Cities of Madhya Pradesh
Gwalior
Gwalior's legendary beginning stems from a meeting between Suraj Sen and the hermit Gwalipa, who lived on the hilltop where the fort stands. Gwalior is dominated by its fort, or Kila, which tops the long hill to the north of Lashkar, the new town.

Places of Interest:
Fort, Jain Sculptures, Teli-ka-Mandir, Sasbahu Temples, Mansingh Palace, Jai Vilas Palace & Scindhia Museum.

Shivpuri
The old summer capital of the Scindias was at Shivpuri, 114 km south-west of Gwalior and 94 km west of Jhansi. Set in formal gardens, The Chhatris (tombs) are the main attraction here. With Mughal Pavilions and sikhara (Hindu Temple-Spires), These beautiful memorials to the Scindhia rulers are in laid in Pietra dura (Marble inlay work) style, like the Taj Mahal.

Places of Interest:
Madhav National Park, Essentially a deer park. On the edge of the park is the Sakhya Sagar lake. Chhatris

Jhansi
Jhansi, 105 km south of Gwalior, is actually just across the border in Uttar Pradesh, but for convenience we have included it here. Jhansi has played a major role in Indian history, and convenient transit point for Khajuraho, and increasingly for Orchha, only 18 Km away. The last of a string of rajas died in 1853 and the rani Lakshmibai was forcibly retired by the British. The rani fled to Gwalior and, in a valiant last stand, she rode out against British, disguised as a man, and was killed.

Places of Interest:
Jhansi Fort
Once used by the Indian army, Jhansi Fort was built in 1613 by Maharaja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha.

Rani Mahal
The former palace of Rani Lakshmibai, consists of arched chambers around an open courtyard and was built in the 18 Century. The palace is now a museum containing hundreds of 9th to 12th century sculptures.

Orchha
Once the capital city of the Bundelas, Orchha (hidden Place) is now just a village, set among a wonderful comples of well preserved palaces and temples. The main Palaces were protected inside fortified walls on an island in the Betwa River. It's definitely worth a visit and a lot of travelers are beginning to discover Orchha's peaceful beauty.

Places of Interest:
Palaces : Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal, Palki Mahal.

Temples : Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple, Lakshki Narayan Temple.

Khajuraho
Close behind the Taj and up there with Varanasi, Jaipur and Delhi, the temples of Khajuraho are one of India's major attractions. Once a great Chandela capital, Khajuraho is now a quiet village. In spite of all the tourist attention it's still a mellow place to spend a few days.

Places of Interest:
Temples : Khajuraho's temples were built during the Chandela period, a dynasty that survived for five centuries before falling to the Mughal onslaught. The temples are superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, but it's the decorations with which they are so liberally embellished that have made Khajuraho famous. Around the temples are bands of exceedingly artistic stonework showing many aspects of Indian life a millennium ago- gods and goddesses, warriors and musicians, real and mythological animals. But two elements appear over and over again and in greater detail than anything else - women and sex.

Panna National Park
The road to Satna passes through this park along the Ken River, 32 km from Khajuraho. It has large areas of unspoilt forest and a variety of wildlife including Leopards, chital, Langur and sambar. There are about 22 tigers in the park but since they are not tracked.

Bhopal
The Capital of Madhya Pradesh, was built on the site of the 11 Century city of Bhojapal. Today Bhopal has a multifaceted profile. There is the old city with its crowded marketplaces, huge old mosques, and the palaces of the former Begums. The new city with its broad avenues, high-rise offices and leafy residential areas is to the south.

Places of Interest
Taj-ul-Masjid, Lakshmi Narayan Temple & Birla Museum, State Archaeological Museum, Bharat Bhavan.