& CHHATTISGARH 669 Bandhavgarh National Park Kanha National Park © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Khajuraho Jagdalpur (National Park) Pench Tiger Reserve Orchha Bhimbetka Pachmarhi Mandu ( p689 ) ( p717 ) or ( p682 ) ( p677 ) Bhopal Kanha Orchha ( p699 ) Khajuraho ( p723 ) p723 ( ( p719 ), ( p709 ) or the picturesque hill hill ) or the picturesque p709 ( ( p695 ), a short bus ride from p695 ( Pachmarhi Jagdalpur to see one. Outdoor enthusiasts can also head to the hill station of Pachmarhi can also head to the hill station of Pachmarhi Outdoor enthusiasts to see one. ( p716 ) Mandu not Bandhavgarh station of the mosques and bazaars of city of Bhimbetka Heritage temples at Heritage temples around of Pench before drying off with a stroll around the drying off with a stroll around the before village’s magnificent palaces

Escape the heat of the plains at the ruined rock paintings at See 12,000-year-old Blush at erotic carvings on the World Raft in the Betwa River Stay with a tribal family in the villages through the tiger parks Ride elephant-back

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The more adventurous will love a foray into tribal Chhattisgarh, which split from Madhya a foray into tribal Chhattisgarh, will love adventurous more The The erotic carvingsThe at Khajuraho art, ’s finest examples of temple among but they are Rivers play a more spiritual role elsewhere. The ghats at are one of the four locations ghats at Ujjain are The spiritual role elsewhere. play a more Rivers Tiger parks are the star attraction, with Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh offering excellent offering and Bandhavgarh attraction, the star with Kanha, parks are Pench Tiger

tribespeople in central India, a world still far removed from mainstream Indian culture. from mainstream removed tribespeople in central India, a world still far for the average tourist, but for the intrepid it offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of glimpse into the life a fascinating it offers tourist, but for the intrepid for the average Pradesh in 2000. Poor infrastructure leaves much of this densely forested state out of bounds state much of this densely forested leaves Pradesh in 2000. Poor infrastructure laid-back village of Orchha, while Bhimbetka offers 12,000-year-old rock paintings. laid-back village of Orchha, while Bhimbetka 12,000-year-old offers at the ruined hilltop city of Mandu and wonderfully the imposing palaces towering over don’t stand alone, either architecturally or artistically. There are splendid Afghan monuments Afghan splendid are or artistically.don’t stand alone, either architecturally There dominated Bhopal, while those interested in shouldn’t miss Sanchi’s stupas. in Buddhism shouldn’t while those interested Bhopal, dominated temples and ghats at Omkareshwar and . Mosques and bazaars abound in Muslim- Mosques and bazaars abound at Omkareshwar and ghats and Maheshwar. temples for ’s Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest festival. A similarly reverent aura envelopes the aura envelopes A similarly reverent festival. for Hinduism’s Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest unlucky chances to see India’s most treasured animal. In fact, at Bandhavgarh you’d have to be pretty to be pretty you’d have animal. In fact, at Bandhavgarh treasured chances to see India’s most Orchha. rafting can be done around jeep safaris and trekking, while river for more it growls deeply, offering something big and beautiful to those who will prowl the plains. something big and beautiful to those it growls deeply, offering The vast state of Madhya Pradesh (MP) doesn’t roar for attention like its neighbours. Instead Instead like its neighbours. doesn’t roar for attention Madhya Pradesh (MP) of state vast The

Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh & MADHYA PRADESH & CHHATTISGARH 670 (200km) To Ahmedabad 50 MADHYA PRADESH&CHHATTISGARH (200km) To When togo Main language Capital Area Population When togo Main language Capital Area Population Madhya Pradesh FAST FACTS Chhattisgarh Bagh AHAPAEH&CHTIGR • Hsoy MADHYA PRADESH&CHHATTISGARH ••History 3 135,000sqkm 308,000sqkm Mandu Raipur Bhopal 4 Mandsaur R AJSTHN Ujjain Maheshwar Kota 20.8million 60.4million October to March October toMarch October Jaipur Hindi M AHRST Omkareshwar Bhimbetka Bhopal Kota 12 Biaora Madhav (Shivpuri) Shivpuri Timurni National Park Sanchi 3 Dholpur Betul Chanderi Agra Obaidullaganj Bhojpur National Satpura Itarsi Udayapur Vidisha Park Datia Chhindwara Gwalior (National Park) Pench Tiger 26 Pipariya Sonagir Orchha Lalitpur P RADESH Pachmarhi Reserve Jhansi A NDHR P RADESH 7 M ADHY 12 Chhatarpur Sagar Dhubela Narsinghpur Harpalpur Nagpur Bamitha Jabalpur Chiraidongri Mahoba paged across thestate. Around1000years ago at Udaigiri( p699 ) –before theHuns ram- II ruledfromUjjain andhadthecaves cut (see and theGuptas p40 ) – Chandragupta Sanchi’s Great Stupa( p696 ). the Mauryan empire from andbuilt peror Ashoka boxed (see text, p41 ) controlled whentheBuddhist em- the 3rdcenturyBC, Stone Age of tothestart recorded historyin tell of thelate a culturalsuccessionthrough which date backmore than10,000years. They at Bhimbetka ( p695 ) andPachmarhi ( p699 ), as Malwa, withtherockpaintings starting their markontheregion historicallyknown ofVirtually allphases Indianhistorymade History Khawasa National Seoni Panna Kanpur 25 Park 7 Mandla The Mauryas were followedbytheSungas Khatiya Khajuraho Katni 6 Lucknow Ramnagar 86 Amarpatan Panna Balaghat Umaria Baihar Ajaigarh Tala Mukki

Chitrakot Falls National Chitrakoot 16

Region Kanha Chingitarai

Satna Park Bastar 26 Pakhnar Dindori Raipur Rewa Bhoramdeo C HATISGR National Park Bandhavgarh Kawardha Tokapal 27 Pamela Kanker Dhamtari 43 Allahabad Kondagaon 28 Kuknar 200km 100miles 0 0 Sirpur Darbha Bastar Bilaspur P RADESH Visakhapatnam Nagarnar (National Park) Udanti Sanctuary Nangur Bheemunipatnam U TAR Jagdalpur (National Park) Sanctuary Barnawapara Varanasi lonelyplanet.com Kanger Valley National Park Ambikapur JHARKHAND O RISA Bengal Bay of 5 2