddhist faith. The Chandelas ruled Madhya Pradesh in the early part of the medieval age, along with other Rajput families including the Paramaras. Bundelkhand was the capital of these royal dynasties. However, it was later integrated into the Sultante of Delhi and ultimately came under the Mughal rule, like most other regions of India. The modern age saw a number of Anglo-Maratha wars taking place over the control of this land. During the British rule, Madhya Pradesh became a conglomeration of a number of independent princely states, together termed as the Central Provinces by the British for administrative convenience.

The Wildlife Reserves and the National Parks of Madhya Pradesh are some of the greatest attractions of the state. More than 31% of the total land area of this state is covered by forests. The forest types vary from tropical to sub-tropical and feature an absolutely breathtaking variety of flora and fauna. Some of the most important National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh are as follows:

• Bandhavgarh
• Pench
• Ken Ghariyal
• Satpura
• Pachmari
• Gangau
• Pench
  
  Madhya Pradesh is a great destination for heritage tourism. The temple group of Kahjuraho is internationally renowned because of the its exquisite beauty. These temples, built in and around the 12th century AD, have been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The architecture and the carvings that adorn the temple walls never fail to impress and intrigue the visitors. The famous Buddhist stupa and monastery at Bhopal is another significant world heritage site. Apart from the above mentioned places, wonderful architectural specimens are found in the following sites: