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Madhya Pradesh tourism is doing a fantastic job in keeping its tourists satisfied. Here’s why I loved my recent visit.
No other activity can rejuvenate me, the way travel does especially if the destination is thrilling. Recently, my husband and I decided that we would visit all the tourist places in India in a structured manner, one state at a time.
The first state that we chose was Madhya Pradesh (MP) – the heart of India, as per the MP tourism advertisements. There was no analysis done before choosing MP as the first State. Since my parents live in MP, we thought access to different sites, would be easier from here.
Until now, we have visited only a few places- Bhopal, Sanchi, Bhimbhetka Caves, Tawa Dam & Reservoir and Pachmarhi.
In a short and quick visit to my brother’s place in Bangalore, we made a quick call on Hampi, witnessing its multitude of temples and shrines, especially the Vittala Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While comparing both the sites, what we noticed was that the tourist places in MP are pretty well maintained. There is security at each site and guards ensure that tourists do not misuse the sites in any way. We found no litter lying around and were absolutely surprised to see that no one had proclaimed their love on the rocks of Bhimbhetka caves or those of Pachmarhi.
This is definitely an extreme rarity in India where young lovers do not even spare the walls of holy places or sites of historical importance, to proclaim their love! Even the temples in Pachmarhi were absolutely clean despite the flowing water which could have caused a lot of sludge.
Here’s a quick guide to each of the sites we visited:
Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is by far one of the most beautiful cities, I have seen in India. It is an amalgam of scenic beauty, historical charm and urban lifestyle. The two lakes in Bhopal dominate the city and one can find ample greenery in the busiest of the areas of Bhopal.
Bhopal’s cultural scene is pretty active too, almost every evening, you can walk into Rabindra Bhawan/Bharat Bhawan and the likes for free to enjoy a cultural performance. Bhopal is well connected to the rest of India via air, rail as well as road networks.
Sanchi is located approximately 46 kilometres north-east of Bhopal and is known for the Buddhist Stupas. On the way from Bhopal to Sanchi, one also crosses the Tropic of Cancer. The Stupas at Sanchi is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are well-maintained despite all the natural wear and tear. It is always beneficial to hire a guide to see the Great Stupa.
This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh. Located approximately 45 kilometres south of Bhopal, these pre-historic (more than 100,000 years old) rock shelters exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India. One can still see paintings and art on the rocks.
Some of these paintings have eroded, so the Archaeological Survey of India has used chemicals and wax to restore them.
Tawa Dam & Reservoir is a scenic escape from the busy city life. It is situated 35 kilometres from Itarsi (the nearest major rail-road junction). The views of the sunset and sunrise from the dam are enchanting. A boat ride in the lake reservoir, which takes tourists around the little islands dotting the reservoir and offers beautiful views of the Satpura range is a must-do here.
Pachmarhi is a hill station situated about 120 kilometres from Hoshangabad (the nearest major rail-road junction). It is also known as ‘Satpura ki Rani’. The name is believed to be derived from hindi words ‘panch’ meaning five and ‘marhi’ meaning cave. Pachmarhi has the famous Pandava caves, used by the Pandavas during their Agyaatvaas (exile in anonymity) and many other tourist attractions including water falls, caves, temples and scenic views.
The directions to these destinations are also marked on the highways, so driving to these sites is not very difficult. The upkeep of these tourist places is definitely paid attention to. I would love other states to take up such initiatives in maintaining their tourist attractions sites. Until then, I will get back to planning my next sojourn!
Image credit Rbsrajput – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
First published at author’s blog
A Corporate Banker, travel & nature lover, experimental baker intermittent blogger and a passionate feminist. read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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