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Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is famous throughout the world for the temples of Khajuraho built in the 10th and 11th
centuries, whose internal and external walls are embellished with exquisite
stone carvings which portray every facet and mood of life, from the erotic to
the divine, the commonplace to the sublime. A week-long Festival of Classical
Dances is held at Khajuraho in February/March every year in which India's
foremost exponents of dance perform against the spectacular backdrop of the
floodlit temples.
However, the State has much more than just khajuraho.
With almost a third of its area covered with forests, it has as many as 11
National Parks and 31 Wildlife Sanctuaries (including the
Kanha National Park and
Bandhavgarh National Parks, Asia's largest wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve). Apart from panthers, gaur
(Indian bison) and a variety of deer, these Parks between them are home to
one-sixth of the world's tiger population. Little wonder then that Madhya
Pradesh wears the mantle of "Tiger State".
Gwalior, in North Madhya Pradesh, is dominated by massive hilltop Fort, one of the
best specimens of medieval architecture. Apart from a number of interesting
monuments such as the beautiful Mansingh Palace (perched on the very
edge of the fort), Teli Mandir and the
exquisitely carved Sas Bahu Temple (deciated to 'Sahasrabahu', 'the
thousand-armed' Lord Vishnu), the Fort aslso houses one of the India's leading
public schools, The Scindia School which celebrated its centenary in
1997.
The Durbar Hall of the 19th century Jai Vilas Palace,
residence of the Scindia family (the former rulers) located in the city, has a
pair of chandeliers reputed to be the largest in the world. Each is 12.8 m high
and wighs 3 tonnes. it is said that before installing them the Palace roof was
tested by hoisting 3 elephants onto it! A part of the Palace now houses a
museum of family memorabilia. The show-piece here is a model railway which
carried cigars and brandy around the dining table!
Gwalior has had a
very strong tradition of Hindustani classical music from medieval times. Baiju
Bawara, the composer-singer at the court of Raja Man Singh Tomar in the early
16th century, 'Sangeet Samrat' (king of music) Tansen, one of Mughal Emperor
Akbar's 'nine jewels', and in more recent times, classical singer V.D.Paluskar
and 'sarod' maestro Hafiz Ali Khan, all had their roots here (sarod= a string
instrument without frests). Tansen's Tomb in Gwalior is the venue for an
annual music festival. And Hafiz Ali Khan son and celebrated disciple, Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan, still mesmerises audiences throughout the world with the
lilting notes of his magical 'sarod'.
Bhopal, the capital, is
spread out on 7 gentle hills and around two pretty lakes. It is an amalgam of
scenic beauty, evocative monuments (such as the Taj-ul-Masjid, one of the
largest mosques in India, Jama Masjid and Moti Masjid), and contemporary
buildings.
Just 40 km South, amidst rocky terrain and dense forest, lies
the archaeological treasure Bhimbetka. The world's largest group of
rock shelters (nearly 700) belonging to the Neolithic age was found here
recently. more than 500 of these shelters have pre-historic paintings on their
walls depicting the lives of the cave dwellers-huge figures of bisons, tigers
and rhinoceros, hunting scenes, communal dances, mother and child, honey
collection and so on. And it has been found that the caves were used by
different people over a long period of time from the Upper Palaeolithic to the
Early Historic periods.
Sanchi, renowned for the oldest
Buddhist stupa in the world, build by Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC);
Orchcha, the capital city if the Bundela rulers (16th and 17th
centuries), famous for its grand palaces and temples; Mandu, a fortress
town strategically perched at the edge of the Malwa plateau and protected by
massive 45 km long fort walls; Shivpuri, the summer capital of the
former Scindia rulers; and Chanderi, famous for its fine sarees and
brocades, are some of the other places where M.P.'s archaeological treasures
are worth exploring.
The holy city, Ujjain, lies 188 km West of
Bhopal on the banks of the Shipra river. It is one of the four cities in india
where the Kumbh Mela is held every 3 years in rotation (each city
getting its turn after 12 years). During the Mela, millions of Hindu devotees
come for a purifying dip in the river. The city abounds in temples, and the
spire of the Mahakaleshwara Temple ( dedicated to Lord Shiva) dominates
its skyline.
Panchmarhi is a pretty hill station about 190 km
South-East of Bhopal. Its cascading waterfalls, deep blue pools, ravines and a
maze of gorges sculpted in red sandstone offer a quiet escape into
nature.
Shopping - Maheshwari sarees renowed for their
novel weave, colour, patterns and reversible border; Chanderi sarees and
brocades; finely ornamented Dhokra metal castings of animal figures, votive
lamps etc; gold & silver work and leather toys are the specialities of the
State.
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