A Journey Through The Center of India

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & visit Gwalior fort, which is one of the largest forts in India and gives a panoramic view of the entire city. Important buildings housed inside are Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir. This fort is built on a steep hill called Gopachal.

After that, head towards Jhansi. The city of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is a definite addition to every history buff or traveller who sets foot in this state. 

Reach at Jhansi by evening. Check in to the hotel & relax.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jhansi.

After breakfast, head towards visiting Rani Mahal in Jhansi, which translates to the queen's palace, and is the former residence and royal palace of Rani Lakshmi Bai. Built in the 18th century, a large part of this beauty was destroyed during the Indian Rebellion.

After that, visit Jhansi Fort. The Jhansi Fort is located at the top of Bagira, a hill situated in Uttar Pradesh in the northern part of India. It is a 17th-century architectural monument that has undergone royal construction followed by massive destruction in the First War of Independence against the British East India Company.

Then visit the Jhansi Museum. Jhansi Museum is one of the iconic museums of India, constructed around the late 19th century, that helps us to track down the roots of Indian history of colonial India. Jhansi Museum, also known as the UP Government museum, is known to have artefacts since the 4th century BC, along with exquisite artworks of pre-modern India.

After that, visit St. Jude's Shrine, St. Jude’s Shrine, located in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite shrine and is devoted to St. Jude Thaddeus. It was built by Francis Xavier Fenech. It is in the Cantonment area of Jhansi and is one of the popular churches among the Catholic community in the state.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jhansi.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel & head towards Orchha. This historic village on the banks of the boulder-strewn Betwa River showcases a supreme display of Mughal architecture, some of which is similar to that of nearby Khajuraho (albeit without such high-quality artistry), with much grander palaces and cenotaphs dotting the pastoral landscape as well.

Check in at the hotel on arrival. At noon, head out for sightseeing. Visit Orchha Fort situated on the island of the Betwa River. Apart from the scenic location, the fort has more to offer. It houses many palaces and temples.

The three most important palaces seen here are Jahangir Mahal, Raj Mahal and the famous Rai Parveen Mahal. 

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Orchha.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Khajuraho, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is renowned for its ancient temples that display some of the finest art in the world. These temples depict various forms like meditation, spiritual teachings, kinship, wrestling, royalty and most significantly, erotic art. The temples consist of stunning displays of fine sculptures and exceptional architectural skill, making them one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

Reach Khajuraho by afternoon. Check in at the hotel and relax. Evening is at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Khajuraho.

After a nice breakfast, head out for sightseeing. Visit the famous Khajuraho Group of Monuments. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures. Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 CE and 1050 CE by the Chandela rulers. There are 25 surviving temples at Khajuraho, of which the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.

Evening at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Khajuraho.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Jabalpur. Jabalpur is an ancient city located on the shores of the river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. An industrial city, Jabalpur is now gaining popularity as a tourist destination because of its splendid ghats, the 98-foot-high Dhuandhar waterfall, marble art, and historical and cultural structures.

Reach at Jabalpur. Check-in at the hotel and relax. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jabalpur.

After breakfast, Head towards Madan Mahal Fort. Prettily nestled on the top of a rocky hill, the Madan Mahal Fort was built by Gond ruler Raja Madan Shah in the year 1116 AD. This fort dominates the skyline and provides a panoramic view of the town and the countryside around it.

After that, visit Dhuandhar Waterfall. The beautiful falls cascade down for 30 m and are also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jabalpur. The river Narmada flows through the famous marble-like falls, narrows down and plunges into a waterfall so forcefully that it creates a bouncing mass of mist and results in the Dhuandhar falls. The plunges are so powerful that their uproar can be heard from a far-off distance.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jabalpur.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Pachmarhi. Pachmarhi is also often known as "Satpura ki Rani" or the "Queen of the Satpura Range". Situated at an altitude of 1,067 metres, the picturesque town is a part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home to leopards and bison.

Reach at Pachmarhi. Check in to the hotel & relax. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Pachmarhi.

After breakfast, head towards visiting Christ Church, Pachmarhi. Christ Church is a true-blue colonial architecture of the British era, still standing tall amidst tall trees and greenery. After that visit, Bee Falls is among the many small and big waterfalls in Pachmarhi. Bee Falls is the most popular one, which provides drinking water to the entire city.

Then visit Jata Shankar caves. The Jata Shankar Caves in Pachmarhi are considered sacred as they are popularly believed to be the place where Lord Shiva concealed himself from the wrath of Bhasmasur. After that, visit Pandava Caves. These caves are believed to provide shelter to the Pandavas during their exile period. It is now a protected monument, and tourists flock from all over India to see this place.

Then visit Mahadeo Hill. Situated at an altitude of 1363m, the Mahadeo hill in southern Madhya Pradesh is famous for an ancient shrine of Lord Shiva. The holy shrine holds a divine idol of Lord Shiva and one of the most beautiful Shivalingams in the country.

After that, visit Dhoopgarh, the highest point in the Satpura range. The Dhoopgarh hilltop is a beautiful spot to see marvellous sunsets.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Pachmarhi.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Bhopal. The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, is famous for the pair of artificial lakes (Upper Lake and Lower Lake) that split the city.

Reach at Bhopal by afternoon. Check in to the hotel & relax. After that, head out to visit Upper Lake and Lower Lake.

After that, visit the Jama Masjid. Constructed during the period of Quidisiya Begum, the Jama Masjid is a revered shrine and popular tourist destination in the city of Bhopal. It is officially known as Taj-ul-Masajid, which translates to "Crown Among Mosques". The magnificent architecture of the Jama Masjid boasts classic Islamic architecture with its beautiful shrine and two tall minarets. It is the largest mosque in the country and is counted among the largest on the continent as well.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Bhopal.

After breakfast, head out to visit Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal. You can spot a vast variety of animals, including leopards, cheetahs, Neelgai, panthers, etc., as well as birds such as kingfishers, bulbuls, wagtails, and some migratory species. The national park categorises animals into 2 categories, i.e., carnivores and herbivores. Herbivores are allowed to roam freely, whereas carnivores are kept in enclosed areas.

After that, visit Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, the national museum of Anthropology, which is majestically situated on the Shamla Hills, the upper lakefront of Bhopal. The museum presents the integrated story of the culture and evolution of mankind.

Then visit the Tribal Museum, Bhopal. The Tribal Museum is a rich tapestry of exhaustive exhibits showcasing the tribal art and culture. It highlights various aspects of the tribes in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The artistic displays are mesmerising as they create awareness about the tribal rituals, customs, forms of worship and so on.

Then visit New Market. New Market is one of the most buzzing places in the city. It is like heaven on earth for all the shopaholics out there, as it houses a wide variety of shops. The market is famous for its accessories, footwear, and apparel.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Bhopal.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Omkareshwar. Straddling the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the holy city of Omkareshwar houses one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas.

Reach at Omkareshwar by late afternoon. Check in to the hotel & relax. Have Lunch at the hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Omkareshwar.

After breakfast, head out to visit the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple. One of the holiest shrines in the whole of India, the Omkareshwar or Omkar Mandhata temple is one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas in India.

After that, visit Kedareshwar Temple. The Kedareshwar Temple is one of the most eminent shrines in Madhya Pradesh. Then visit Parikrama on the Island. According to Hindu mythology, a walk around any positive source of energy provides one with positive energy too.

After that, visit Siddhanath Temple, which is also an important temple here and is architecturally very interesting. After that, visit Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada Cave. Considered very religious by the Hindus, this cave has a main hall and a small sanctum with a Shivalingam.

Dinner & Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Omkareshwar.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Maheshwar. The temple town of Madhya Pradesh. It also holds a lot of mythological and historical importance, given the fact that it has found a mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Reach at Maheshwar by noon. Check into the hotel & relax. After that, head out to visit Holkar Fort. This palace is the zenith of Maratha architecture. To add to this, the palace is also host to a weavers' cooperative society on its premises. This structural marvel is sure to teleport you to ancient times.

After that, visit Jaleshwar Temple. Jaleshwar Temple is also dedicated to the third god in the Hindu triumvirate, Lord Shiva.  At the highest level, Shiva is limitless, unstoppable, unchanging and invincible. To honour this, the Jaleshwar Temple was constructed.

Then visit Pandrinath Temple. This temple, unlike others, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the protector of the whole universe and not Lord Shiva. Legend has it that at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna incarnated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the holy month of Shravana.

Then visit Narmada Ghat. Narmada Ghat is another off-beat destination in close proximity to the town of Maheshwar, surrounded by lush green environs. It is a nice spot for picnicking and to enjoy a day off from all the worries and stress one has.

Dinner & Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Maheshwar.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & head towards Indore. Indore is the largest and most populous city of Madhya Pradesh. Located on the Malwa Plateau, the charm of this city lies in its rich cultural heritage, which has been preserved over centuries, along with the hints of urbanisation.

Reach at Indore by noon. Check into the hotel & relax. After that, head out to visit Rajwada. Rajwada is a magnificent and historical palace that is located in the city of Indore and was constructed by the Holkars more than 200 years ago.

Then visit Lal Bagh Palace, the Lal Bagh Palace is class and grandeur personified. The palace is spread over a sprawling area of 28 acres and reflects the taste of the rulers of the Holkar dynasty. An example of architectural magnificence, this palace once contained one of the best rose gardens in the country.

Then visit Khajrana Temple. The Khajrana Ganesh temple is one of the most powerful shrines of Lord Ganesha. It was built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar to safeguard the idol of Lord Ganesha from Aurangzeb.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Indore.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. A private car will drop you at Indore Airport.

Bid farewell with the memories of an amazing, fun-filled 17-day trip through the Best of India, worth remembering for a lifetime!