Introduction
Located in the central India, Madhya Pradesh is very fondly called the “Heart of India” primarily because of its central location. The capital city of MP is Bhopal. This state is also the second largest in the nation by area and fifth largest by population. To the North East of Madhya Pradesh, lies Uttar Pradesh, to the South East lies Chhattisgarh, to the south lies Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan lie to its west and north-west respectively. 90% of the population is Hindu followed by Muslims, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs. Plain areas and hills constitute the topography of this state.
History
This state has been a home to Mauryan Empire, and has been under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya, and Ashoka. Eventually it saw a number of dynasties come and go such as Gupta Empire, Chalukya Empire, Mughal Empire and then finally British Raj. Gwalior is the historic city and is known globally for its rich cultural background.
Economic and Social Status
The economy of this state depends on agricultural activities. Chambal Valley, Narmada Valley, Malwa and Rewa plateau are the major agricultural regions and the food crops which are grown here are Wheat, Jowar, Rice, Pulses, Groundnuts and Millets. MP is also the largest producer of soya bean in the nation. One of the major industries here is Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) in Bhopal. The most prominent diamond mine – Panna is located here. There are a number of prominent people who belong to Madhya Pradesh such as Chandra Shekhar Azad, Lata Mangeshkar, Johny Walker, Sharad Joshi, Kishore Kumar, Jaya Bachchan and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Tourist Spots
This state is being coined as Incredible Madhya Pradesh and is publicized as “Hindustan ka Dil Dekho”. This state is magnificent, unique and has a number of tourist spots. Some of the sites here are also declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO such as Khajuraho Monuments, Buddhist Monuments, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters and many others. Ujjain is known for the Kumbh Mela which is organized every 12 years on the banks of Shipra River. Bhopal is known as the City of Lakes, Indore is the financial capital, Gwalior has a lot of Historical significance and Jabalpur is the cultural capital of the state. The famous tourist sites of this state are as under:
- Manua Bhan Ki Tekri Temple in Bhopal
- Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Bhopal
- Sanchi Stupa in Bhopal
- Paatal Pani Waterfall in Indore
- Narwar Fort in Gwalior
- Kuno National Park in Gwalior
- Sonagir Jain Temple in Gwalior
- Dhuandhar Waterfall in Jabalpur
- Kanha Tiger Reserve in Jabalpur
- Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar
- Omkareshwar Temple