Madhya Pradesh
Photos: Rohittkarwal (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The 'heart of India': tiger reserves, UNESCO temples and stupas, Malwa food cities and Narmada pilgrim towns.
Pick one circuit per trip; winter (October-March) is ideal for heritage, and tiger reserves are open October-June with core zones closed 1 July-30 September.
Highlights: Khajuraho temples · Sanchi stupa · Bhimbetka rock shelters · Tiger safaris at Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench · Ujjain Mahakaleshwar · Indore street food · Orchha and Gwalior forts · Mandu and Maheshwar on the Narmada · Pachmarhi hill station
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Indore
Commercial capital of the state, famous for street food, Rajwada palace and as the base for Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Mandu.
Bhopal
State capital known for its lakes, mosques, museums and as the base for Sanchi and Bhimbetka.
Gwalior
Fort city with one of India's grandest hill forts, the Jai Vilas Palace and a long musical tradition.
Ujjain
Ancient temple city on the Shipra river, home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and host of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
Khajuraho
UNESCO World Heritage temple town famous for its Chandela-era Hindu and Jain temples and their detailed sculpture.
Orchha
Riverside Bundela capital with palaces, cenotaphs and the Ram Raja temple, close to Jhansi.
Mandu
Ruined Malwa sultanate fort-city on a plateau, known for Jahaz Mahal, Rani Roopmati's pavilion and monsoon views.
Maheshwar
Narmada riverside town of Ahilyabai Holkar's fort and ghats, famous for Maheshwari handloom saris.
Pachmarhi
The state's only hill station, in the Satpura range, with waterfalls, caves and forest walks.
Sanchi
UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist site with the Great Stupa built first under Emperor Ashoka.
Omkareshwar
Island temple town on the Narmada with the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
Kanha National Park
One of India's best-known tiger reserves, famous for barasingha (hard-ground swamp deer) and sal forest meadows.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Compact tiger reserve with a historic hill fort, known for some of the highest tiger sighting chances in India.
Pench National Park
Teak forest tiger reserve on the Pench river, linked to Kipling's Jungle Book landscape.
Top sights
Bagalamukhi Temple
Hindu temple in Nalkheda, Madhya Pradesh, India
Jama Masjid
mosque in Chanderi district, Madhya Pradesh
Chanderi Fort
fort in Chanderi, Ashoknagar, India
Bawangaja
building in India
Bhainsdehi
human settlement
Gohad Fort
historic site in Madhya Pradesh, India
Ater Fort
17th century Indian fort
Taj Mahal Palace
Taj Mahal Palace,Bhopal
Nature and outdoors
Matatila Dam
dam in India
Rajghat Dam
dam in India
Bhojtal
lake near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Van Vihar National Park
national park in Madhya Pradesh, India
Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India
Ghatigaon Sanctuary
wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India
Bilawali Lake
lake in Indore, India
National Chambal Sanctuary
wildlife sanctuary