| Madhya Pradesh is the India’s second 
                        largest state. The word Madhya Pradesh literally means 
                        central province. Geographically, Madhya Pradesh is the 
                        heart of India. 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 western region has been part of the 
                        north-south corridor of population movement for over 
                        4,000 years. 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. 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. | 
                      
                        | Madhya Pradesh has some of the 
                        magnificent archaeological and historical sites and 
                        superb buildings. The stupa at Sanchi is one of the 
                        finest monuments in India. The Chandela temples at 
                        Khajuraho are testimony to a period of great artistic 
                        merit and the splendid fort and palaces at Gwalior 
                        reminds of the magnificence of many Indian princely 
                        states. Mandu occupied a strategic position on the 
                        important corridor from Delhi to the western seaboard. 
                        This delightful hilltop fort and citadel of palaces, 
                        mosques and tombs was fortified as early as the 6th 
                        century AD, and under the Muslim Sultans of Malwa it was 
                        named as Shadiabad, the City of Joy. Ujjain is one of 
                        the seven holy cities of India and a center of Hindu 
                        pilgrimage. The Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh 
                        National Park are the famous national parks in Madhya 
                        Pradesh. |