Central India comprises of the states of Madhya Pradesh and parts of Chattisgarh. The region has over a third of India's forests and hence numerous natural parks and sanctuaries, including Kanha and Bandhavgarh.
Madhya Pradesh occupies perhaps the oldest part of the subcontinent. Close to Bhopal at Bhimbetka are the prehistoric caves that preserve some fascinating cave paintings dating back to Paleolithic times. Experts have concluded that these are at least as old as the specimens at Pyrenees.
Geographically it is a land of contrasts, with river valleys, dense forests and rolling plains overlooking the ancient hills of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and the sprawling highlands of the Malwa plateau. The region offers an exciting contrast of destinations from the superb fort in Gwalior which saw many fierce battles to the legends of love in the City of Joy - Mandu; an awesome spectacle of nature - marble rocks in Jabalpur to tradition of faith - the legendary city of Ujjain and Buddhist site at Sanchi. The spectacular temples at Khajuraho are known world over for their exquisite sculptures depicting life in medieval India - though it is only the erotic scenes that are more famous.
Chattisgarh, is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The State has many ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists compared to traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. Chhattisgarh offers the tourist a Destination with a Difference. This was perhaps one of the earliest dwellings of human beings, the excavations here have revealed a cultural sequence right from the late Stone Age to the early historical period.
The common Languages spoken here are Hindi, Urdu, Chattisgarhi and English.
British supremacy over states of Central India began in 1802, when several states in the Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand regions came under British control at the conclusion of the Treaty of Bassein between the British and the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao II.
British control of Bundelkhand expanded at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1805. The remaining states, including Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, and a number of smaller states in the regions of Malwa, Nimar, and Bundelkhand, came under British control with the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818.
The state of Chanderi was ceded to the British by the Scindia ruler of Gwalior in 1844, and became part of the United Provinces, as did the state of Jhansi, seized by the British in 1853 under the doctrine of lapse. In 1921 GwaliorResidency was separated from the Central India Agency, and in 1933 the state of Makrai transferred to Central India from the Central Provinces and Berar.
Source: Wikipedia
Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh experience typical tropical climate with hot and humid summers and pleasant winters. The best time to visit Central India is between November and February. The weather around this time of the year is very pleasant and comfortable.
Clothing: Light Cottons for summer and light woolens for winter are recommended. Early mornings and evenings can be quite chilly in the winters.
Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are reminders of the days gone by, of empires & kingdoms, of great warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints & philosophers, of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jaisism & Islam. A good part of this region is forested, offering a unique & exciting panorama of wildlife.
Erotic sculptures & temples of Khajuraho are also among the most popular tourist destinations for the visitors. The temples of Khajuraho are considered as a unique gift to the world. The state of Chhattisgarh sounds inviting with its lure of untouched forests, meandering rivers, waterfalls, ancient caves and temples and rich tribal population.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid for 6 months. Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals. It is always advisable to make photocopies of important documents such as passport, visa and air tickets. They will be required in case the originals are lost.
There aren't too many scheduled flights within the region. Train or road journeys are the best way to get around.
A network of National Highways and State Highways criss-cross the state. Quality of the roads is improving steadily - expect a mix of modern multi-lane highways and poorly maintained single lane roads on your journeys. Often roads through forest land are deliberately left potholed or ill-maintained to discourage heavy or high-speed traffic.
There aren't too many good rest stops en route with clean facilities. Your driver will know where to stop in most cases, but the seasoned traveller anticipates his needs in advance!
Bhopal is the main key railway station in the state which is served by important trains connecting to the rest of the country. There are two major railway stations in Chhattisgarh - Raipur and Bilaspur which connect the major railway stations in India. Since Raipur comes almost in the middle point between Mumbai and Howrah, two most important railway stations in west and east, is served by important trains regularly.
The region is not as well connected as many others in the country.
