Discover Indian architecture, renowned
pilgrimage sites, natural beauty and the magic of a many
splendoured land – Madhya Pradesh, offering diverse
experience in art, culture, nature, religion and history.
The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur, was the stronghold
of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series
of palaces in the city are important attractions. Known
as the Pink City because of the colour of the stone used
exclusively in the walled city, Jaipur’s bazaars
sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery, tie-and-dye
scarves and other exotic wares.
For most of the time Agra alternated with Delhi as the
capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many marvels
of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the
most famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Not only does
the story of the love of a king for his wife haunt its
visitors but also the architectural splendour leave its
visitors mesmerized. The Agra Fort, built by the great
Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D., is a masterpiece of design
and construction. Within the fort are a number of exquisite
buildings, including the Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas,
Sheesh Mahal and Musamman Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan
died in imprisonment.
Varanasi, the City of Lord Shiva, is situated on the bank
of the sacred Ganges River and is one of the holiest cities
of India. Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the waters of
the Ganges, a ritual that washes away all sins. The city
is a magical city where the most intimate rituals of life
and death take place in public on the city's famous ghats
(riverbanks). It is this accessibility to the practices
of ancient religious traditions that captivates many visitors.
In the past the city has been known as Kashi and Benares,
but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name
meaning the city between two rivers, the Varuna and Assi.
It has been a centre of learning and civilization for
over 2000 years and claims to be one of the oldest living
cities in the world.
The erstwhile capital of the Chandela Kings, Khajuraho
is famous for its magnificent temples dedicated to Lord
Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain tirthankars. Despite the
fact that they were dedicated to different Hindu gods
Shiva, Vishnu and Jain saints, they followed the same
architectural style. The decorations, the exquisitely
carved sculptures, with which the temples are so liberally
embellished have made Khajuraho famous. The divine sculptures
in these temples are a tribute to life itself. There is
an astonishing profusion of individual figures of gods,
goddesses, and voluptuous women, mythical beasts, couples
in erotic poses all carved in minute detail. The murals
depict the life and times of the Chandelas and celebrate
the erotic state of being.
Panna's many splendoured heritage and topography including
the Panna National Park, the Ken River and the vertical
rocks amidst deep forest provides enormous potential for
a wide variety of natural, cultural and adventure tourism.
Panna National Park was created in 1981. It was declared
as Panna Tiger Reserve in 1994.
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