Take a Tour of the 10 Best Places in Madhya Pradesh and Enjoy a Matchless Experience of its Storied Past and Gorgeous Beauty (2020)

Besides being popular for its numerous forts, monuments, chic bazaars and temples, M.P is also renowned for its diverse cuisine offerings that include mouth-watering traditional delicacies. From Lavang Lata, Kusli, Jalebi to Pea Pilaf, Indori Puri, Baflas, Biryani and Kebabs, the food in Madhya Pradesh comes with a lovely blend of taste and flavour that depicts its essence. Bhutte ki Kees is a popular vegetarian delicacy made of corn and milk, while Chakki ki Shaak is made of wheat dough, steamed and used with curd.

Some sweetmeats popular here are Khoprapak, Malpua, Shreekhand and Mawa-Bati. Food in Madhya Pradesh varies region to region, with a blend of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. While Bhopal’s cuisine is abundant with spicy kebabs, meat, minced meat, fish, korma and biryanis; Indore and Gwalior have various dishes made from milk.

A city located in the Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal’s one of the country’s greenest cities with two significant lakes – the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. On the banks of the Upper Lake, you will be treated to scenic sights of the Van Vihar National Park that houses some of the most incredible tiger, lion and leopard species, the State Museum with rare Jain Sculpts, paintings and fossils, and Taj-Ul-Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques adorned with white domes, a huge courtyard and minarets.

With two contrasting landscapes, the north part of the city’s brimming with meandering alleys, milling crowds, a fascinating array of mosques, exotic havelis and chaotic bazaars, while the south part of the New Bhopal is resplendent with wider roads, premium shopping complexes, luxury hotels and posh restaurants, nestled in the Shamla Hills and Arera, overlooking the old city and the two lakes.

Bhopal’s true essence is beautifully blended with an old-world charm with traces of modern evolution. With an assortment of things to do, cultural enthusiasts can expect to find a variety of tourist attractions like the Sanchi Stupa, Sardar Manzil and Shaukat Mahal to explore along with a variety of city artifacts and relics at the Birla Museum, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. Wildlife buffs can choose to visit the lakes and explore the National Park, while shopping fans have plenty to binge on at the Chowk and Market Areas in the City. While you can spend your day sightseeing, the evenings can be kept free to enjoy shopping sprees and feasting on local delicacies at Manohar Restaurant, Hakeem’s, Under the Jamun Tree or Taste of India.

Cleverly located between the Deccan and Delhi, Indore’s Malwa Kingdom was an aggressively contested region in the country that was ruled by numerous Dynasties from Mandu, Ujjain, Maheshwar and ultimately Indore. While, the city today is mostly an educational, business and industrial hub in M.P, the city’s been left richer with incredible monuments, forts, temples and more by its rulers. Given its rich black soil from the Malwa Plateau, Indore’s significantly prosperous thanks to its cotton textile industry and renowned for its gorgeous bangles.

Also known as the food city, Indore is abundant in a variety of delicious food and flavours. Given its locale, Indore makes for an incredible tourist destination where the days are usually cool and evenings pleasant and there are scores of tourist spots to explore that include Rajwada, a 200-year-old 7-tiered palace of the Holkars; the Lal Baag Palace; Bada Ganpati known more for its size than antiquity; the Kanch Mandir - a glass temple with architectural marvels; the town hall; Bapna Statue; Central Museum; Ravindra Natya Grah; an assortment of popular temples and shrines; Sipur Lake and more.

In terms of things to do in Indore, you can look forward to visiting a variety of water cum amusement parks like the Shell City, Meghdoot Uapavan, Nakhrali Dhani, the Pipliapala Lake and the Regional Park. Indore’s also renowned for its large cloth industry, leather toys, Chanderi & Maheshwari Saris, Handicrafts, Jewelry and ample shopping arcades. The city’s food is no less a foodies’ paradise with several breakfast options that include Kachoris, Poha, Samosa and a variety of sweetmeats. The Baked Samosas and Patties are a huge hit, while Shikanji is a special drink which is a must-have. Some of the most popular eating joints that cannot be missed in the city include – Sarafa (a night market), Chappan Dukan, Shreemaya, Nafees, Hakeem, Celebrity, Sayaji, Nakhrali Dhani, Achaar Ghar and Ghamandi Lassi.

Renowned for its gorgeous natural beauty and a rich cultural legacy, Gwalior has a number of things to offer its visitors that include sightseeing, shopping, cultural events, gorging on local delicacies and more! From the majestic Gwalior Fort, that’s located atop a remote outcrop with 6 palaces, unique architectural elements and rock-cut temples that can be explored between 6 am and 5.30 pm every day to visiting the enthralling 11th-century temple complex of Saas Bahu Temple, you will be speechless with the ornate carvings and exceptional structures around you.

Visit the beautiful and grand palace that was built by Jayajirao Scindia to witness the grand lifestyle of the royal family, 35 rooms that have been converted into a museum, impressive works of art, delicate gold detailing and glorious chandeliers. Go berserk, shopping your heart out throughout Gwalior’s local markets, the Patnakar & Sarafa Bazaars that have a variety of local handicrafts, ethnic handlooms and exquisite stone-carved relics you can take back with you as souvenirs. Other noteworthy tourist spots include the Gujari Mahal Archeological Museum, Tansen’s Mausoleum, Suncity Amusement Park, Gopachal Parvat Rock-cut Sculptures, Boating activities at the Tighra Dam, exploring the wildlife at Madhav National Park, Gwalior Zoo and enjoying a memorable cup of coffee at the Indian Coffee House.

One of M.P’s most popular tourist destinations, Khajuraho is renowned for its ancient shrines with some of the world’s most beautiful works of art. Built between 950-1050 AD during the Chandela Dynasty’s rule, the temples in Khajuraho represent varied forms of spiritual teachings, meditations, royalty, wrestling sport and erotic art. With a mix of stunning sculptures, magnificent architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been categorized into Eastern, Western and Southern groups. The popular erotic sculptures here account for a mere 10% of its entire collection of Sculptures and of the 85 temples built here originally, only 20 remain post the destruction phase of time and natural ravages.

Some of the best tourist attractions in Khajuraho include Panna National Park, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Parsvanath Temple, Adivart Tribal & Folk Art Museum, Khajuraho Dance Festival, and the SEL show. Khajuraho is also known for its textile production, typically saris in its local emporiums, traditional handicrafts and handloom products, miniature stone carved sculptures, and street bazaars brimming with jewelry. The food in Khajuraho is no less delicious than its neighbouring cities and the must-haves here include Rogan Josh, Mutton kebabs, Chicken Biryani, Sabudana Khichdi, Korma, Bafla, Ladoos, Cashew Barfi, Lavang Lata, Kusli and more.

Considered one of India’s holiest cities, the ancient town of Ujjain is located by the eastern bank of River Shipra and is one of the 4 sites for the Kumbh Mela that attracts over 100 million people from across the world. A significant pilgrim site, Ujjain is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – one of 12 shrines to Lord Shiva and one of the country’s most glorious destinations that have a blend of education, religious, and architectural offerings for its visitors.

A trip to the holy city of Ujjain will take you down the memory lane of ancient history, witness monuments, craftsmanship and architecture ranging across several timelines. Some of the best tourist places in Ujjain include temples of Mahakaleshwar, Kal Bhairava, Ram Mandir Ghat, Harsiddhi and the KaliaDeh Palace. The food here is mostly vegetarian given its holy ambiance and getting non-vegetarian fares may be a bit challenging. The local cuisine is chiefly North Indian with a bit of Rajasthani and South Indian delicacies as well. The best time to visit Ujjain in between October and March when the weather’s pleasant and quite breezy with an average temperature of 20°C. Winters are a delight, especially in March when the Kumbh Mela festivities are on.

Boasting of the oldest monument in India, Mandu city’s the epitome of architectural excellence and witness to the unconditional love between Rani Roopmati and Prince Baz Bahadur. A gorgeous city in ruins, Mandu’s abundant in heritage and history, evident in its captivating array of widespread lawns, monuments and palaces with an ancient and mysterious history behind it all.

An offbeat tourist destination, Mandu’s glorious palaces are well-maintained with fine craftsmanship. Chiefly a vegetarian location, the city’s renowned for its Poha and Imli, a rare find. Some of its most visited tourist sites include Jami Masjid, Ashrafi Mahal, Jahaz Mahal, Champa Baoli and Rani Rupmati’s Pavilion. The best time to visit the city is between October-March as summers are quite hot, while winters are pleasant. Monsoons here are a delight with occasional showers that lower the temperatures comparatively.

An ancient city located by the shores of Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur is an industrial city that is now becoming a tourist destination owing to its incredible ghats, marble artworks, historic and cultural monuments and a 98ft waterfall. Some of its most significant attractions include the Dhuandhar Falls, Bhedaghat-Marble Rocks, a 17th-century fort called Madan Mahal by the banks of River Narmada, Balancing Rock and more.

A bustling town, Jabalpur brims with beautiful scenic landscapes, with the Kanha National Park and the Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary being one of its most renowned sites to visit. In addition, you can enjoy taking a boat ride or visiting the Sea World Water Park here. Home to different religious sects, Jabalpur is basically a Hindi speaking town, with the Urdu and Marathi dialects spoken as well. Renowned for its Durry Designs and carpets made of wool & cotton, the city’s also the cultural capital of the state. With a variety of well-spread eateries with a perfect blend of spices, flavours and cuisines, Jabalpur’s popular for food dishes like Bhel, Aloo-Tikki, Lassi, Rabri, Jalebi, Dosas, Chaats and Indo-Chinese fares.

Sanchi’s Buddhist Monuments are the oldest stone erections in the country. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sanchi saw the establishment of the Great Stupa in the 3rd century by Emperor Ashoka and the monuments, sculptures present here represent a fine example of the much-evolved art and architecture of the Buddhist era.

Situated atop a hill in Sanchi, the Stupa is 46km from Bhopal and is amongst a variety of ancient Stupas, Toranas, Ashoka Pillar, Monasteries and Ornate Gateways decorated with delicate carvings and other significant elements from the bygone era. It is also a significant pilgrim site for travellers from across the globe. The Great Stupa is a large crescent dome about 50ft high with a diameter of about 30m, erected in honour of Lord Buddha and is home to several significant Buddhist artifacts. Some other popular tourist attractions in Sanchi are the Udaygiri Caves, Sanchi Museum, the Great Bowl, and the Eastern Gateway. Although Sanchi doesn’t have too many elaborate eating joints or significant delicacies, it does nurture a subtle variety of North Indian, South Indian, Chinese and Continental fares and some must-haves include Dal Bafla, Kebabs, Biryani, Jalebi, Lassi and Sugarcane Juice.

An ancient town located by the banks of Betwa River in M.P, Orchha is renowned for its majestic palaces and intricately detailed temples, world-known for its classic mural artworks, cenotaphs and frescos. Its old-world charm is bewitching for travellers from across the world and its name implies a hidden place. Capital to one of the most powerful dynasties in India-the Bundelas, Orccha’s most popular tourist spots include the Ram Raja Temple where Lord Ram is revered both as a king and as God, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple which is known for its unique architecture as a fort and a temple, and the Jahangir Mahal that was built for the Mughal Emperor.

The city’s rich cultural heritage is quite evident and besides sightseeing, you can enjoy some outdoor activities like river rafting in Betwa. Orchha is brimming with a number of captivating eats and eateries where you’d find a vibrant melee of Italian, Chinese and Continental Fares with an assortment of Indian delicacies that include Kebabs, Bhutte ki Kees, Khoprapak, Mawa-Bati and Malpua. The best time to visit here is during the festivities of Dussehra and in winters when the weather’s quite pleasant and perfect to explore the architectural marvels and historic glory in town.

Also known as Mini Varanasi, Omkareshwar is located at the confluence of Rivers Kaveri and Narmada, housing one of the 12 worshipped Jyotirlingas. Shaped as the holy symbol of ‘Aum’, owing to the merging of a central pool of Narmada Waters and two valleys, Omkareshwar is home to two ancient shrines, one of them by the same name and the other being Amarkareshwar. Brimming with picturesque beauty and architectural feats, it’s one of the most sacred towns of Madhya Pradesh and is a significant tourist destination for Lord Shiva’s followers.

Encompassed by mountains, it makes for lovely views and exploration around the island is considered very pious and religious, in addition, to be being a perfect place for some quiet reflection. Some other tourist spots here include the Kedareshwar Temple, Siddhanath Temple and Sri Govinda Bhagvatpaada Cave. Food options are considerably limited in Omkareshwar with just a handful of eating places offering a variety of vegetarian food options, given the spiritual ambiance of the place. The temples also have food servings that include Puri-Subzi, Samosa and Pakoda for visitors.

Located in the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh can be visited at any time depending on your reasons for visiting. The state’s huge expanse witnesses varying temperatures in changing seasons and in different regions.