Indore originally planned and built by Rani Ahilyabai, a courageous queen of the medieval Holkar dynasty, lies to the extreme west of Madhya Pradesh, literally the central state. The city, which is centred around the confluence of the rivers Saraswati and Khan, derives its name from the 18th century Indreshwar temple. The city has several other interesting monuments associated with the rule of the Holkars. The city is a major textile-producing centre and 35 km away is Pithampur, an industrial area where most of the major vehicle-producing companies of the country have factories. Pithampur is often referred to as the Detroit of India and Indore is said to be its gateway.

Mandu, perched 2000 feet atop the Vindhyachal ranges, is a ghost city filled with beautiful palaces. Armed with natural defences, it must have seemed a natural choice for the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. These defences, though, were breached towards the end of the 13th century when the Sultans of Malwa gained control over the area. The first Sultan renamed it Shadiabad - 'city of joy'. And, indeed, the structures its rulers erected bear testimony to the fact that the pervading spirit of Mandu was of gaiety. Exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions still stand, all graceful and refined reminders of those times of peace and plenty. Some of these are simply outstanding. Take, for instance, the massive Jami Masjid or Hoshang Shah's tomb, which provided inspiration to the master builders of the Taj Mahal centuries later. Mandu is a celebration, in stone, of life and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful consort, Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of the romance of these royal lovers, and high up on the crest of a hill, Roopmati's Pavilion still gazes down at Baz Bahadur's Palace, as if to prove that true love never dies.

Jabalpur, a large city almost due south of the fabulous temple town of Khajuraho and east of Bhopal, the state capital, is principally famous for the gorge on the Narmada river. A boat ride on the Narmada, one of the most revered rivers in the country, takes you past the towering white cliffs, known as the Marble Rocks, a wonderful experience. A foaming waterfall named Dhauladhar, the ruins of a tiny fort built by a warrior queen and an ancient temple built within circular stone walls named Chausath Yogini after the sixty-four female deities it houses are other highlights. Jabalpur is a major administrative and educational centre, bustling with commercial activity. The Indian Army's headquarters for the states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh are also situated here. Jabalpur is close to the epicentre of a destructive earthquake in May 1997, which shook the foundations of many villages in the district. Jabalpur serves as the departure point for visits to the National Parks of Kanha (160km) and Bandhavgarh (197km).

Kanha National Park, home to a variety of wildlife, one of India's largest national parks is a beatutiful area of sal forest and lightly wooded grassland, criss-crossed by numerous rivers and streams. The tiger and the highland barasingha are it's honoured residents. 'Project tiger' got underway at Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a tiger reserve. The park was created in 1955 by a special law and since then it has dedicated itself to preserving wildlife, saving many endangered species in the process. Ideal dwelling ground to both predator and prey this 'tiger country' is among the most scenic reserves in the world. The other forms of wildlife that can be seen here are the panther, gaur, chital, sambar, sloth bear, nilgai and blackbuck. Besides there are some 200 species of birds, making Kanha a bird watcher's paradise. Water birds like cattle egret, racket-tailed drongo, woodpecker, parakeet, etc can also be seen here. The Kanha National Park in itself is full of adventure which makes other attractions unecessary. Bamni Dadar is one place which is visited by every tourist who comes to the national park. This also known as the sunset point.

Bandhavgarh National Park is one place where tigers can be seen in their natural habitat. Located 165 km from Jabalpur, it is a compact national park, yet full of game, having the highest tiger density in India. Stretching over 448 sq kms, it is also known as white tiger country. The white tigers have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. It is rich with many other forms of wildlife and a variety of flora and fauna. The great gaur or Indian bison, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, etc can also be seen in the more open areas of the park. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common langurs and rhesus macaque represent the primate group. Mammals such as dhole, the small Indian civet, palm squirrel and lesser bandicoot rat are seen occasionally. The vegetation along streams and marshes is rich in bird life. The common ones are egret, sarus crane, black ibis, lesser whistling teal, white-eyed buzzard, black kite, etc. Reptilians include cobra, krait, viper, rat-snake, python, turtle and a number of lizard varieties, including varanus. Dominating the park is the 2000 years old Bandhavgarh fort and the numerous pre-historic caves, rich with inscriptions and drawings by pre-historic man and there are references to it in the ancient books -- the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. Various dynasties have ruled this fort like the Maghas, Vakatakas, Sengaras, etc. The park can be visited in a motor vehicle or on elephant back. Jeep safaris are best undertaken from dawn until about 10 am and from about 4 pm until dusk. A forest department guide must always accompany you.