GENERAL INFORMATION 
Madhya Pradesh, India's second largest state and the geographical heartland of the country, is situated in the centre of the country. Except for the valleys of the Narmada and the Tapi rivers, M.P. consists of a plateau with a mean elevation of 1600 ft. above sea level, interspersed with the mountains of the Vindhyachal and the Satpura ranges. The state is bordered on the west by Gujarat, on the northwest by Rajasthan, on the northeast by Uttar Pradesh, on the east by Chhattisgarh, and on the south by Maharashtra. Some of MP's attractions are remote and isolated Khajuraho, a city of love; Jabalpur, with its marble rocks; Kanha National Park, famous for its tigers.Madhya Pardesh constitutes part of what is known as Hindi belt.

HISTORY
The history of Madhya Pradesh goes back to the time of Ashoka, the great Buddhist emperor whose Mauryan Empire was powerful in Malwa. At Sanchi you can see the Buddhist centre founded by Ashoka , the most important reminder of him in India today. The Mauryans were followed by Sungas and then by Gupta ,before the Hun swept across the state. Around 1000 years ago the parmras ruled over in south –west Madhya Pardesh – they re chiefly remembered for Raja Bhoj, who gave his name to city of Bhopal and also ruled over Indore and Mandu From 950to 1050 A.D. the Chandelas constructed the fantastic series of temples in Khajuraho in north of the state .Between the 12th and 16th centuries, the region saw continuing struggled between Hindu and Muslim rulers or invaders.

FAIR AND FESTIVALS
While the traditional religious festivals of the Hindus, Muslims and other communities are celebrated in Madhya Pradesh as enthusiastically as in the rest of India, it is the tribal fairs and festivals of Madhya Pradesh which are a celebration of the ethnic life-styles of the colourful tribes of the land. The tribal festivals in Jhabua and Bastar are marked by carefree revelry, drinking bouts and exotic entertainment like cock-fighting, uninhibited dancing, etc. The casual visitor often fails to appreciate adequately the genuine and strong tradition of democracy in tribal society, the harmonious living with nature, the respected status accorded to women, the amicable sharing of the community resources.Among the cultural festivals of Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho Festival of Dances and the Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior are poignant celebrations of Indian classical dance and music.

WILDLIFE IN MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pardesh is India largest state, the geographical heartland of the country and heaven for wildlife. In its dense forests, the tiger prowls and the spotted deer, the blue-bull and the gaur roam free. In the Kanha National Park, barasingha has been saved from extinction. The sal and bamboo forests of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Satpura and many other National Parks and Sanctuaries are teeming with all kinds of wildlife and many hundred species of birds.

MUSEUMS IN MADHYA PRADESH
Central Museum, Bhopal  The Central Museum at Bhopal was established in 1949. On view are paintings, coins, porcelain object, metal and ivory toys and artifact, woodcarvings and a number of miscellaneous items like needle-works and local handicrafts.
Timing are: 10:30 to 17:00 closed on Sunday.

State Museum, Bhopal  As museum devoted to archeology, the State Museum exhibits antiquities like coins, sculptures, terracotta excavated from all the significant sites of the region. Also on the view are paintings and handicrafts, especially those made by the tribal communities of the Baster.
Timing are: 10:00 to 17:00 closed on Monday.

Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal In February 1982, a unique cultural complex called Bharat Bhavan opened in Bhopal. Built and designed by the well known architecture Charles Correa, the complex is set in a number of the number of low building set around the banks of the lake. Here in one compound are the Rang Mandal, the theatre repertory; Anhad, the hall for classical music; Vagath, the poetry Library; Bahirrang, Roopankar, the museum of the art.

H H Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum, Gwalior  Situated in the Jai Vilas Place, the Scindia Museum has a variety of objects ranging from sculptures, bronze weapon's miniature paintings, manuscripts and coins.

Archaeological Museum, Sanchi    Like most site Museums in India, this one also owes its genesis to an English general accidentally stumbling upon some ancient ruins around 1818. Eventual archaeological explorations revealed one of the richest sculptural finds of Buddhist heritage. The original stupa was started here by Emperor Ashoka. Successive generations continued to renovate and embellish the original brick stupa with exquisitely sculpted stone. This period of superb creativity stretched between 3rd century AD, blending Hindu and Buddhist styles and building a complex of stupa, temples, monasteries, etc. that remain unparalleled in the excellence of the form and beauty of detailed.There is a lion capital of an Ashoka pillar here very similar to the one found in Sarnath, the latter now the emblem of India. Other notable sculptures found here include statues of the Buddha, several bodhisattavas and early Hindu Period statues of Ganesh, Mahishasuramardini among others.
Timing are 9:00 to 17:00 .

Archaeological Museum, Khajuraho  Khajuraho, once capital of the Chandela dynasty, is today known for its magnificent temples. In 1910,W E Jardine, the then political of Bundelkhand, displayed a collection of the object which he gathered from the temple complex, in an open air enclosure near the western group of temples. First called the Jardine Museum the name changed to Archaeological Museum in 1952. Most of the 2000 objects are masterpieces of Indian Sculpture. The Nittra Ganesha, a colossal image depicts the elephant-headed god dancing while his attendants keep rhythm; a marvelous Hari -Hara representing the deity whose right half is Shiva and left Vishnu manifests the perfectly conceived unity of the gods. Other outstanding pieces are huge Parvati, Shiva as Andhakasuravadhamurti where the deity is shown wielding his trishul on demon, a seated Bhairava and Sadashivia.
Timings: 1000-1700 hrs.

CLIMATE   The climate is monsoonal, with much of the rain falling from June to October at averages 60 inches or more, dropping to 40 inches or less in the west and less than 30 inches in the Chambal River valley to the north. The March-to-May season is hot and dry, and temperatures everywhere are higher than 29º C. Winters are usually pleasant and dry. Best time to visit: September to February.

BEST SEASON  The best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is during the relatively cool winter months between November and February. In the hot season (April, May and June), the region heats up like a furnace, and daytime temperatures frequently exceed 40°C. If you can stand the heat, this is the best time to catch glimpses of tigers in the parks. The rains finally sweep in from the southeast in late June or early July.

State Capital :               Bhopal
Languages :                  Hindi, Bundelkhandi, Malwi & Chattisgari
Area Covered :             4,43,446sq.km.