Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh constitute of central India and are also known as the "Heart of India". The new state of Chhattisgarh was carved out of the state of Madhya Pradesh, when 16 Chhattisgarhi speaking south-eastern districts were given statehood on November 1st 2000. The capital of Madhya Pradesh is Bhopal and of Chhattisgarh is Raipur. Madhya Pradesh is bordered by Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan; Chhattisgarh on the other hand has Madhya Pradesh to its northwest, Maharashtra to its west, Andhra Pradesh to its south, Orissa to its east, Jharkhand to its northeast and Uttar Pradesh to its north.
The city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh has not many sights to offer, but is interestingly known as the "Detroit of India", due to its large scale automobile production plants. Also well known in Madhya Pradesh is the Bandhavgarh National Park, one of India's largest national parks. This park is known for its high density of tiger population, along with other forms of wildlife like chinkaras, leopards, chital, nilgai, wild boar, jackal and hyena. This national park also attracts many migratory birds during the winter season. The gateway to the large Bandhavgarh National Park is Umaria, which is renowned for its abundance of flora and fauna, dense forests and wild animals and birds. When talking about national parks one cannot ignore the famous Kanha National Park, located in dense wilderness and covered with Bamboo and Sal forests, this national park is home to the tiger among other wild animals and birds.
Cities like Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh are known for their strong political footing, as many famous dynasties in history had Jabalpur as their capital, including the Narmada Empire. Surrounded by hills and mountains the city of Jabalpur has earned its name from the Arabic word "Jabal" which means "Mountain". A few popular tourist destinations in Jabalpur are; Tilwara Ghat (a place associated with the memory of Mahatma Gandhi), Madan Mahal Fort, Sangram Sagar and Bajnamath, Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat, and the Rani Durgavati Memorial and Museum.
Sanchi, located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh is known for the evolution and propagation of the Buddhist faith. This little village has a vast expanse of Buddhist temples and stupas and monasteries that strongly reflect the Mauryan culture. These Buddhist stupas in Sanchi should not be missed during a trip to Madhya Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh, on the other hand is known for its heavy forests and a large tribal population. Popular in Chhattisgarh is the old town of Kawardha and Chitrakote, known for its water falls and tribal villages. The town of Bastar is also known for its dense forests, tribal villages, complete with tribal dance and music.
Cuisine of Central India
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