The heart of the country, Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its rich heritage, history and architecture. On this four day journey, take a trip back in time as you visit splendid architectural and well as archaeological sites, including UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Note: We encourage responsible tourism. Practice these guidelines while on a trip!
Accomdations
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Transportation
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Age
Max 75 yearsDifficulty
ModerateWho is this tour for?
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Tour Experience
A tour of some of the gems of Madhya Pradesh that are of cultural and historical importance.
- A tour of the capital city of Bhopal
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sanchi, with its magnificent rock-cut stupa and other historic Buddhist monuments.
- Marvel at the 600 odd caves in Bhimbetka with their beautiful pre-historic paintings - another UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Visit the less-known Archaeological marvel that is the Udayagiri Caves with their sublime rock carvings and inscriptions.
- Discover the 11th century town of Bhojpur, dotted with beautiful temples and dams.
- Take a trip down India's memory lane by uncovering stories of its rich cultural heritage and history.
- Shop for some local souvenirs and trinkets.
*The price is based on a group of 4 adult travelers.
3N/ 4D
Departure: Any dayYou will be doing:
You will be experiencing:
Itinerary
Travel notes of the day
Welcome to the heart of India!
Founded by Raja Bhoj, the capital city of Bhopal is also known as the City of Lakes as it is home to a number of lakes, both natural and artificial. The city beautifully blends Hindu as well as Mughal influences, noted both in the architecture as well as cuisine.
- The Taj-ul-Masajid is the largest mosque in India. The word translates to 'Crown of Mosques' in English. It is made of red sandstone and has three domes and two minarets, and also happens to be the second largest mosque in all of Asia.
- Bharat Bhavan, a multi-arts centre is an effort to celebrate and promote the nation's culture.
- The Van Vihar National Park is a National Park, a rescue centre and a zoo, all wrapped in one, and features a rich biodiversity, both vagetation, as well as fauna.
On arriving at the Bhopal airport/railway station, a private vehicle will drive you to your hotel. Freshen-up and relax a while. After some rest, we leave for a tour of the city.
Some of the places we visit are - Taj-ul-Masajid - the largest Mosque in India, Shaukat Mahal and Sadar Manzil and Gohar Mahal. We also visit the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum (closed on Mondays), Van Vihar National Park, Shaurya Smarak, Birla Mandir. We make a pitstop at Bharat Bhavan - a multi-arts complex designed by one of India's leading architects - Charles Correa.
The evening is free for some shopping.
Stay the night in Bhopal.
Travel notes of the day
Sanchi houses a series of Buddhist monuments which have collectively been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, Lord Buddha isn't traditionally represented through figures, but rather through symbols - lotus = the birth of Buddha, tree = enlightenment, wheel = attainment of nirvana. The monuments depict stories of Buddha and his previous lives through relief sculptures. The most important of them all is the Great Stupa with its large dome and ornamental gateways. It is home to many of the Buddha's relics and is believed to hold his remains.
Today calls for a visit to Sanchi.
After some breakfast, we set off for this ancient, holy town, set on a flat-topped sandstone hill. This UNESCO World Heritage site houses a grand collection of Buddhist monuments, including monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries, as well as the great Sanchi Stupa.
Later, we visit the 20 rock-cut caves of Udayagiri, dating back to the Gupta era (350-550 CE) All the caves are Hindu save one, which is dedicated to Jainism. Udayagiri is a less-known archaeological marvel that is the Udayagiri Caves, with sublime rock carvings and inscriptions, temples and other monuments.
We return to Bhopal for the night.
- Bhopal
- Sanchi
- Udayagiri
- Bhopal
Travel notes of the day
The rock shelters of Bhimbetka truly are an archaeological marvel. The painting contained within are believed to resemble ones by the Bushmen of the Kalahari found in the Kakadu National Park in Australia. The cave paintings depict animals, festivals and other cultural practices of humans from different prehistoric periods. They have been painted with dyes from those times and it's a true wonder that they haven't yet succumbed to corrosion.
Post breakfast, we set out to visit another World Heritage site, the rock shelters of Bhimbetka, nestled along the Satpura mountain range. These 600 odd natural rock shelters contain paintings on their walls from primeval times which tell the story of humans' journey from mere hunter-gatherers, to cultivators and spiritual beings.
Enroute, we visit the 11th century town of Bhojpur, situated on the banks of the Betwa river. We visit the Bhojeshwar temple which stands incomplete due to reasons unknown. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple boasts of a large Shiva linga crafted out of a single rock. We also visit the Jain temple. Another incomplete wonder, the shrine contains two statues of Parsvanath and a massive 20 foot statue of Mahavira.
After some sightseeing, we return to Bhopal for some boating on the lake, if the weather permits.
After a long day, head back to your hotel for some well-deserved rest.
- Bhopal
- Bhojpur
- Bhimbetka
- Bhopal
Travel notes of the day
Bid goodbye Madhya Pradesh for your trip comes to an end here!
After breakfast, you will be dropped of at the Bhopal airport/railway station for your onward journey.
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Other Details
- Pick up and drop to and from Bhopal airport/railway station
- Three nights' accommodation in twin-sharing, standard hotel rooms
- Breakfast
- All road transfers part of the itinerary (in an air-conditioned sedan)
- Expenditure on fuel, parking and toll tickets
- All current taxes and GST
- Meals, apart from breakfast, at the place of stay
- Room service
- Any upgradation in rooms.
- Mineral water and other beverages
- Train/Airfare
- Entrance tickets to monuments, guides or other sports/adventure activities.
- Any transfers outside of the itinerary
- Personal expenses (cigarettes, alcohol, telephone calls, etc.)
- Tips and gratuities
- Costs incurred due to change in the itinerary as a consequence of bad weather, political unrest or road blocks.
- Early check in / late checkout charges
- Madhya Pradesh, being a Green zone, has a lot of areas restricted to the entry of vehicles, with specific timings allotted for entries. The vehicle might drop you off at the point of entry or at the parking lots from where you will have to walk a certain distance to reach the destination.
- At some of the religious towns, non-vegetarian food will not be available.
- The rates are subject to change, based on the number of people and the season of travel.
- Please carry government issued IDs.
- It is recommended that you pack light.
- Be a responsible traveller. Avoid littering and the use of plastic.