Introduction to Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh perhaps is the biggest state of the Indian sub continent. Officially declared as a state Madhya Pradesh is a cluster of innumerable districts and varied topographic and climatic characteristics. Housing the magnificent Vindhyachal mountain range, river valleys and plateau Madhya Pradesh is famous for its wonderful art, craft, music and dance. Rich in geographical varieties, the state also has a good number of important mines that has a good influence on the economy of the country. Engaged mostly in agricultural activities, the state is the homeland of many tribal races.

Facts & Figures of Madhya Pradesh

Geographical Information of Madhya Pradesh

Location

Madhya Pradesh as the name suggests, lies in the middle (Madhya) of the country sharing its border with six neighboring states. The northern border of the state has two neighbor states namely the state of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The western border of the state is shared by a part of Rajasthan and a part of Maharashtra with Gujarat in between. On the southern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh lie the states Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The entire eastern border of the state is bounded by the states of Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Physical Features

The total geographical area the state of Madhya Pradesh covers is approximately 308,000 sq km divided among the 45 districts of the state. Forests cover a major part of the state and the cultivated area accounts to almost half of the total landmass of the state. The state covers a wide area of the Indian plateau region. A number of significant rivers flow through this land. The Chambal, Sone, Betwa, and rivers flow from the western side of the state to the east. Thus, with the mountain ranges, rivers along with the plains, Madhya Pradesh has a varied physical feature.

Climate

The state has a typical tropical climatic condition. Summers are hot and in some places humid while winters are comfortable. The monsoon season spreads from the month of June to September with the average rainfall of 1000 m in the west to 2000 mm in the east. The temperature during summers ranges from maximum 33°C to 44°C and minimum 30°C to 19°C. The temperature during the winter season ranges with the maximum of 27°C to 10°C. The best time to visit this place would be during the months of November to February.

Flora and Fauna

As the state has a variety in its topographical feature, the state's flora and fauna varies from place to place. In the mountain range of Satpura and Maikala trees like Teak, Sal and Bamboo are some of the varieties found in abundance. These also are the important commercial variety of flora of the state. Moreover, the state has a rich store of wildlife. The state being the host of a good number of wildlife sanctuaries, like the Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary, Shivpuri, Bandhavgarh and Rewa have some of the rare species of wildlife of the country. The Barasingha or Swamp Deer, Bison and the White Tiger (albinotic) are some of those to mention here.

History of Madhya Pradesh

The rock carvings found in this state signifies its relation with the Stone Age of civilization. Though, the actual historical record reveals the fact of it being ruled by a number of famous empires of India. The empires included the Mauryan Empire to the Mughals and later off course by the British. During the rule of the Mughals, famous musician Tansen of Madhya Pradesh used to be the official singer of the Mughal Samrat Akbar's court. There are many interesting legends and folklore related to Tansen and Birbal in the court of Akbar. Madhya Pradesh is also the homeland of Kalidasa, the famous immortal Indian poet, dramatist and one of the nine jewels of Akbar's court. The innumerable monuments, carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces on hilltops signify the aesthetic sense of the empires and kingdoms, of great warriors and builders, poets and musicians, saints and philosophers. In the earlier times influence of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam are still evident in the historical places here. Dynasties like that of Sungas, Andhras, Satavahanas, Ksaptrapas, Nagas and last but not the least the Guptas ruled over this place. During and after the tenth century different regions of the state were ruled by different dynasties like Chandellas, who ruled in Khajuraho, Muslims in Gwalior and the Holkar in Indore etc.

After the British took over the state, the state had been declared as the central province. After India gained her independence, under the provision of the state reorganization act of 1956, Madhya Pradesh was given the status of a full-fledged state with effect from 1st November 1956. Chattisgarh has been carved out as a new state in November 2000 to fulfill a demand that was long due.

People of Madhya Pradesh

Ethnicity

Madhya Pradesh is home to majority of India's tribal population who, in most cases, live apart from mainstream India. Once ruled over by the Gonds a tribe that could be found in the jungles south of Jabalpur. On the west lives the Bhils, while the Oraons inhabit the eastern part of the state. The Bhils get their name from a Dravidian word for bow, which is the hallmark of the tribe. Despite the encroaching influence of 20th century urban life, the tribals have largely managed to retain their own way of life, relatively untouched by modernization. However, besides the original tribes of the region, a number of other people belonged to different ethnicity has settles in the major centers of the state for varied reason.

Arts and Crafts

The art and craft of the state is unique from region to region. A long heritage of tradition continues to add a highly distinctive, individualistic touch to the crafts of Madhya Pradesh. The state is famous for its hand printing, generally with vegetable dyes. The major hand printing centers of the state includes, Jawad, Bhairongarh, Mandsaur, Umedpura, Burhanpur, Bhopal Indore, Gotampura, Sohawal, Tarapur and many more. Garments, bedspreads, tablecloths and curtain material are produced at Umedpura and Tarapur in Nandana prints that were once in vogue amongst the villagers of the legendary Nimar plain. From Bhairongarh come printed quilt covers in attractive colors and designs, lungies, odhanis, jajams (floor coverings), bedspreads and tablecloths. Tie and dye chunris are the speciality of Tarapur and Mandsaur. Textile weaving in Madhya Pradesh is as refined as the hand printing craft. Soft, subtle shades in delicate weaves come off the looms in Chanderi, near Gwalior. The famous Chanderi sarees some of them with gold checks and rich gold border along with two gold bands on the pallav, give each saree a special touch. The craftsmanship of the famous Maheshwari sarees has a wide variety of checks. Madhya Pradesh is also famous at producing tussar silk handloom fabrics. Skilled craftsmanship of Madhya Pradesh also displayed in a variety of zari embroidered (gold and silver threads) articles. There are zari wall hangings, handbags, sarees and splendid brocade borders. Carpet weaving center of Gwalior, in Madhya Pradesh is regarded as Mecca of crafts.

Music and Dance

Madhya Pradesh is not only the geographical center stage of India it also occupies a similar position in India's traditional heritage of music. Genius like Tansen who perfected the dhrupad style of singing was born here. Moreover the Gwalior Gharana of Madhya Pradesh is a famous name in the world of Indian classical music today.

Fairs and Festivals

Madhya Pradesh celebrates almost all the festivals of Hindu solar calendar. Besides the usual Hindu festivals, there are festivals that are unique from region to region. The Bhagoria or the spring festival of Jhabua, Shivaratri of Khajuraho, Bhojpur, Pachmarhi and Ujjain, Ramnavami of Chitrakoot and Orchha and the famous Khajuraho dance and music festival which is also an important tourism festival are some of the festivals need to be mentioned here. The Pachmarhi festival is the storehouse of the rich tribal and folk cultural extravaganza.

Attire

The attire again differs here from region to region and tribe to tribe. Though the most common among them is the usual Indian saree for women and kurta pyjama for men.

Cuisine

Madhya Pradesh Cuisine is characteristic of typical north Indian cuisine. Roti (wheat) is the staple food of the state. The vegetables are cooked with tomato and onion as the major ingredients. Generally spicy and rich, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food are cooked.

Economy of Madhya Pradesh

Infrastructure

Agriculture

Agriculture is the largest area of occupation in Madhya Pradesh. Around 1/5th of the cultivated land is under irrigation. The major food crops here include, jowar, wheat, rice and gram. Among the other crops, the oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane are some of those that need a mention.

Incentives

• 100% to 150% sales tax exemption and deferment for units with Rs 10 lakh capital investment in fixed assets
• Subsidy of 5% to 15% on fixed investment for SSIs and co-operative units of at least Rs 1 crore
• Sales tax benefits on the basis of proportion of capital invested in fixed assets
• Unlimited tax benefits for thrust-sectors units with at least Rs 1 crore investment in plant and machinery
• Exemption from commercial tax and entry tax for upto 8 years for NRI-promoted projects
• Annual interest subsidy upto Rs 25,000 for SSIs; 6% for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes
• Special schemes for large-and medium-scale units promoting ancillary units
• Special incentive scheme of Rs 500 crore for all types of new units
• Special scheme planned for food-processing units
• Commercial tax deferment facility for units in No-Industries block for nine year
• Offer of 3,300-acre farm at Babai, 100 km south of Bhopal, to export-oriented ventures
• 2-year concession on commercial tax and 8-year concession on entry tax to 100% export-oriented units

Tourist Centres of Madhya Pradesh

This land is a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, history and modern urban planning. Madhya Pradesh is famous for its legendary tourist destinations such as the temples of Khajuraho, the majestic forts of Gwalior, Buddhist stupas of Sanchi and the various wildlife sanctuaries that Madhya Pradesh is peppered with. Among the important cities of Madhya Pradesh Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Ujjain are some of those that must need a mention here.

Some new circuits can be experienced in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh where the Golden Triangle of Gwalior-Jhansi-Khajuraho has been stretched to include Shivpuri and Orchha is situated at an easy 16 kilometers from Jhansi.

Know More About the Tourist Attraction of Uttar Pradesh

Tourist Centres of Madhya Pradesh

By Air

Airport - Bhopal Airport 11 km from the city center

The major and perhaps the only airport of Madhya Pradesh, is at Bhopal just 11 km from the city main center.

By Rail

Railhead - Bhopal Railway Station

Bhopal is the major railway station of Madhya Pradesh. It lies on the main railway line to southern India. It has a well-connected railway network that makes it possible to connect the entire state with the other important places of the country.

By Road

Bus Stand - Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh has a very well connected network of roads both national and state highways that connects the major places of interest within and outside the state. Taking the capital city Bhopal as its center, there are buses to Gwalior (422 km), Indore (187 km), Sanchi (45 km), Agra (541 km), Jaipur (572 km), Khajuraho (387 km), Mandu (290 km) and Nagpur (345 km) at regular time schedules.