Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest state in India after Rajasthan.
After Independence, Nagpur was the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. In 1956, Madhya Pradesh was reconstituted and Bhopal was made the new capital city.
The UNESCO site of ‘Khajuraho Group of Monuments’ is famous for its Nagara-Style architecture and sculptures of Nayikas and Deities especially the sensuous erotic sculptures engravings on the exterior walls. Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest of all the temples in Khajuraho, it dates back to the 10th century.
Madhya Pradesh is the birthplace of famous and notable people like Chandra Shekhar Azad, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Avanti Bai, B.R. Ambedkar, Kailash Satyarthi, Satendra Singh Lohiya, Raghuram Rajan, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madhavrao Scindia, Sharad Yadav, Jaya Bachchan, Sumitra Mahajan, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Prithviraj Chavan, Uma Bharti, Digvijaya Singh, Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, Arjun Rampal, Ashutosh Rana, Lata Mangeshkar, Salman Khan, Rahul Dravid, etc.
Madhya Pradesh is rich in mineral resources. The state has the largest reserves of diamond and copper in India.
As per the Hindu Mythological belief, Lord Krishna, his brother Balrama and their friend Sudama received their education at Guru Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain.
The literacy rate in the state is about 70.6%, which is lower than the national average of 74.04%.
Ram Raja Temple in Orchha is the only temple in India where Ram is worshipped as a king and not as a god.
Almost 30,000 years old Stone age rock paintings are found on the Bhimbteka rock shelters. These are touted to be the oldest known rock art in the Indian sub-continent.
Bandar Kodini at Bhedaghat is a scenic beauty of nature by the 8 km long gorge formed through soft marble rocks carved by the flow of river Narmada. The name was given Bandar Kodini as two sides come so close that monkeys can jump across the gorge.
The author of the famous children’s novel “Jungle Book” Rudyard Kipling was drawing inspired by the forests of Pench Tiger Reserve and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Surprisingly, all the rivers in Madhya Pradesh that drain into the Ganges flow from south to north.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India. The Stupa was commissioned in the 3rd century BCE by the Mauryan Emperor ‘Ashoka’.
The historic city of Gwalior is famous for its ancient monuments, forts and museums. Patankar Bazaar is popular for handicrafts, artificial jewellery, painted wall hangings, dolls, etc.