Set aside by its distinctive spiritual essence, Madhya Pradesh offers a serene ambiance to all those who look forward to religious journeys.
Peacefully embellished in the centre of the magnificent canvas called India, symbolizing the affluent culture and the natural heritage of the Indian Subcontinent, Madhya Pradesh is very appropriately revered as the Heart of India.
One of the prominent cultural, religious and spiritual hubs of the nation housing diverse communities such as hindus, buddhists, jainis, and muslims, the state of MP is festooned with astounding heritage marvels presented by these communities, which represent their spectacular cultural values.
This glorious state of India gained enormous fame and prosperity during ancient Mughal rule.
The picturesque beauty of this sacred land increases with the valuable sight of wavy Narmada River flowing in the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. Madhya Pradesh, thus, never fails to thrill the tourists with its attractive locales.
Madhya Pradesh is known world over for Ujjain, one of the four places in India, where the sacred Kumbh ka Mela takes place once in every twelve years.
Through this edifying write-up, we will take a journey of hope and belief, through the legendary Heart of India.
Ujjain
Welcome to Ujjain! It is truly honored as one of the holiest cities of Hindus.
When a Hindu embarks on a pilgrimage, it is never complete without a visit to this sanctified city. Ujjain is located comfortably at a distance of about 60 km from Indore, which is a well connected city in MP, through road, rail and air routes.
This city of temples that renders utmost peace to the religious souls is the home to the renowned temples like Kaal Bhairov, Maha Kaal and many others. Kaal Bhairov temple is dedicated to the fierce form assumed by Lord Shiva. Shiva in the form of Kaal Bhairov caters to the real ethos of life which has an obverse and negative side as well. It is the manifestation by Shiva of this form that brings Hindu religion so close to the real nature of man. Shiva as Kaal Bhairov wears a necklace of bones.This may appear a dichotomy to a western tourists visiting the temple, but Hinduism encompasses a vast horizon and serving liquor to Lord Shiva in the form of Kaal Bhairov is something that is considered holy and desirable.Worshipers believe that that the liquor is drunk by the God. It is a miracle indeed and one must visit the Kaal Bhairov temple to savour this phenomena.
In addition to the peace imaging temples and the whole pastoral feel of the city, Ujjain is also famous for a saint called the Dabral Baba who formerly was an employee of the University of Ujjain. He developed some uncanny powers by worshipping Kaal Bhairov. It is a legend in the city that respected Baba will most likely make some startling observations that will help you.
Ujjain also holds the honor of hosting the Kumbh Mela once every twelve years, which is considered to be one of the largest religious gatherings on earth. This holy gathering is said to have 30 million devotees attending every time it takes place. Maheshwar
Maheshwar was a glorious city at the dawn of Indian civilization when it was known as Mahishmati, capital of king Kartivarjun. This temple town on the banks of the river Narmada finds mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. It was revived to its ancient position of importance by the Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. Maheshwar’s temples and mighty fort-complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below.
Rajgaddi and Rajwada, also known as Ahilyabai Fort, is the right place to begin a tour of Maheshwar, for this pious and wise queen was the architect of its revived importance. A life-size statue of Rani Ahilyabai sits on a throne in the Rajgaddi within the fort complex. Mandleshwar is another place of interest to visit. This town is situated on the banks of river Narmada, at a distance of about 5 km from Maheshwar. The town was founded by Mandana Mishra, and has a stone fort constructed by Mohammedan rulers. It also has a fine flight of 123 steps leading down to the river and expanding below into a quaint wide ghat. With their soaring spires, the many-tiered temples of Maheshwar are distinguished by their carved overhanging balconies and their intricately worked doorways. Kaleshwar, Rajarajeshwara, Vithaleshwara and Ahileshwar are the temples to be seen. When in Maheshwar, one cannot miss the towns like Oon and Bawangaja, situated at 10 and 18 km distance form Kahrgone and Barwani, respectively. Oon was a flourishing place 1000 years ago. About a dozen temples, both Hindu and Jain lie clustering here and represent an architecture patronized by the Parmara kings of Malwa. The carvings on the temples are quite similar to those in Khajuraho. The Bawangaja temples are 170 km from Indore. The 72ft high Jain statue here has been hewn in the rock. It belongs to the early 15th century. Both, Oon and Bawanjanga are important parts of Jain pilgrimage.
Omkareshwar
Another pilgrimage site in Madhya Pradesh is Omkareshwar, where Narmada and Kaveri rivers unite. It is considered as sacred and fulfilling to visit this land. The place is famous for the Shiva temple, which consists of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Sidhhanath Temple, another sacred temple in Omkareshwar, is one of the best representations of the medieval Brahmin architectural style of construction. Deogarh, a city known to be a Jain centre, is popularly known as the abode of God. Deogarh Fort consists of many Jain and Hindu Temples. The Dashavatar temple is the most famous temple in Omkareshwar. Mandu
Moving ahead of the religion, Madhya Pradesh houses some real architecture of Mughal Era too. This is on an ostentatious display at Mandu.
This city was established by the Mughals during their on-going battle with Rajputs. All the buildings and other places suggest a strong influence of the Mughal art and architecture on them. The place has a number of buildings that are in ruins today and stretches up to 45 kilometers. There are at least 12 gateways that have been made at the exit points of the city to protect it from any invasion. Besides this there are many other historical sites worth a visit, such as Jahaz Mahal and Jama Masjid.
The state of Madhya Pradesh invites and resides people from all faiths and religions in its spheres. A visit to one of the most venerated spiritual parts of India is a must, when on a world exploration voyage.
