Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh   The Heart of India

The largest Indian state in size. Area, 443,446 sq km (171,215 sq mi); population (1991) 66,181,170. Detailed map.

Chief crops: soyabean, rice, jowar, wheat, pulses (legumes), groundnuts, linseed, and cotton.
Industries: soyabean oil, processing of sugar and the manufacture of cotton textiles, newsprint, pottery, cement, carpets, silk, rayon, jute, glass, steel, and electrical engineering goods.
Cottage industries: the elaborate Chanderi sari, toys, pottery, decorative wax ware, woodwork, and metal utensils.

Major cities
    Bhopal Pop. (1991) 1,062,771 Capital of Madhya Pradesh State. The main industries are the manufacture of cotton cloth and jewelry. Bhopal is the site of the Taj-ul-Masjid, the largest mosque in India. The city has a university, founded in 1970, and an academy of music. Said to be named after Raja Bhoj, modern Bhopal was founded by Dost Muhammad in 18th century. From 1723 until 1956 Bhopal was capital of the former princely state of Bhopal. IndiaWorld, MP Guide, The British Library. Triangle stamps of Bhopal state.

    Indore Pop. (1991) 1,086,673, It is the commercial center of an agricultural region in which wheat, millet, corn, cotton, opium, and oilseed are produced. Factories manufacture cotton textiles, hosiery, chemicals, furniture, and metal products. The city is the site of several palaces and two institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1715, Indore rose to prominence under the Maratha dynasty of Holkars. In 1818 it was made a British protectorate and capital of the princely state of Indore, which merged with Madhya Bharat in 1948. IndiaWorld text, Indore homepage Rajwada Palace, Durbar in Lalbag Palace, Kanch Mandir, Sukhnivas lake at CAT, "Daly College" School,

    Gwalior Pop. 690,765 (1991): Ancient fort. Huna inscription, Jain cliff carvings, Raja Mansingh's palace. Sikh temple marks Guru Hargobind's captivity. It was the capital of the Sindhias. slides from Gwalior IndiaWorld . Fort  Jai Vilas Palace, largest crystal chandeliers in the world. Usha Kiran Palace hotel.


Amarkantak: source of Narmada.
Asirgarh: fort of the legendary Asa Ahir
Badoh-Pathari: Jain temples, 9th cent.
Bawangaja: 72 ft. Jain idol
Bastar: tribes Stories of Bastar Travel
Bhilai: steel plant
Bhimbaithaka: Rock Paintings, Prehistoric cave paintings
Bagh caves: Buddhist caves like Ajanta
Bhojpur: Raja Bhoj's unfinished temple.