Journey through Central India (Madhya Pradesh)
(24 Days / 23 Nights)
(Delhi - Indore - Omkareshwar - Maheshwar - Mandu - Dhar - Ujjain - Bhopal - Udaigiri - Sanchi - Bhimbetka - Satpura - Pench Nationalpark - Kanha Nationalpark - Bandhavgarh-Nationalpark - Khajuraho - Orchha - Gwalior - Agra - Delhi)
(to view the route of this tour on a Map please click here)

The State of Madhya Pradesh (Central India) is geographically the heart of India. The largest part of the state is a high plateau, which is very dry and hot in summer. The size and the geographic isolation of Madhya Pradesh is known in history under the name of Malwa, this state of invasions were largely unaffected. Nevertheless, Madhya Pradesh is the southernmost state of the landlocked states in India. The size of the state is so large that the time is 40 minutes ahead of the local time zone in Ramanujgang, a town on the eastern border of the State and Jabhua, on the western border. Inspite of its central position it has all the characteristics of a marginal territory. The climate of Madhya Pradesh is very hot and dry in summers and pleasant in winters. So, the best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is from September to March. Some of the major towns in Madhya Pradesh are Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur. Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Most of the people speak Hindi or some dialect of Hindi.

Day 01. Flight to India (Delhi)
Around midnight arrival in Delhi. The cosmopolitan City and capital Delhi is the main gateway for travellers. You are met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to your Hotel.

Day 02. Delhi - Indore (by air): Excursion to Omkareshwar and Maheshwar (about 145 km / 3-4 hrs)
After breakfast we have flight to Indore, Arrival in Indore, From the airport, we proceed directly to Omkareshwar, situated about 77 km from Indore. It is an important place of pilgrimage. It is a sacred island shaped like the holy Hindu symbol ‘Om’ in the middle of the Narmada, which has drawn pilgrims for centuries. The island is about 2 km long and 1 km wide and is divided from north to south by a deep gully. The Omkar Mandhata temple is situated at the eastern end of the island. This temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. This temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga in India, a natural rock feature that is believed to be representations of Siva in the form of a linga. This temple has beautiful carvings. After the sightseeing we drive to Maheshwar. Overnight stay at Maheshwar.

Day 03. Maheshwar - Mandu (about 65 km / 1.5 hrs)
Maheshwar is situated about 91 km. from Indore. Maheshwar is situated on the northern banks of the Narmada river. Maheshwar has been identified as Mahishmati, the ancient capital of King Kartivirarjun. This ancient town is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and revived by Ahilya Bai, the Holkar queen of Indore. This town is also known throughout India for its Maheshwar saris. Maheshwar has beautiful temples and a fort complex. The temples and fort complex are reflected quietly in the river flowing below. The temples which can be seen in Maheshwar are Kalshwara, Rajarajeshwara, Vithaleshwara and Ahileshwar. First we have sightseeing tour of Maheshwar: Here is the Chhatri of Ahalya Bai who died in 1795, she is the widow of Malhar Rao, after the death of her husband she took over the government and fulfilled their task with great care and abilities.
After the sightseeing we drive to royal city of Mandu. Mandu was founded by Raja Bhoj in the 10th century as a fortress and retreat. Mandu is the largest standing fortified town in the world. Mandu is also known for a very romantic love story between its last King Baz Bahadur and his love Rani Rupmati – a lovely Rajput peasant girl. It is among the most interesting sights in central India. Overnight stay at Mandu.

Day 04. Mandu - Dhar (about 75 km / 2 hrs)
Today morning we have sightseeing in Mandu. We visit Jahaz Mahal, a palace shaped like a ship that floats serenely on the lake, Its shape and kiosks looks like a heavenly ship sailing into eternity, it is very famous place of Mandu. After this we visit Hindola Mahal, Champa Baoli, Jami Masjid, Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Rewa Kund (Palace of Baz Bahadur), Roopmati Pavilion. After the sightseeing of Mandu we drive to Dhar.
Dhar: Dhar was the capital of the Parmar kings. It was later conquered by Muslims. Dhar was founded by Raja Bhoj. The monuments here are a combination of Hindu, Afghan and Mughal architecture. We have a good view of the city from the ramparts of the well-preserved forts. . In the large stone mosque (Bhojashala) you can admire Sanskrit inscriptions. Next to the mosque is the grave of the Muslim saint Kamal Maula. After the sightseeing we dribe back to mandu. Overnight stay in Dhar.

Day 05. Dhar - Ujjain - Indore (about 170 km / 4 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Ujjain. Ujjain is one of the greatest cities of ancient India and one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus in India. It is also one of the four towns where the Kumbh Mela is held and plays as a host up to a million pilgrims who gather on the place every twelve years. The city has had a long and distinguished history. According to legend, the gods and the demons once churned the ocean for Kumbha (a pot of divine nectar). First emerged a pot of vish or poison. The Lord Shiva drank it down. The poison was so strong that his divine neck turned blue and he was known as the Nilkantha or the blue-necked one. It all happened at Ujjain and that is the reason for its sacredness. Today we visit the famous temple of Ujjain. Mahakaleshwar Temple, with its soaring Shikhar (tower) dominates the skyline and life of Ujjain. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses the lingam of Lord Shiva. This temple is also an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. This temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, and believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving its Shakti or power from within itself. Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, located close to the tank near Mahakaleshwar Temple. This temple enshrines a large sculpted image of Ganesh. Then we visit Kaliadeh Palace, situated about 8 km from the city centre. The Kaliadeh Palace is built on the banks of the Shipra river. This once imposing building was built by Mahmud Khilji in 1458. Akbar stayed here in 1601. After sightseeing in Ujjain we drive to Indore, where we overnight stay.

Day 06. Indore - Bhopal (about 188 km / 4 hrs)
There is not many sightseeing places in Indore, but the city is a convenient starting point for visiting Mandu. Indore makes a good, prosperous impression and is a center of the textile processing industry.
Indore was the historical capital of Holkars and is a center of the textile processing industry. Today we visit places like Lalbagh Palace and Museum, the Chattri Bagh, the Bada Ganesh and Annapurna Temple. After the sightseeing of Indore we drive to Bhopal. Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh which was founded by Raja Bhoj in 11th century. Bhopal is known as the city of lakes. Arrival in Bhopal. In the evening we have sightseeing in Bhopal. We will visit Taj -ul- Mosque, Birla Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Gandhi Bhawan and also enjoy the boat ride in the lake. Then apply drive to the Bhimteke caves.

Day 07. Bhopal: Excursion Udaigir and Sanchi
Today we have excursion to Sanchi (UNESCO Heritage Site) and Udaigiri. Stupa of Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structure. The construction work of this stupa was look after by Ashoka's wife, Devi herself, who was the daughter of a merchant of Vidisha. Sanchi was also her birthplace and also the venue of her and Ashoka's wedding.The Udayagiri Caves are a Hindu tradition site which are situated near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. They were decorated properly and reworked under the command of Chandragupta II, Emperor of the Gupta Empire, in the late 4th and 5th century CE. Udayagiri Caves are most important archaeological sites from the Gupta period and are presently a tourist site under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Day 08. Bhopal - Bhimbetka - Satpura (about 180 km / 4 hrs)
Today we take an excursion to Bhimbetka. Bhimbetka is an archaeological place in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is included in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bhimbetka Hill has the richest collection of prehistoric paintings associated with many other archaeological discoveries. The site was discovered by V.S. Wakanker of the Vikram University, Ujjain, in 1957 and systematic digging at the site has continued since 1971. The hill is located in the middle of a dense deciduous forest and there are over 30 species of trees with edible fruit, flower seeds and tubers. There is also still a rich wildlife including several species of deer, wild boar, sloth bear, antelope, leopard, jackal, scaly anteater and a wide range of species of birds. Perennial springs provide the essential year round water supply. In this place, over 700 caves with Neolithic rock-paintings have been discovered. The oldest paintings are at least as old as those of the Pyrenees. Over 500 caves contain prehistoric and later paintings and a smaller number have evidence of Stone Age habitation from the Lower Palaeolithic period to the late Mesolithic. Some of the cave paintings are quite small, while some are about 10 metres long. Red and white are the dominant colours used, but green and yellow are also found. The paintings belongs to three periods. The prehistoric phase is dominated by wild life paintings of cattle, boar, tiger, deer engaged in various activities, and varies from tiny miniatures to life size and often life-like representation. Hunting is a common theme, the humans during this period being shown simply as “stick men”. Some women are shown, occasionally pregnant. In the transitional period, men are shown grazing or riding animals, but animals lose their proportions and naturalism. The later period is quite different, and animals and animal hunts are replaced by battle scenes with men riding on elephants and horses with spears, bows and arrows and probably date from the early centuries AD. Bhimbetka is designed as a place of residence of the hero Bhima of Indian epic Mahabharata, Bhimbetka was first mentioned in Indian archeological records based on information from local tribal people as a Buddhist site.
After sightseeing we drive to Satpura. Overnight stay in Satpura.

Day 09. Satpura
Today we have morning and evening safaris in Satpura National Park. The Satpura National Park was founded in 1981 and extends over 524 square kilometers. It is covered with evergreen sal, teak and bamboo forests. In the park, the bison, tigers, leopards, bears and four horn antelope, nilgai and a variety of birds are seen. In Satpura National Park we view a wide variety of animals. Overnight stay in a Jungle Lodge in Satpura.

Day 10. Satpura - Pench National Park (about 250 km / 6 hrs)
Today we drive to Pench National Park. The Pench National Park extends along the Pench river divided over 275 square miles between the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It derives its name from Pench River that flows through the National park from north to south dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves. This river is the major source for water in this National Park. It was declared a sanctuary in 1977 but was given the status of National park in 1983. It was established as Tiger Reserve area in 1992.

Day 11. Pench National Park
We have two Jungle Safaris in Pench National Park (Morning and Afternoon). Tiger is the main cat species of the park present in large numbers but spotted very rarely. Commonly seen wild attractions of the park are nilgai, jackal, sambhar, wild boar and chital. Other wild animals are jungle cat, barking deer, leopard, gaur, chowsingha, sloth bear, wild dog, porcupine, monkey, fox and striped hyena. There are more than 170 species of birds in the park including several migratory birds. Some of them are red-vented bulbul, crimson-breasted barbet, magpie robin, peafowl, junglefowl, crow pheasant, racket-tailed drongo, lesser whistling teal, pintail, herons, egret and shoveler. This national park is rich with chitals i.e. axis axis or more commonly spotted deer. Overnight stay in Tiger Resort.

Day 12. Pench National Park - Kanha National Park (about 130 km / 4 hrs)
Today in the morning after having breakfast we drive to Kanha National Park. Kanha National Park is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Asia and is one of the first Project Tiger reserves in India. It was founded in the year 1955 and covers an area of over 940 square km in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km² and the neighboring 110 km² Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve.Hundreds of different species of birds and about twenty-two species of mammals live here between deciduous forests, savannah grasslands, hills and rivers. Since the establishment of the park, even the tiger population has doubled. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 13. Kanha National Park
Today in the morning we have jeep safari in Kanha National Park and watch the activities of various animals like Tiger, Barasingha, Spotted deer, Blackbuck, Porcupine, Grey Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Nilgai, Gaur, Indian Bison and Wild Pig. Kanha is famous for its large mammals. The park has a good population of tiger. Kanha is famous for its large mammals. In addition, other large carnivore animals are also seen in the park.

Day 14. Kanha National Park - Bandhavgarh national park (about 240 km / 8 hrs)
Today in the morning after having breakfast we drive to Bandhavgarh National Park. Bandhavgarh National Park is situated amidst the Vindhyas mountain range in Madhya Pradesh. The famous white tigers were first found in the Bandhavgarh National Park. The other wildlife attractions in the park besides Tiger includes Regal Gaur, the Muntajac, Jungle Cat, Ratel, Porcupine, Rhesus Macaque, black faced Langur, Nilgai, Chital, Chinkara, Sloth Bear, Four-horned Antelope, Deer, Striped Hyena, Fox, Jackal, Leopard, Mongoose and Wild Boar. The deep valleys of hilly Vindhyan mountains are covered with teak and bamboo forests, open grasslands and Sal-bamboo and mixed forests offer excellent opportunities for wildlife and bird watching. The name Bandavgarh comes from the highest mountain of the area (807 m).

Day 15. Bandhavgarh National Park
Today we have two jungle safaris in Bandhavgarh National Park (Early Morning and Late Afternoon). We watch the activities of various animals like black faced Langur, Nilgai, Chital, Chinkara, Sloth Bear, Four-horned Antelope, Deer, Striped Hyena and Tigers. The park is located in the districts of Shahdol and Jabalpur in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The park was founded in 1968 and covers an area of 437 square kilometers, which is mostly covered with deciduous forest, vast grasslands and bamboo woods.

Day 16. Bandhavgarh National Park
Early morning and late afternoon Jungle Safaris with the leader in the conservation area of Bandhavgarh National Park. The deep valleys of hilly Vindhyan mountains are covered with teak and bamboo forests, open grasslands and Sal-bamboo and mixed forests offer excellent opportunities for wildlife and bird watching.

Day 17. Bandhavgarh National Park - Khajuraho (about 226 km / 7 to 8 hrs)
Today we have a long drive to Khajuraho. Khajuraho was the capital of the Chandela dynasty. The Chandela Kings claimed descent from the moon. The temples of Khajuraho are among the finest examples of temple craftsmanship in the whole of India. Arrival in Khajuraho in the evening. The rest of the day at leisure.

Day 18. Khajuraho
Today we visit the temple complex of Eastern Group and Western Group to see the most beautiful temples in India. The temples of Khajuraho are considered the epitome of Hindu architecture and sculpture art. Most famous among them is the Laxmana Temple which is dedicated to god Vishnu. The presence of erotic sculptures in the Temples at Khajuraho is one of the expressions among others of the celebration of all human activities displaying different aspects of Hinduism. The figures of Apsaras, the sky dancers, can be seen at each temple. The village and market of Khajuraho can be explored on foot from the hotel.The rest of the day is at leisure to relax

Day 19. Khajuraho - Orchha (about 175 km / 3-4 hrs)
Today we drive to Orchha via Jhansi. In Jhansi we visit the fort of Jhansi. Jhansi Fort is not only one of the most fortified fort in Uttar Pradesh, but also in India. Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha built this fort in the early 17th Century. Jhansi The museum is located in the Fort of Jhansi. The museum offers not only an insight into the history of Jhansi, but the entire region of Bundelkhand. The museum offers an insight into the life of Chandela dynasty. Then we drive to Orchha. Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy to the ages. In this medieval city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection. In the afternoon arrival in Orchha. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 20. Orchha - Gwalior (about 119 km / 3.5 hrs)
Today we drive to Gwalior. Gwalior's strategic position between North and South India has made it's Fort an important possession and it was captured by several ruling houses. Some left almost as soon as they came, while others stayed on to build and beautify the citadel. We visit the fort of Gwalior today itself. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 21. Gwalior - Agra (about 120 km / 3.5 hrs)
Today we drive to Agra. In the afternoon we will visit the Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in 1565 under Akbar's reign and continued till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan who built the impressive imperial quarters and mosque. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 22. Agra - Delhi (about 200 km / 4 hrs)
Today morning visit to the most beautiful and famous building Taj Mahal, an enduring monument to love, with a continually fulfilling beauty. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1631-52, as a tomb and memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace), who died at the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child. We spend enough time at Taj Mahal to take this impressive memory home. After the visit of Taj Mahal we have a look at the famous fine marble inlay work which is still being done in Agra by the descendants of the families of builders and artists of the Taj Mahal. After the sightseeing of Agra we drive to Delhi.

Day 23. Delhi
In the morning we have sightseeing in Old Delhi. We take a Rickshaw Ride parallel to the Red Fort through the old city and famous Silk Road and Silver Bazaar. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes "Rajghat", the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and Jama Masjid, the great mosque of old Delhi. Today we also visit the famous "Humayun Tomb" which is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India and "Qutub Minar". "Qutub Minar" is 71 meter high and consists of five stories. In 1199 work began on this tower which was intended to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world. This tower was damaged twice and repaired in 1326 and 1368. Before we proceed to the Hotel we drive through the embassy area in New Delhi where we visit the India Gate and see some impressive Government Buildings.

Day 24. Flight to Home Destination
The day is today at leisure. You have to checkout from the hotel upto 12.00 am. Depending on your departure time you will be transferred to airport / Railway station of / Bus station for onwards journey. (End of Tour)

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About Hotels:
We provide you the accommodation as per your budget mentioned above in the table of hotels category for any of the booked tour. Hotels provided by us are from budget to luxury class hotels. The criteria for selecting hotels by us remains the best value of your money. We also provide you wherever possible accommodation in heritage hotels. Heritage Hotels are old Palaces, Forts and Grand mansions of Maharajas which have been later renovated and converted into Hotels. Rooms are decorated all individually. Rooms are comfortable, romantic and present the flair of olden Maharaja days.