Madhya Pradesh is called the 'heart of India', not only because of its location in the centre of the country, but also because, it has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, forts and palaces are peppered all over the state - glorious reminders of emperors and kings, warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints and philosophers.

The natural beauty of the state is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau, the state has everything - awesome mountain ranges, meandering rivers, and miles and miles of dense forests. The rich folk culture and tribal traditions of this fascinating state, are manifested in the umpteen exuberant festivities, and Statue of Rani Jhansi, Gwalior fairs of its colourful people.

One of the best parts about Madhya Pradesh is its accessibility. Bordered by seven states, it is equally close to major tourist destinations in the north, south, east and west. Whether you are in Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras) or Calcutta, you're never very far from Madhya Pradesh.

Set amongst the Vindhyas, in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh is a small national park, but with the highest known density of tiger population in India. This is also known as White Tiger territory. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The other species found in abundance in Bandhavgarh are the gaur or Indian bison, the sambar, the barking deer and the nilgai.

Area
4,43,446sq.km.

Language
Hindi. Major dialects of Hindi used in the state are Bundelkhandi, Malwi & Chattisgari. Other languages spoken are Urdu, Marathi, Sindhi, Punjabi, Gujrati etc.

Climate
The climate is monsoonal, with much of the rain falling from June to October at averages 60 inches or more, dropping to 40 inches or less in the west and less than 30 inches in the Chambal River valley to the north. The March-to-May season is hot and dry, and temperatures everywhere are higher than 29º C. Winters are usually pleasant and dry. Best time to visit: September to February.

Best Seasons
The best time to visit Madhya Pradesh is during the relatively cool winter months between November and February. In the hot season (April, May and June), the region heats up like a furnace, and daytime temperatures frequently exceed 40°C. If you can stand the heat, this is the best time to catch glimpses of tigers in the parks. The rains finally sweep in from the southeast in late June or early July.

Population
74 million

Airport
Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Khajuraho, Raipur, Gawlior.

Pilgrim Centres
Amarkantak, Bawanganja Chitrakoot, Indore, Maheshwar, Mukagiri, Omkareshwar, Sanchi, Ujjain, Sheorinarayan.

Major Crop
Wheat, Jowar, Soybean, Rice.