Bhopal,
the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam
of scenic beauty, historicity and modern urban planning.
It is situated on the site of a 11th century city, Bhojapal,
founded by Raja Bhoja. The founder of the existing city
was however an Afghan soldier of fortune, Dost Mohammed.
Fleeing from Delhi in the chaotic period that followed Aurangazeb's
death, Dost Mohammed encountered the beautiful Gond queen
Kamalapati, who sort his aid after the murder of her consort.
Gwalior
Kachwahas and Tomars have left indelible etching of their
rule in this city of palaces, temples and monuments. The
magnificent momentoes of a glorious past have been preserved
with care, giving Gwalior a unique and timeless appeal.
The ancient capital of Gwalior is steeped in the splendour
of its past. A multitude of regning dynasties, of the great
Rajput clans of the Pratiharas.
Chitrakoot,
This loveliest of nature's gifts is also hallowed ground,
blessed by the gods and sanctified by the faith of pilgrims.
For Chitrakoot's spiritual legacy stretches back to legendary
ages: it was in these deep forests that Rama and Sita spent
eleven of their fourteen years of exile; here, that the
great sage Atri and Sati Anusuya meditated; and here where
the principal trinity of the Hindu pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu
and Mahesh, took their incarnations.
Jabalpur
pleasure resort and capital of the gond kings during the
12th century, jabalpur was later the seat of the kalchuri
dynasty. The Marathas held sway over jabalpur until 1817,
when the Brritish wrested it from them and left their impression
on the spacious cantonment with its colonial residences
and barracks. Today jabalpur is an important administrative
centre, abustle with commercial activity.
Khajuraho, the temples of
Khajuraho are India's unique gift to the world, representing,
as they do, a paean to life, to love, to joy; perfect in
execution and sublime in expression. Life, in every form
and mood, has been capured in stone, testifying not only
to the craftsman's artistry but also to the extraordinary
breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose rule
the temples were conceived and constructed.
Shivpuri,
in the state of Madhya Pradesh, was once the summer capital
of the Scindia clan of Gwalior. Prior to that, its thick
forests were the hunting grounds of Emperor Akbar. They
were home to the tiger, and the site of many a grand shikar,
resulting in several big cats being 'bagged' by royal huntsmen.
The sylvan surroundings and an other - worldly aura that
it exuded, made it the natural choice as the summer resort
capital of the Scindias. Shivpuri's royal ambience still
lives on in its majestic palaces, hunting lodges, exquisitely
adorned chhatries (cenotaphs) built by the Scindias. |