Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

It's time to explore a new place and I was doing my research to pick my next holiday destination.With the constraints of limited time for this holiday trip. Considering distance and time, holiday destination is in MADHYA PRADESH.

Madhya Pradesh surprises you with its beautiful Nature, Forest areas, Waterfalls, Hill station at Panchmarhi, History of Kings and Kingdoms at Orchha, Clear Narmada waters, Marble Rocks at Jabalpur, Hindu and Jain temples at Kajuraho, Wild life at Kanha national park. Incredible INDIA❤

Started off on a trip by road to Nagpur. It took good 13-14 hrs to reach Nagpur. Its a long day, checked into the hotel and straight to bed as the next morning after breakfast heading to Tamia.

Point of interests in Madhya Pradesh

1.Tamia:

Tamia is a picturesque forest destination that offers scenic and breath-taking views of dense forests and mountains. A must visit when you like less crowded and less explored place. Its on the hidden treasure, no commercial shops are available but there are cottages being built for the tourists.It is worth visiting Tamia hill top which offer panoramic views of the steep hills, vast greenery and deep valleys

on the way to Tamia

View from Tamia

After spending few hours at Tamia, the same afternoon started off to Panchmarhi.

2.Panchmarhi

Arrived Panchmarhi at around 7:30PM and checked into the hotel. Later, strolled through the streets of Panchmarhi (This gave me a feeling of Mahabaleshwar, Pune – may be from the temperatures in winter and those small streets for shopping & Eat-outs). As many other hill station destinations, Panchmarhi also offers many herbal products to shop ;-)

Private vehicle is not allowed into forest range therefore it’s a must to book a vehicle to vist the forest range area. Generally its also possible to check with your hotel owner/receptionist to arrange a vehicle (Jeep).

During a causal conversation with an omelet selling guy on the street in Panchmarhi , we made a deal to book  the Jeep for 2 days.

Next day, after breakfast we met the Jeep driver Guide. All Jeep drivers bring the tourists to Bison Lodge as a start point. The driver informed us to visit the Bison lodge while he would get the entry tickets for forest area.For kids, this will be an interesting museum and for adults a information center.

Pandava Caves:

5 hilltop caves believed to have been carved more than 1,000 years ago, with a formal garden below. According to local mythology, Pandavas lived in these caves during exile.

According to the locals, five caves were made for each of the brothers – Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Nakul, Sahdev, Bhima and for their wife – Draupadi. Draupadi Cave (Draupadi Kuti) is the most spacious and best ventilated one. Bhima’s Cave (Bhim Kothari) is the darkest of them all – Bhima was the toughest of all five brothers

"Panchmarhi" can be translated as "five caves" or also "five huts",thus the place named after Panchmarhi.

Queue to visit Pandava caves

Later the jeep drove into the forest area until one point and beyond one has to take walking trail. Its seems to be an easy trail walk while walking down the slope. During the trek we stopped by a few scenic spots.

Silver fall (a thin silver line farther way can be spotted on the Satpura Ranges) – beautiful to see with the naked eye. When you are lucky, you will spot one 'Crested Serpent Eagle'

Silver fall - 30th highest waterfall in India, only possible to view from a point

The trek to Apsara fall is tough for elderly people but the views are surreal and worth taking the pain. As per locals, British women used to take bath/swim here. Locals found them as Angels so is the name Apsara Vihar.

Apsara Vihar

After visiting few other small waterfalls around, we had to drive back into the panchmarhi city for lunch.

Right after the lunch, we drove to Bee falls. Such a mesmerizing waterfalls at a height of 35 meters,  one has to get down many many steps to get the view (may be around 600 (?) – I dint count) and trail route through lush greenery.

Bee Falls

..on the way to Bee falls..

Dhoopgarh – beautiful sunset to witness

reached Dhoopgarh just before the sunset, there already a lot of people waiting to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Its cold , the temperatures started to drop down and very windy. We are at an elevation of 1,352m ,the highest peak in Madhya Pradesh.

Yet times in life, we forget to appreciate the smallest things around us, being busy in fulfilling day to day chores.These are the moments I take the opportunity to appreciate and be grateful to life what God blessed us with.For me, these nature events are even more special - to watch sun set down at hill-stations or on the beaches. I love sunset ❤

Beautiful Sunset at Dhoopgarh, Panchmarhi

That’s a wonderful end to the day at Panchmarhi

Next day morning, after having samosa, namkeen and Poha for breakfast with a delicious chai (Tea) and started off to Orchha (a good 10hrs of travel by road). Arrived Orchha around 9PM checked in to the hotel.

3.Orchha 

Orchha was founded in 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, and also built the Fort of Orchha. Other sightseeing places in Orchha are Lakshmi Narayan temple, Chaturbhuj temple, RoyalChhatris (memorial of royals) on the bank of Betwa river.

It’s good to hire a guide to know the history of Bundelkhand and stories they tell about fort and other private rooms of the King and his Queens. 

Orchha Fort Complex 

Lakshmi Narayan temple is one of the huge temples in Orchha. The Mural inside the temples are well preserved. They not only charm the visitors but also preach the spiritual lessons and from the life incidents of Lord Rama and also seen paintings of avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Lakshmi Narayan temple, Orchha

Murals from Lord Vishnu 

painting of  a couple in the hallway of the temple

These Royal Chhatris are built in the memory of former rulers of Bundelkhand dynasty.

View of Royal Chattris along the Betwa river in the beautiful sunset

Later visited a light and sound show at Raj Mahal,The show engaged for about an hour explaining the history of King Rudra Pratap Singh and how Mughals attacked.

Details:Venue: Raj Mahal , Hours:English 6.30pm, Hindi 7.45pm Oct-Mar, all timings  an hour later Apr-Sep

After a long day at Orchha, we are off to Kajuraho and arrived after midnight.

4.Kajuraho:

Kajuraho is more than just about erotic sculptures. Only ~20% of the sculptures are erotic , there are other sculptures of the guardian dieties, the gandharvas, the shiva ganas, the astha dikpalas, apsaras,  human emotions or activities like dancing, playing drums and much more to appreciate the sculpting art.

Kajuraho is divided into Western,Eastern and Southern complexes. The Western complex is well maintained and also of more temples. Tourist guides are quite expensive but here better not to count on money.

Not sure how the idea or whose idea to make such sculptures during Chandela dynasty. But there are many mythological stories to it. During 13th century when Delhi Sultanate seized central India, only 22 temples survived.

Hindu temples often have erotic sculptures on the outer walls but not explicit as it is Kajuraho or Konark. There is a reasoning in Hindu Mythology why different sculptures or paintings are on the outer walls exist.

I remember reading the Hindu scripture at some temple (not in Kajuraho):
Moksha is attained when one leave all the materialistic pleasure on earth.  As per the Hindu Mythology,the outer most layer (walls) of a temple is the zone of demonic influence  (paisachika pada) where people spend their lives for the selfish desires. The next zone or layer of the temple is humans (manushya pada) where the thoughts are drawn towards him (God). The third zone of temple has more stronger  influence to wards the deity (deva pada) where the carvings and paintings of his creations ornate the walls and pillars of the temple. The fourth zone is the where the diety is placed (Brahma Pada).

To  be close to the God, we humans should leave all the worldly temporary pleasures.

Goddess Kali 

 Jain Temple

Varaha stone Statue with many other carvings on it.

Later in the evening , we headed toward eastern group of temples.If you do not have much time and interest, one can skip Eastern complex. At around 6 PM, had a good lunch+early dinner, off to Jabalpur – yet again 7hrs drive.
Overnight stay at Kajuraho would have been more relaxing but as we started off late. we had a make a stopover even before reaching Jabalpur for  the night's sleep.

5.Jabalpur:

Next day morning after breakfast started our journey to Marble rocks. On the way visited Rani Durgawati Fort.

Rani Durgawati Fort :

It is situated atop of the hill in Jabalpur town is a small but enchanting fort of the Rajgond rulers.It is well associated with Rani Durgavati the Gond Queen and her son Veer Narayan. Rani Durgavati eventually died fighting the Moguls and is hailed as a martyr in Indian history. Only Ruins can be seen and a small fort.

Lamheta ghat and Ghughra Falls :

Situated on the banks of Narmada River. Lamheta Ghat can be an option to visit. Its really nice to enjoy and relax at Ghughra Falls.

Ghugra Falls, Jabalpur

Bheda Ghat:

One can enjoy a boat ride at Bheda Ghat in clear, transparent and calm waters of Narmada River bounded by Marble rocks. Don't miss out on a boat ride as it is as well entertaining with the commentary and stories (on few Bollywood film making here) fro the guide and helmsman.

Marble rocks at Bheda Ghat, Jabalpur

Sunset at Bheda Ghat , Jabalpur

Dhuandhar Water falls:

Here, Narmada water fall from a height of 95meters, with a loud sound. These waterfalls are extraordinary to watch.

Cable car over the Dhuandhar waterfalls, Jabalpur

At around evening, started off to Kanha National Park. Google maps are not the best option during our visit due to construction deviations. Its another adventure we ended up at the dried up river in the middle of the night. We have no choice but had to take U-turn. An advice is to check with your hotel at Kanha National Park to choose the route.

6. Kanha National Park

No advance booking is required.One can wake up early in the morning  to stand in the queue at ticket counter or check with hotel staff to arrange the safari booking.

This moment makes it all worth. Tiger sighting in wild life Safari's are one of the best moments.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"