Madhya Pradesh

• Capital: Bhopal
• Population: 60.2 million
• Area: 308,000 sq. km
• Language: Hindi
• Best Season: Sep to Feb
• Weather: Summers 24°- 48° C. Winters 9°-36 °C.

Places to See Around

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Chhatris of Scindia Dynasty Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum Gandhi Sagar Dam Bijamandal Temple Nilkanth Budhni Dhar Fort Rajnagar Fort Chandri Monuments The Northern Gate The Kharmour Bird Sanctuary Bhadbhada Dam Chitragupta Temple Gomji-Somji Temple Tomb of Abul Fazal Likhichhaj Kanha National Park Raneh Falls Gupta Temple

Madhya Pradesh is called the Heart of India because of its location in the centre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism etc. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts & palaces are dotted all over the state. Madhya Pradesh bagged the Best Tourism State Award in 2012.

 

Madhya Pradesh, state of India. As its name implies madhya means “central” and pradesh means “region” or “state” it is situated in the heart of the country. The state has no coastline and no international frontier. It is bounded by the states of Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the southeast, Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat to the southwest, and Rajasthan to the northwest. The capital is Bhopal, in the west-central part of the state. Area 119,016 square miles (308,252 square km).

The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau streaked with the hill ranges of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, the State has everything. The hills give rise to the main river system - Narmada and the Tapti, running from east to west, and the Chambal, Sone, Betwa, Mahanadi west to east. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers dotted with hills and lakes and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in
 One third of the state is forested and offers a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife. In the National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Shivpuri and many others one has the rare opportunity to see the tiger, the bison and a wide variety of deer and antelope in sylvan surroundings.

 

Madhya Pradesh is home to a large tribal population, which has been largely cut-off from the mainstream development. This makes Madhya Pradesh one of the least developed states in India, with an HDI (Human Development Index) value of 0.375 (2011), which is below the national average.The state's per-capita gross state domestic product (nominal GDP) is the fourth lowest in the country (2010–11). MP is also the lowest-ranked state on the India State Hunger Index.

 

In the recent years, the state's GDP growth has been above the national average. The state is rich in mineral resources, and has the largest reserves of diamond and copper in India. More than 30% of its area is under the forest cover. Its tourism industry has seen considerable growth, with the state topping the National Tourism Awards in 2010-11.