Madhya Pradesh >> Tourist Places  
         

Madhya Pradesh, has a history spanning into centuries.

Amarkantak : Bandhavgarh : Bhedaghat : Bhimbhetka : Bhojpur : Bhopal : Gwalior :

Pench : Sanchi : Shivpuri : Ujjain are some of the prominent tourists attraction places.
 

Pench National Park is situated in the Seoni District of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the most accessible tiger reserves in the country. Most of the area is covered by small hills and mountains. It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1977 and got it's status of a National Park in 1983. It gained the the protection of  "Project Tiger" in 1992 and was declared as the 19th Tiger Reserve of India.

The tiger population in Pench is one of the biggest. The park is also rich in bird life with over 200 species like bulbuls, munias, mynas and blue kingfishers The park is open to the visitors from November 01st to June 30th each year and closed during the rainy season (July - September). It is very difficult to view much wildlife during winter months. Summer months are best time to visit the park, as the animals come out in search of waterholes.
The jungle camp offers facilities like billiards, badminton courts, wildlife research centre and a multi- cuisine restaurant. It has got cottage type accomodation and also has a main dining and lounge area.
 
Sanchi is located in the district of Raisen, 52 km form Bhopal. It is known for its temples, monasteries, stupas and pillars dating from the 3rd Century B.C. to the 12th Century A.D. The Great Stupa No.1, 36.5 mtrs in diameter and 16.4 mtrs high, is one of the oldest and most famous structures in India, built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka
The Buddhist sites of Sanchi were included on the World Heritage list in 1989. As per the ancient buddhist tradition, buddha is represented through symbols. The lotus represents the Buddha's birth, the tree signifies his enlightment, the wheel represents his first sermon and the stupa represents his nirvana or salvation. The footprints and the throne denote the Buddha's presence. Buddha was never depicted as a human figure.

Udaygiri Caves, Vidisha, Gyraspur and Udaypur are other places to visit.
The nearest airport is Bhopal, but Sanchi is well connected by road to almost all the large towns of Madhya Pradesh.