The Best Places to Visit in Central India

Major conglomerations are Jabalpur, Indore, Gwalior, and Bhopal. There are many smaller towns in the state which are divided into districts.  

Major cities of Central India are heavily populated and cross over two million. Indore, Jabalpur, and Bhopal are industrialized and commercial centers. The latter is the state capital. Jabalpur is a picturesque town with substantial government department offices and a defense production center. Gwalior was the seat of erstwhile Scindia rulers.  

Places of Interest are as follows:

Gwalior

Gwalior Fort

Gwalior Palace & Museum   

Jabalpur

Marble Rocks & Dhuandhar Falls

Madan Mahal Fort 

Dumna Nature Reserve

Pariyat Tank

Indore

Lal Bagh Palace

Bade Ganesh Temple

Kanch Mandir 

Bhopal

Jama & Taj Ul Masjid

Birla Temple

Van Vihar National Park

Shaukat & Gohar Mahal

All the towns are well connected by, rail, road, and air. They are endowed with modern facilities and are entertainment hubs.  

Narmada at Amarkantak

The state offers sanctuary to mind, body, and soul through symbols of religious sanctity. The first and foremost is the Virgin Narmada that is the holiest lap of nature originating from Amarkantak the confluence of Satpura and Vindhya.   

Like the Ghats of Varanasi, the River Narmada offers solace to the believers and is a sacred platform to conduct a mystical array of Hindu rites and rituals that never cease to intrigue. Those cremated by Narmada attain spiritual peace and a blessed reincarnation.      

Chitrakoot at Mandakini

Tulsidas wrote the Epic Ram Charit Manas on the banks of the Mandakini River. Ram, Sita, and Laxman spent eleven years of their forced exile in the sylvan forests of Chitrakoot. Many Hindu sages spent time here to achieve internal peace and guiding light. The town is situated bordering the district of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and contains many interesting places associated with the Lord in exile.  

Mahakal at Shipra

Mahakaleshwar Temple on Shipra one of the 12 jyotirlingas associated with Lord Shiva is situated in the city of Ujjain.  The magnanimous Kumbh Mela is held here on the banks of Shipra River once in four years. The town is home to many ancient temples revered by the masses on pilgrimage. 

Omkareshwar & Mamleshwar at Narmada

The jyotirlingas symbolize the infinite nature of Shiva and hence most revered by Hindus. Both the holy temples are situated on the banks of the Holy River Narmada. Omkareshwar is situated on an OM-shaped island in between.

Mandu

This fortified ancient city is situated at a short distance from Dhar City. The destination had turbulent history enacted by various invaders who also built magnificent palaces, forts, and pavilions. Today the destination is a tourist paradise that offers an amazing stay among the mesmerizing structures. 

Orchha

The mystical magical temple town is a sylvan retreat that becomes a romantic destination during the monsoon.  The ancient temples, fort, cenotaphs, camel shelter, and Jahangir Mahal were built by the Hindu Rulers and exhibit splendorous Indian architecture of the past.   The retreat is situated between Jhansi and Manekpur North Central Railway Stations.

Khajuraho

Rediscovered by the British, Khajuraho temples built by the Chandelas lay hidden from the confines of history amongst the remote date palm groves. Out of eighty-four today about twenty-four temples survive in good condition within three complexes. The temples depict erotic carvings on the outer wall of the Hindu Temples. The exotic edifices attract thousands of visitors every year.

Khajuraho Temples are situated in the district of Chhattarpur in MP. The town is well connected by air with major cities. 

Other Places of Interest

Maheshwar on Narmada is a major weaving center making Maheshwari Saris. Fort Ahilya now a hotel is also a major tourist attraction. Festivals are celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. The town is a major tourist attraction in MP.

Chanderi on Betwa is a historical town famous for Chanderi Sari made of silk. The town has many interesting monuments made by Rajput Rulers and Mughal Invaders. The turbulent history is etched on the walls of its magnificent monuments. The city is situated 37 km from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Pachmarhi Hill Retreat

Situated in the Central Indian Highlands Pachmarhi is an esoteric hill resort. It is a wildlife sanctuary, cant, and a part of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. The reserve encompasses Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Satpura Tiger Reserve. 

Pachmarhi is the most preferred holiday spot in Central India with an abundance of natural places that intrigue and enthrall. The tourism infrastructure is well placed with jeep hire, guides, and luxury resorts.  The hill retreat is accessible via Jabalpur and Bhopal Cities in Madhya Pradesh. 

Amarkantak Hill Retreat

Situated about 200 km from Jabalpur in the cradle of Maikal Hills Amarkantak is a hill retreat and religious destination. The latter is due to the origin of the holiest river Narmada. Amarkantak is also the confluence of Satpura and Vindhya Hill Ranges that intersect the state.

The destination is endowed with many natural places besides the origin of River Son and Johila. It is also part of Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.

All types of accommodations are available at the destination. The part of the retreat encompasses Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighboring Chattisgarh State.

The easiest access to the state is provided by MPTDC a government enterprise. A chain of booking office string the Nation besides online resources. MPTDC owns a number of accommodations at places of tourist interest and major towns. It has the finest properties at Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Park a big hotel at Pench Tiger Reserve and in number of wildlife sanctuaries.

There are many tour operators that organize package tours in MP for tourists. These operators specialize in wildlife and sightseeing packages while many focus on spiritual tourism. Luxury travel is also available with them for safaris and birding. 

One can contact the organizers through their websites and offices.  The booking can be done from any office situated in Madhya Pradesh and other states of India.