World Heritage Sites and Tourism in Madhya Pradesh-मध्य प्रदेश में विश्व धरोहर स्थल और पर्यटन
In the era of Globalization tourism is not only important from entertainment but is equally important for economy. Being heart &ancient most part of economy MP offers number of tourist sites as fallows.
Role of Tourism in Economy of MP-
Madhya Pradesh state is an important tourist destination of India and is visited all around the year.Madhya Pradesh has a great potential to develop different forms of Tourism.
The share of GDP from travel and tourism was 10.4% in 2019, which came down to 5.5% in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Tourism is an important contributor to the revenue of the state can be segregated into three sections- Cultural tourism, Wildlife tourism and Heritage tourism.
In MP the official slogan of tourism is The Heart of Incredible India.
The objectives of tourism in MP?
Governments uses tourism as a tool to eliminate local poverty, generate employment and economic growth, upgrade infrastructure and alleviate pressure from overcrowding .
To fulfill the above objective MPTB is working the direction .
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board-
Objective –
To promote tourism in the State and to enhance the tourism infrastructure through private sector as well.
Investment Promotion Division-
MPTB has established an Investment Promotion Division to create such investor friendly environment which could attract a large number of national and international investors.
The Investment Promotion Division, after it inception, has formulated various policies such as –
-Way Side Amenities Policy 2016, Tourism Policy 2016,
-Heritage Policy 2016,
-Water Tourism Policy 2017 and Camping & Adventure Tourism Policy 2018 to encourage private investment.
Investment Promotion Division is managing land and heritage property bank and allotting these properties to Investors. Way Side Amenities are also allotted to private investors in various modules.
Home Stay and Water Tourism Policy is also being implemented by the Division.
The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC)-
The MPSTDC is a government agency that conducts and regulates the tourism activities in MP.
MPSTDC was established in 1978.
The MPSTDC operates homestays, hotels, resorts, and tourist rest houses in different key locations within the state.
The department has the official slogan The Heart of Incredible India.
The MPSTDC promotes Responsive tourism.
What is a Responsible Tourism Initiative?
Responsible tourism is Environmentally Responsible and Sustainable practices in the Tourism industry. It aims at –
-Keep noise to a minimum.
-Don't travel in large groups.
-Don't leave anything behind.
-Preserve the nature around you.
-Leave things as you found them.
In MP following initiatives are taken-
Responsible Souvenir Project-
Madhya Pradesh Tourism has introduced several souvenir projects that focus on diversifying the local economy through handicraft development and supporting the local artisans, particularly involving women and youth of the community.
The project include developing and promoting local handicrafts and handloom, promoting destinations through souvenir development, and market links, improving the income of artisans, and diversification of projects through skill training of artisans.
Homestay-
Based on the lines of, 'Atithi Devo Bhava', visitors of Heart of India can experience true Indian culture and hospitality through homestays. With a change in tourism patterns, visitors are inclined towards exploring homestays while visiting India.
Rural Tourism-
Enriched with cultural and natural resources, the rural areas of Madhya Pradesh are a great opportunity to introduce the serenity of Madhya Pradesh to its visitors. It also delivers a sense of responsibility among the community members and tourists to preserve the local culture and heritage.
Madhya Pradesh is majorly divided into six major cultural experience regions viz. Baghelkhand, Bundelkhand, Chambal, Malwa, Nimad, and Mahakaushal as per the geographical features.
Through rural excursion, the 'culture-based' experience of a rural lifestyle, simple living with pollution-free clean air and greenery in rural areas can be enjoyed by the tourists.
Safe Tourism Destination for Women in Madhya Pradesh
The project has been initiated to awaken the community about women's safety. It is the first tourist project sanctioned by the ministry of women and child development, GOI under the Nirbhaya Scheme.
This project functions towards creating awareness about women's safety in the communities. Intending to inspire the community and travelers, Madhya Pradesh has introduced several projects such as self-defense training, working women at tourist places to host, and the development of a women-friendly spatial design.
Women using segway to commute in Khajuraho, women tour guides in Gwalior & Khajuraho, forest guides in Madhai, and women from Pardhi communities in Panna leading the excursions, highlights the success of Madhya Pradesh.
Solid Liquid Waste Management Project-
Madhya Pradesh Tourism is committed to the development of tourism and promotes private partnerships for the development of tourism in the state.
With the project "Clean Destination", Madhya Pradesh ensures to keep the environment of destinations suitable with the support of the local community and the visitors.
The pilot project was started at Panna National park where 30 villages were covered around Madla gate of Panna National park.
Project Humsafar
To make the tours and visits of specially abled ones a bit easier, the project Humsafar was brought into action. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has also conducted training for capacity building and sensitization programs for the manpower working at tourism destinations.
Madhya Pradesh is a state with stringent laws to conserve natural heritage and life-sustaining systems for development. Local communities are aware of the importance of livelihood for Madhya Pradesh, protect their environment, and indulge aggressively in responsible activities.
Major tourists places of MP are as fallows-
1) Ujjain: Literal meaning of the term Ujjain is …victory . Ujjain is aHolycity ,it’s ancient G.M.T. It used to be the …Second capital of Guptas .
The famed historical Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple is in Ujjain .
The Jantar Mantar at Ujjain was commissioned by Jai Singh IIChitrakoot-Ramghat
Mahakal Lok
Mahakal Lok is a picturesque corridor of a length of over 900 m and 108 elaborate sandstone columns each with “mudras” of Lord Shiva in a row and a decorative “Trishul” on top.
The Mural wall along the Mahakal path is based on Shiva Purana stories including the Birth of Ganesha, Daksha, the Act of creation, and the Story of Sati among others.
The Daksha was the son of the creator-god Brahma and the father of many children, who became the progenitors of various creatures.
Resentful Daksha conducted a yajna (fire-sacrifice), and deliberately did not invite his youngest daughter Sati and her husband Shiva. The ganas (Lord Shiva's followers) killed king Daksh. Lord Shiva then brought him back to life and put the head of a male goat on him.
The average cost of the Shri Mahakal Corridor is Rs.800 crore, built on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
The path contains 108 stambhs depicting the dance form “Anand Tandav Swaroop '' of Lord Shiva.
Various religious sculptures showing the life of Lord Shiva are also established along the Mahakal Path.
2) Chitrakut:It’s a mythological & historical site. It’s Situated in district Satna.
Ramcharitmanas was written here.
At Chitrakut Rama's brother Bharata fails to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya to become king at the very start of his exile.
It is where Rama performed the last rites of his dead father Dasharatha in the presence of all the gods and goddesses.
The ancient Indian sages, including Atri, Agastya, and Sharabhanga, were said to have meditated in the forests of Chitrakuta.
Noted 'Ayurvedic' and 'Yoga' centres like 'Arogyadham' are located in Chitrakoot.
3)Pachmari: Its Situated in district…Hoshangabad. It was discovered by Captain Forsyth while he was chasing Tatya Tope in 1858.
Dhupgarh, the highest point (1,352 m) in Madhya Pradesh and the Satpura range, is located here. It is a part of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve.
Pachmarhi also served as the summer capital for the Central Provinces.
The forest around the town is home to many rare varieties of plants.
UNESCO added Pachmarhi park to its list of Biosphere Reservesin May 2009
Silver Falls
Also called Rajat Prapat/Big Fall. The falls comes 2800+ feet roaring down the gorge creating a silver streak that gives its name. The view of dense, serene, virgin forest and stream is simply mesmerizing.
Bee Hill and Bee Falls
This is a waterfall in Pachmarhi. It is named as such because from a distance the waterfall sounds like a bee
-Priya darshni point(Forsyth point)-This was the point from where Pachmari was discovered
4) Sanchi:There are many archaeological, historical & tourist places at Sanchi.It’s in the ..world cultural heritage list. It’s Situated in district Raisen, it’s ancient name was Kakni .
5) Muktagiri: It’s Situated in district Betul ,it has ……..52 Jain temples.
6) Omkareshwar: It’s Situatedat Mandhata in districtKhandava.It derives it’s name because Narmada forms the shape OAM.
It has holy Temple of omkareshwar – Mandhata(which is one among 12 Jyotirlingas in the country).
7) Khajuraho: It’s Situated in district Chatarpur .It derived it’s name because of …Khajoor(Dates) . It’s in the..world cultural heritage list. Chandel rulers had constructed 85 temples in Nagar Style between 950 to 1120 AD.These temples are of 3 categories.
a) Temples of western areas- kandariyamahadev, chitrakoot, chousath yogini,
b) Temples of southern area-Dulhadev, chaturbhuj etc.
c) Temples of eastern area:Parshvanath, Aadinath etc.
Now 23 temples are surviving.
The temple site is within Vindhya mountain range in central India.
The Matangeshvara temple is a Shiva temple is the only Hindu temple that is still actively used for worship.
Here every year Khajuraho festival is held. Truly these temples are. romance with stone
8)Sonagiri: Datiya, because of beautiful hills known as sonagiri ,famous for..77 Jain temples.
9)Pashupatinath Temple, Mandsour: Pashupatinath means Shivajee. There are two temples of Pashupatinath one at Kathmandu another at Mandsaur.
10) Maheshwar : Khargone District ,The word Maheshwar in Hindi means Great God, an epithet of Lord Shiva .
It was the capital of Devi Ahilyabai.
It was the kingdom of Chaktavartin Samrat Sahastraarjun,of Heheya king.
It was the capital of the Malwa during the Maratha Holkar reign till 6 January 1818, when the capital was shifted to Indore by Malhar Rao Holkar III.
It’s famous for .. Maheshwar silk. Here..Nimar festival is organized every year .
11)Vidisha : It’s ancient name was ..Bhelsa.Because of name of wife of ..Ashok (Vedeshi) it derived it’sname.
Caves of Udaygiri -
The famous caves of ….Udaygiri( total 30, related with Vaishnavism & Jains) are found . Udaygiriderviesit’s name Uday &Giri means place for ……sun rise.
Aspirational District
Vidisha is also amongst the 112 Aspirational District in the Aspirational District Programme launched by NITI Aayog in 2018.
The Heliodorus Pillar a stone column,constructed in about 150 BCE. by the Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek King Antialcidas, who came to the court of Bhagabhadra at Vidisha.
Udaygiri
12)Bhojpur: It’s Situated in district..Raisenfamous for Bhojpur temple(made up of red sand stone , Shivlingheight 7.5 mts ) constructed by ..Raja bhoj, in 11c AD. It’s world’s highest Shivlinga.
13)Khamb Baba: Pillar of Helodorus/GARUDA STAMBHA :District Vidisha, Associated with Bhagwat vaishnavism, constructed by Greek ambassador Helodorus who arrived in the court of ruler Bhagbhadra.
14)Maiher: It’s Situated in district Maihar.It’s famous for temple of Maa Sharda . It’s also famous for warrior brothers Alha& Udal.
15)Mandu: It’s Situated in district Dhar .It’s famous for love story of Baz Bahadur& Rani Roopmati. Rani Roopmati was famous due to her beauty..
At Mandu MehmoodKhilji constructed Jahaj mahal, Hindolamahal& Ashrafi mahal.
16)Gwalior : Gwalior derived it’s name from Gwalip rishi who cured Raja Surajsen the raja of Gwalior from an incurable disease. Gwalior fort is known as Gibralter(since it is a gateway to the south) .
17)GinnorGarh: 60 km away from Bhopal , it was ruled by kamlapati Gond,it is also famous for parrots.
18)Datiya: Derived it’s name from a mythological demon Daityavakra. It’s Famous for pitambarapeeth of maa Bagulamukhi devi.
19)Bheraghat: It’s Situated in district Jabalpur, at the confluence of Narmada &Vavanrivers.It’s famous for Dudhadhara waterfall( 18 mt. height.)&soap stone rocks.
20)Chachai Waterfall: It’s 2 nd highest waterfall in MP .It’s situated in district Rewa, it’s height is 372 feet across the river Bihad.
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Bahuti Waterfall It is the highest waterfall in Madhya Pradesh. It is on the river Sellar as it rushes down the edge of the Valley of Mauganj to join the Bihad River, which is a tributary of Tamsa or Tons River. It is near Chachai Falls. It has a height of 198 metres (650 ft). |
21)Caves of Bagh : At distt Dhar, Total 9 caves, but 5 are remaining, in ranges of vidhyachal also known as Pandav caves. depicts life style of folks of state & Comparable with caves of Ajanta.
22) Bheembetika: It’s Situated in district Raisen.It belongs to Upper palio Lithic age(`10,000BC).These caves were discovered by shri Vakankar.
It is located in the Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh about 45 kilometres (28 mi) southeast of Bhopal. It is a UNESCO world heritage site that consists of seven hills and over 750 rock shelters distributed over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi).
The rock shelters and caves provide evidence of, according to Encyclopædia Britannica, and a "rare glimpse" into human settlement and cultural evolution from hunter-gatherers, to agriculture.
23)Bhopal :The city of Bhopal was founded by… Raja Bhoj of Parmar in 11c A.D.,who also constructed Upper lake&BhojpurTemple.
The modern Bhopal was founded by an Afgan commander Dost Mohd. in 1708 with Capital at Islam nagar .
Main places of interest in Bhopal are-
a) Birla Mandir-Constructed in 1964 by businessman Birla, at arera hills,
b) Taj Mahal - Constructed in 1871 by Shahjaha Begam.
c) Tazoolmosque : Constructed in 1871 by Shahjaha Begam, As per the sitting capacity it’s Asia’s biggest mosque.
Asias smallest mosque MaszidAdhaiSidhi.
d) Vallabh Bhawan – Constructed in 1958,Currently it is the secretariat of Govt. of MP.
e) Lower lake – Constructed in 1777 by Nanhemiya,
f) Bharat Bhavan
g) National musium-
h) Jama mosque: - In 1832 constructed by Kadusiya Begam
i) Upper lake-Constructed by Raja Bhoj.
j) Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya-
Museum of Man located in Bhopal,on Shymala Hills in the city. This museum depicts the story of mankind in time and space. It is the largest ethnographic museum in India.
k) Shaurya Smarak (Sanskrit :शौर्यस्मारक)
Is a war memorial situated at Bhopal, science 2016 .
It has light and sound facility to narrate stories of bravery of the nation's valiant soldiers, who have laid down their lives fighting enemies on the borders.
Various stages of life, war, death and victory over death have been displayed here.
24)Indore: Ahilya bai holkar, at the confluence of …khan &Sarswastiriver .It derived it’s name due to temple…..Indreshwar. Indore’s famous places:
a) Lal bag palace: Constructed by..Tukoji Rao Holkar in 1886,.
b) Bada Ganesh: worlds tallest Ganesh statue , 25 mt. height
c) Rajwada : Heart of Indore:
Indore -cleanest city in India for the 7th time
Indore and Surat have been awarded as the cleanest cities in India for 2023
Water tourism
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is planning to introduce water tourism, like mini-cruise liner and houseboats, in the State, officials said.
Hanuwantiya -
State Tourism Development Corporation is planning to introduce houseboat rides in Hanuwantiya(District Khandva) located in the reservoir of Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada river.
Boat rides will also be made available between the Tawa resort, on the Tawa river in Hoshangabad district, and the Madhai resort (Narmadapuram)in Satpura National Park.
Water sports would be promoted at Ban Sagar on the Sone river in Shahdol district, and Omkareshwar, one of the major religious places near Indore, on the Narmada.
Gwalior and Orchha in the UNESCOs world heritage cities
The historical fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh have been included in the list of UNESCOs world heritage cities under its urban landscape
Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh have been included in the list of UNESCO’s world heritage cities under its urban landscape city programme. The news of winning the prestigious title was announced by the state government.
Satpura Tiger Reserve & the Bhedaghat are in the Tentetive Cultural heritage Sites of UNESCO
The Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has announced that following around six cultural heritage sites have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
What are the names of six sites?
The following six places have successfully entered the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Ganga Ghats of Varanasi
- Temples of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu
- Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra Military Architecture
- Hire Benkal Megalithic site
- BhedaghatLametaghat of Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh
With this, the total number of sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tentative list has increased to 48.
Gwalior and Orchha of M P in the World Heritage City of UNESCO
There are 38 UNESCO Heritage sites of India, the list includes 30 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and 1 mixed site.
What is a World Heritage Site ?
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance.
What is the specialty of Gwalior?
Gwalior was established in 9th century and ruled by GurjarPratihar ,Tomar and Scindias.
Gwalior is known for its palaces and temples, including the intricately carved Sas Bahu Ka Mandir temple.
The Gwalior Fort occupies a sandstone plateau overlooking the city and is accessed via a winding road lined with sacred Jain statues.
Within the forts high walls is the 15th-century Gujari Mahal Palace, now an archaeological museum.
What is the specialty of Orcha?
Orchha (or Urchha) is a town in Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh state . The town was established by Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, in the Bundelkhand region.
Orchha lies on the Betwa River, 80 km from Tikamgarh & 15 km from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
Orchha was the capital of the Bundela kingdom in the 16th century known for its temples and palaces .
The famous sights are Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Ramraja Temple, Rai Praveen Mahal, and Laxminarayan Mandir.
Police Museum-Chambal
The state of Madhya Pradesh has launched a Police Museum at the police headquarters in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. It is a unique museum themed on the dacoits to showcase their stories
BUDDHIST CAVES OF BANDHAVGARH-
Why in News?
The ASI discovered Buddhist caves and stupas at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
What are the Findings?
- 26 Buddhist Caves were discovered dating back to the 2nd and 5th centuries, pertaining to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
- The caves and some of their remains had ‘Chaitya’ (rounded) doors and stone beds typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.
- Inscriptions in Brahmi text:
- 24 inscriptions in Brahmi text were, all dating back to the 2nd-5th centuries.
- The inscriptions mention sites such as Mathura and Kaushambi, and Pavata, Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa.
The kings they mention include Bhimsena, Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.
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