9 Days & 8 Nights
A trip to MP is hard to contain within a limited number of days. The heart of India has so much to offer and is so diverse that we picked up the best of every city and curated that for you. We have diverse heritage from the Nawabi architecture of Bhopal to the exquisite Hindu and Jain temples of Khajuraho and Orchha and the Buddhist Stupa of Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh houses 9 national parks and 9 rivers and their numerous tributaries flow through it. The birthplace of the mighty Narmada, and the background to history and mythology, Madhya Pradesh is like a fascinating Pandora's box that has been lying hidden in plain sight. That Bhopal was ruled mostly by female rulers and is referred to as Begum's Bhopal.
Best time to visit is in December
Arrive in Indore and after a quick lunch, proceed to Bhopal. Spend the evening at the Upper Lake. Drive or walk around the VIP road, which is the smaller version of the Marine Drive. Overnight at Bhopal.
We take a guided heritage walk through the old Bhopal city and understand the history and architecture. Bhopal was ruled solely by women for over 100 years between 1819 and 1926. The rule of Begums gave the city its waterworks, railways, a postal system, and a municipality constituted in 1907. After lunch visit the Tribal Museum and the Manav Sanghralaya. Overnight at Bhopal.
Today we start early as it is a long drive. Visit the Buddhist Stupa and complex at Sanchi on the way. We proceed to Khajuraho and attend the light and sound show at the temple complex. Overnight at Khajuraho.
After breakfast, we visit the Khajuraho Temple complex and take a guided tour. The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of artwork, of which 10% is sexual or erotic art outside and inside the temples; although they are the most famous. After lunch, proceed to Panna National Park and check-in. Go for an evening safari. Overnight at Panna.
After breakfast, we go for a jungle walk with the Pardhis. Pardhis are a nomadic community that since the time of the Mughal emperors, have been hired to help in shikar (hunting). However, due to the combined efforts of the Forest Department and NGO’s, a large part of the population has given up hunting. Thus, ‘Walk with the Pardhis’, an initiative not only encourages this reformation but also aims at providing an alternative source of livelihood for the community. After lunch with the community, visit some of the beautiful waterfalls and caves of the area. The Pandav caves are steeped in the mythology while the Raneh falls are formed as the Ken cuts deep canyons in granite rocks of different hues. Proceed to Orchha by late evening. Overnight at Orchha.
Explore Orchha, an ancient town and the erstwhile capital of Bundelkhand. We visit the famous Raja Ram temple early morning where the state gives a gun salute to the deity after every aarti. Go for water activities like kayaking and rafting on the Betwa river. Shop for the beautiful and Bollywood-famous Chanderi saris, silver jewelry, and the Dhokra brass artifacts. Attend the light and sound show to understand the history of the region and sit by the Betwa river. Overnight at Orchha.
After an early breakfast, leave for Bhopal. But first, we visit Jhansi to explore the Rani Mahal museum. Although technically Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi is just 20 km from Orchha and was part of the Bundelkhand state as well. Jhansi is important for its legacy of Rani Lakshmibai. The world needs strong women. This will be a long travel day. Reach Bhopal late evening. Overnight at Bhopal.
After breakfast, we visit the famous rock shelters of Bhimbetka. The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site of the Paleolithic, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian Subcontinent, and thus the beginning of the Indian Stone Age. Enroute visit the Bhojeshwar temple. After lunch, we leave for Indore. In the evening, visit the famous food street of Saraffa. Overnight at Indore.
After breakfast, check out and catch your respective flights back home. The images and stories are going to be with you forever.