Echoes of the Ancient

Recommended Duration: 10 days

Itinerary: Gwalior – Orchha – Khajuraho – Bhopal – Ujjain – Mandu – Maheshwar – Indore

Ideal Time to Visit: October – March

Bang in the middle of the huge landmass of the subcontinent, Madhya Pradesh is simultaneously a well-kept secret and an often visited place. Travelling by land, it is almost impossible to avoid crossing it when you’re visiting Rajasthan or North India or South India. Before air travel, Madhya Pradesh was the meeting place of cultures, rituals and customs from all parts of the country as the kings marched up and down the subcontinent. The journey begins in Gwalior, where a living fort sprawls across a hill. With brilliant turquoise tiles set into its crumbling sandstone walls and the fort’s minaret-like towers, caped by elegant domes, it is a testament to the syncretism in the region.

From there, we move to the exquisitely carved temples of Khajuraho that tell stories of kama, one of the four goals of life in Hindu philosophy, along with dharma (virtuous living), artha (the search for prosperity) and the pursuit of moksha (liberation from ignorance and the cycle of rebirths). From there we move to the green city of Bhopal and Sanchi, a village brought into prominence by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. In the lands of Mandu and Maheshwar, there is a mix of divinity and feminity with the sacred river and stories of Queen Ahilyabai. We end the trip in the city of Indore, where traditions came together to give birth to an array of architecture.

Highlights

Explore Handloom Weaving in Maheshwar

The Maheshwari sari is made of fine handloom cotton & silk yarn. The sari’s origin can be traced to Rani Ahilyabai, the empress of Maheshwar who collected weavers from Surat, Bhuj, Patan and Hydrabad around 200 yrs ago and spearheaded this craft. Even today, the craft is seen as a form of upliftment being carried forward by many NGOs in the region.

Discover Well-Preserved Vernacular Architecure of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is home to almost 46 Scheduled Tribes, with nearly one-fifth of its population categorized under the tribal people. Time and again, the tribes have remarkably represented the vernacular architecture of Madhya Pradesh in their textile and other creations. As you walk through the destinations, discover the different manifestations of architecture.

Soak in Serenity on the Banks of River Narmada

A lesser known river in the region, Narmada is a life giving force for the people of Madhya Pradesh. Like the Ganga, the Narmada River is a goddess and a river in Hinduism. The Matsya Purana states that all of the banks along the Narmada are sacred. Sitting on a bank, one can feel the blessings of the river wash over them.

Eat the Street Food in Indore

Indore is known as the Street Food Capital of India. It is very well-known for its street food bazaars like Sarafa Bazaar, Chhappan(56) Dukan, Chhawni, Sikh Mohalla to name few. One of the most unique phenomenon in Indore is of a night street food bazaar. Many unique to Indore foods are found in this market namely Bhutte Ka Kiss, Garadu (Yam root) Chaat, King size Jalebi fondly known as Jaleba, Basundi, milk based Shikanji, Khopra Pattis etc.