MADHYA PRADESH (Central India), located in the heart of India is the largest state in the country, sprawling over 4,43,000 km. It has one third of India's forests and hence numerous natural parks and sanctuaries, including Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Geographically it is a land of contrasts, with river valleys, dense forests and rolling plains overlooked by 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 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 cities of Ujjain and Buddhist site at Sanchi. The states also proudly possess almost intriguing, the spectacular temples at Khajuraho known world over for their sheer beauty and masterpiece of art work on stone and erotic figures running through a whole Kamasutra.

Madhya Pradesh is a vast plateaux surrounded by the vindhya and satpura mountains, that rise from 600 to 1,300 m and make a rugged descent into the valleys of Narmada and Rapti rivers. The eastern plateu is poor in agriculture but heavily forested. In the northeast lies the depression of Chattisgarh where the west, the Malwa region is rich in wheat and cotton, cotton that brought fame to the cities of Ujjain, Gwalior and Indore. The state is also rich in teak, rosewood, ebony and saal forest where tiger, bison, deer and panther roam, a wildlife protected at the sanctuaries of Kanha and Bandhavgarh. The Narmada and Rapti Valleys have long served as a passageway connecting east and west India.

HOW TO REACH MADHYA PRADESH

Air
A number of airports are located within the state. Gwalior, Khajuraho, Indore, Jabalpur including capital Bhopal, the state are major airports in Madhya Pradesh. All public and private airlines operate regular flights to these airports.

Rail
Bhopal is the main key railway station in the state, which is served by important trains connecting it to the rest of the country.

Road
A strategic network of National Highways and State Highways interlink the cities of Madhya Pradesh to the other cities of India. The tourist destinations within the state located at convenient distance from Bhopal.