Madhya Pradesh

Small Malwa district formed in 2013.

• SpiritualBaglamukhi Temple NalkhedaFamed Tantric goddess temple.
• OffbeatAgar townOffbeatQuiet Malwa plains and markets.

Bhil tribal district in the west.

• CultureBhagoria HaatOffbeatTribal market-festival of Bhil youth.
• NatureNarmada banksOffbeatTribal villages and river scenery.

Forested eastern district with the Narmada source.

• SpiritualAmarkantakSource of the Narmada and Sone rivers.
• NatureKapildhara FallsNarmada plunging from the plateau.
• OffbeatSonmudaOffbeatView point at the Sone origin.

Home to Chanderi weaving.

• HeritageChanderi FortHilltop fort above the weaving town.
• CultureChanderi weaversFeather-light saris on handlooms.
• OffbeatTumainOffbeatGupta-era temple ruins.

Forested district with white-water gorges.

• WildlifeKanha Mukki gateWestern entry to Kanha.
• OffbeatLanji FortOffbeatRuined hill fort near the Maoist-prone belt.

Narmada district of Jain pilgrim hills.

• SpiritualBawangajaColossal Jain Adinath statue in a hill.
• NatureNarmada Sagar viewsOffbeatWide river valley and dams.

Satpura plateau of teak and Tapti origin.

• SpiritualMulai Tapti originHoly source of the Tapti river.

Chambal ravine district.

• HeritageAter FortRavine fort of the Bhadauria dynasty.
• NatureChambal ravinesOffbeatDramatic badlands of the dacoit past.

City of lakes with Nawabi mosques.

• NatureUpper LakeWide city lake for boating.
• HeritageTaj-ul-MasajidOne of India's largest mosques.
• CultureBharat BhavanArts complex overlooking the lake.
• HeritageBhimbetka nearbyPrehistoric rock art.

Tapti river town with Mughal waterworks.

• HeritageShahi QilaMughal-era palace on the Tapti.
• HeritageKundi BhandaraOffbeatUnderground water system from Mughal times.

Home to Khajuraho.

• Must-seeKhajuraho Western GroupChandela temples of fine sculpture.
• OffbeatAjaigarh FortOffbeatHill fort with old tanks.
• NatureRaneh FallsRed-granite canyon on the Ken.

Satpura plateau known for oranges.

• OffbeatPatalkotOffbeatHidden valley of Bharia tribe.
• NatureTamiaScenic viewpoint above the Satpura.

Bundelkhand district of old temples.

• HeritageNohta templesOffbeatOld Chalukya-era temples.
• SpiritualKundalpurJain pilgrimage site with a large Buddha statue.

Palace town in the north.

• HeritageDatia PalaceSeven-storey Bundela palace.
• SpiritualPitambara PeethFamed goddess shrine.

Malwa district with twin hills.

• SpiritualDewas TekriHilltop goddess shrines.
• OffbeatBagh areaOffbeatQuiet fields.

Parmar capital and gateway to Mandu.

• Must-seeMandu FortAfghan-era fortress city above the Narmada valley.
• HeritageBagh CavesBuddhist rock-cut caves with murals.
• HeritageDhar FortRed-stone fort.

Gond tribal district at the Narmada's upper reaches.

• SpiritualKukdur NarmadaNarmada with Gond culture.
• CultureDindori Gond artOffbeatTribal painting.

Cross-roads district of old temples.

• HeritageRaghogarh fortOffbeatRuined fort and palaces.
• OffbeatChachauraOffbeatOld Mughal-era hill town.

Rajput fortress city of Scindia splendour.

• Must-seeGwalior FortHill fort with Teli Ka Mandir.
• HeritageJai Vilas PalaceScindia palace museum.
• CultureTansen tombShrine of the legendary singer.

Quiet Narmada district.

• SpiritualNarmada ghatsRiverside bathing ghats.
• OffbeatSatpura edgeOffbeatForested approaches.

Business city with famous street food.

• HeritageRajwadaHolkar palace in the old centre.
• CultureSarafa BazaarNight street-food market.
• HeritageLal Bagh PalaceHolkar palace and garden.

Marble rock and Gond heritage.

• NatureBhedaghatNarmada through marble cliffs.
• NatureDhuandhar FallsRoaring waterfall at the gorge.
• HeritageMadan Mahal FortGond hill fort.

Bhil-Bhilala tribal district.

• CultureBhagoria festivalTribal courtship fair.
• CultureJhabua doll craftOffbeatTribal terracotta and wood crafts.

Limestone and mineral district.

• HeritageBilhari templesOffbeatKalachuri-era temples.
• OffbeatBahoribandOffbeatOld temple remains.

Home to Omkareshwar.

• SpiritualOmkareshwarJyotirlinga temple on a Narmada island.
• NatureIndira Sagar DamLarge reservoir.

Nimar plains with Maheshwar.

• HeritageMaheshwar FortAhilyabai's riverside fort and ghats.
• CultureMaheshwari sarisHandloom saris.

Gond kingdom town and Kanha gateway.

• WildlifeKanha National ParkTigers and swamp deer in sal forest.
• HeritageRamnagar fortGond fort ruins.

Western Malwa temple district.

• SpiritualPashupatinath TempleRare eight-faced Shiva lingam.
• OffbeatDharmarajeshwar CaveOffbeatRock-cut temple complex.

Chambal ravine district.

• HeritageBateshwar TemplesGroup of restored Gurjara-Pratihara temples.
• WildlifeChambal SanctuaryGharials and river dolphins.
• HeritageMitawali Chausath YoginiCircular temple said to inspire parliament.

Narmada valley district.

• SpiritualNarsinghpur templesNarmada side shrines.
• NatureBarman ghatOffbeatPeaceful riverside.

Satpura gateway and Narmada ghats (formerly Hoshangabad).

• HillsPachmarhiSatpura hill station with caves, falls and Pandava legends.
• WildlifeSatpura Tiger ReserveForest where walking and canoe safaris are allowed.
• SpiritualSethani GhatNarmada ghat with evening aarti.

Western Malwa border with Rajasthan.

• NatureGandhi Sagar DamChambal lake.
• OffbeatMandsaur borderOffbeatRural Malwa landscape.

Small Bundelkhand district formed in 2018.

• Must-seeOrchhaChhatris, palaces and Ram Raja temple.
• OffbeatTikamgarh edgeOffbeatQuiet fort ruins.

Diamond district and tiger reserve.

• WildlifePanna National ParkKen River tiger reserve.
• NaturePandav FallsSeasonal falls and gorges.
• OffbeatRanguanOffbeatQuiet jungle hamlets.

Hilltop fort and rock-art district.

• HeritageBhimbetkaUNESCO prehistoric rock shelters.
• Must-seeSanchiGreat stupa and gateways.
• HeritageRaisen FortHill fort with tanks.

Malwa district with Parvati river.

• HeritageNarsinghgarh FortHilltop palace.
• OffbeatKuli BhojOffbeatQuiet rural countryside.

Rail city famous for sev and gold.

• CultureRatlam sev marketSpicy snack market.
• SpiritualKedareshwar templeOld shrine.

White tigers and waterfalls.

• WildlifeMukundpur White Tiger SafariSafari home of white tigers.
• NatureChachai FallsTall waterfall in the monsoon.
• NatureBahuti FallsCascade in forested hills.

Bundelkhand lakeside city.

• NatureSagar LakeLarge lake in the city centre.
• HeritageEranGupta-era ruins.

Cement town near Chitrakoot.

• HeritageBharhut stupaRelic of Buddhist sculpture.
• SpiritualMaiharSharda Devi hilltop temple.

Near Bhopal with Narmada ghats.

• SpiritualSalkanpur DeviHilltop goddess temple on Vindhya.
• HeritageBhojpur Shiva TempleGiant incomplete lingam shrine.

Jungle Book country.

• WildlifePench Tiger ReserveSal and teak forest tigers.
• CultureKipling's SeoneeJungle Book setting.

Eastern Gond district.

• HeritageVirateshwar templeKalachuri-era temple.
• OffbeatSohagpurOffbeatQuiet town and temples.

Malwa farming district.

• HeritageGagron FortOffbeatWater-fort style hill fort.
• NatureKalisindh banksQuiet river.

Palpur-Kuno wild frontier.

• WildlifeKuno National ParkHome to reintroduced cheetahs.
• HeritageSheopur FortOld Gwalior-era fort.

Scindia summer capital.

• WildlifeMadhav National ParkLakes and deer.
• HeritageChhatris of ShivpuriScindia memorials.
• NatureSakhya SagarLake with boating.

Forest district with Sanjay-Dubri tiger belt.

• WildlifeSanjay Dubri Tiger ReserveNewer tiger reserve.
• NatureSon river banksScenic riverbank.

Power and coal belt.

• NatureVindhya forestsOffbeatForest and lakes.
• NatureRihand reservoirBig lake views.

Bundelkhand temples and tanks.

• HeritageOrchha environsFort, palaces and chhatris.
• SpiritualKundeshwarShiva temple with temple sculpture.

Ancient city on the Shipra with Mahakal.

• SpiritualMahakaleshwar TempleJyotirlinga with dawn bhasma aarti.
• SpiritualRam GhatShipra ghat of the Kumbh.
• SpiritualKal Bhairav TempleTantric shrine offering liquor.
• HeritageVedh ShalaAncient observatory.

Gateway to Bandhavgarh.

• WildlifeBandhavgarh National ParkHighest tiger density in India.
• HeritageBandhavgarh FortRuined fort amid tiger forest.

Ancient trade centre near Sanchi.

• HeritageUdayagiri CavesGupta-era rock-cut caves.
• HeritageHeliodorus PillarGreek-donated pillar to Vishnu.
• Must-seeSanchi borderGreat stupa.

New Rewa-area district formed 2023.

• OffbeatMauganj townOffbeatQuiet countryside in Vindhya.

New Chhindwara-area district formed 2023.

• CultureGotmar MelaFamous stone-pelting village fair.
• OffbeatPandhurnaOffbeatOrange orchards and quiet villages.

New Satna-area district formed 2023.

• SpiritualSharda Mata TempleHilltop temple up 1,000+ steps.
• CultureAlha Udal akharaOffbeatBundeli folklore link.