Introduction

Madhya Pradesh, located in the geographic heart of India, is surrounded by seven states viz. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the south, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the north, Bihar and Orissa in the east and Gujarat in the west. Madhya Pradesh is the second largest Indian state in size with an area of 308000 sq km. Though the state of Madhya Pradesh came into existence on November 1, 1956 but it came into its present form on November 1, 2000 following its bifurcation to create a new state of Chhattisgarh. The concept of District Governance has been implemented and District Planning Committees have been empowered to plan and execute development works. A system of village level governance, Gram Swaraj, has been put in place, from Jan. 26, 2001, under which Gram Sabhas have been bestowed with considerable powers for development of villages and welfare activities. Madhya Pradesh, because of its central location in India, has remained a crucible of historical currents from North, South, East and West. Except for the valleys of the Narmada and the Tapti, Madhya Pradesh consists of a plateau with a mean elevation of 1600 ft above sea level, interspersed with the mountains of the Vindhya and the Satpura ranges. The main river systems are the Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi and Indravati. Nearly one third of the state's area is covered with tropical forests ranging between the rivers Chambal in the north and Godavari in the south. To the east of Chambal, the area has rocky surface and thick forest. Farther north, the topography of the plains stretches up to the ravines of Chambal. The magic of Madhya Pradesh lies in its exquisitely carved temples, proud fortresses and variety of wildlife. Madhya Pradesh has a number of important pilgrimage centres. While Ujjain and Omkareshwar have special significance due to Shrines having two of the twelve jyotirlingas, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Amarkantak, Hoshangabad are also important in their own rights. Rich archaeological wealth has been unearthed in various parts of the state throwing light on its history. Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam of an old historic city, and modern urban planning. It presents a multi-faceted profile: the old city with its marketplaces and fine old mosques and palaces still bears the aristocratic imprint of its former rulers. Equally impressive is the new city with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. Madhya Pradesh has everything from rich history and heritage, divinity, colorful simple people, art and architecture, wonderful handicrafts to unique wildlife.

Madhya Pradesh comprises several linguistically and culturally distinct regions, including:

Malwa
A plateau region in the northwest of the state, north of the Vindhya Range, with its distinct language and culture. Indore is the major city of the region, while Bhopal lies on the edge of Bundelkhand region. Ujjain is a town of historical importance.

Nimar (Nemar)
The western portion of the Narmada River valley, lying south of the Vindhyas in the southwest portion of the state.

Bundelkhand
A region of rolling hills and fertile valleys in the northern part of the state, which slopes down toward the Indo-Gangetic plain to the north. Gwalior is an historic center of the region.

Baghelkhand
A hilly region in the northeast of the state, which includes the eastern end of the Vindhya Range.

Mahakoshal (Mahakaushal)
The southeastern portion of the state, which includes the eastern end of the Narmada river valley and the eastern Satpuras. Jabalpur is the most important city in the region.

Climate
Madhya Pradesh has a topography that is crossed from north to south by plains separated by upland areas. The climate is extreme in the north of Madhya Pradesh. It is cool and breezy in the central parts and humid in the eastern and southern regions. Best time to visit is between September to February. The state has three main seasons:

Winter
November to February are the months of winter during which the average temperatures range from 10° to 27° C (50° to 81° F). Winters are usually pleasant and dry.

Summer
The March-to-May season is hot and dry. Summers are hot, with an average temperature of 29° C (85° F) and a high temperature that at times reaches 48° C (118° F).

Monsoon season
The climate is monsoonal between June to September. During the monsoon season temperatures average 19° to 30° C (66° to 86°). Madhya Pradesh receives an average annual rainfall of about 1200 mm (nearly 50 in), of which 90 percent falls during the monsoon season.

How to reach

By Train
Trunk Rail route connecting nothern India passes through Madhya Pradesh. Main junctions in the state are Bhopal, Bina, Gwalior, Indore, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Ratlam, Ujjain & Khandwa.

By Air
Major airports linking Delhi, Bombay, Varanasi & Nagpur are Bhopal, Indore, Khajuraho & Gwalior. Stations linked by Vayudoot are Bhopal, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa, Guna, Indore & Jabalpur. Bhopal is also connected to Jaipur, Raipur & Nagpur by Vayudoot.

Agriculture
Agriculture is the basis of Madhya Pradesh's economy. Less than half of the land area is cultivable, however, and its distribution is quite uneven because of variations in topography, rainfall, and soils. The main cultivated areas are found in the Chambal valley, the Malwa Plateau, the Rewa Plateau, and the Chhattisgarh Plain. The Narmada valley, covered with river-borne alluvium, is another fertile area. The most important crops are rice, wheat, sorghum (jowar), corn (maize), pulses (legumes such as peas, beans, or lentils), and peanuts (groundnuts). Rice is grown principally in the east, where there is more rainfall, while in western Madhya Pradesh wheat and sorghum are more important. The state is the largest soybean producer in India. Other crops include linseed, sesame, sugarcane, and cotton, as well as inferior millets, which are grown in hilly areas. The state is a large producer of opium (in the western district of Mandasor, near Rajasthan) and marijuana (in the southwestern district of Khandwa [East Nimar]).

Madhya Pradesh is rich in minerals, though these resources have not yet been fully exploited. There are large reserves of coal and important deposits of iron ore, manganese ore, bauxite, limestone, dolomite, copper, fireclay, and china clay. Diamond reserves at Panna are of particular interest.

Industry
The major industries of the state are electronics, telecommunications, petrochemicals, food processing and automobiles. The state has also taken a lead in the production of cement. The state is also famous for its traditional handicrafts and handlooms manufactured at Chanderi and Maheshwar. The state is well endowed with potential hydroelectric power. Main hydroelectric projects (jointly developed with other states) are the Babanthadi with Maharashtra, the Ban Sagar with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the Chambal Valley with Rajasthan, the Narmada Sagar with Gujarat and Rajasthan, and the Rajghat and Urmil with Uttar Pradesh. The Hasdeo Bango, Bargi, and Birsinghapur thermal power projects are also within the state. The Narmada Sagar project has been a source of controversy because of its potential for damaging the environment.

People
Madhya Pradesh has at least four agro-climatic zones, and thus, has the most interesting mix of people and ways of life. It is home to about 40 percent of India's tribal population. Of the total 48 districts, 23 are predominantly tribal. The major tribes of Madhya Pradesh are Gonds, Bhils, Oraons, Korkens, and Kols. Away from the tribal stock of Madhya Pradesh the rest of the population consists of Hindu communities. They include Rajput landholders, traditional merchant classes and established agriculturists. The industries and factories in the urban areas have drawn labour from all the classes. A small percentage of Parsis, Muslims and Jains also add to the racial mosaic of Madhya Pradesh. The state presents in all a varied matrix of tribal culture ranging from animists and fowlers to advanced cultivators and factory workers. The socio economic condition of the people has improved considerably since independence. People have become conscious of their rights. The economy of the state has developed to a desired satisfaction. Social changes were bound to occur in the tribal section of the population of the state. Social welfare agencies made them aware of many things. There are instances of adapting traditional Hindu manners and ritualistic patterns by some of the Adivasis.

Dress
The peasant population of the state wears the dhoti. A white or a black jacket called bandi or mirzai is still in vogue in Bundelkhand and Malwa. Safa is worn on the head in the eastern parts of the state and pagri or paga (turban) is preferred in the western regions. Among the new generations trousers, socks and shirts have become very common. Women wear coloured lehnga and choli. A piece of cloth known as orni or lugra is used to cover the head and the shoulders. In the central region they prefer red and black colours, while yellow, blue and green are admired by the Chhathisgarhi women. Madhya Pradesh is famous for its colourful dresses and the art of jewellery. It is during the festivals that the women of this vast region wear their finest clothes and ornaments.

Language
Hindi is the official and most widely spoken language. In addition to standard Hindi, several regional variants are spoken, which are considered by some to be dialects of Hindi, and by others to be distinct but related languages. Among these languages are Malvi in Malwa, Nimadi in Nimar, Bundeli in Bundelkhand, and Bagheli in Bagelkhand and the southeast. Each of these languages or dialects has dialects of its own. Other languages include Bhilodi (Bhili), Gondi, and the isolate Kalto (Nahali), all spoken by tribal groups. The second most important common language is Marathi. Other languages spoken are Urdu, Marathi, Sindhi, Punjabi, Gujrati etc.

Culture
The state's cultural lineage is ancient and checkered. Madhya Pradesh occupies a special position in the history of music. The Gwalior gharana is among the most prominent arbiters of style. The rivalry of Tansen and Baiju Bawra is remembered in fantastic detail to this day. In modern times, the revival of north Indian classical music was accomplished by the legendary Ustad Allaudin Khan, guru of famous sitarist Pt. Ravi Shankar and sarod player Ali Akbar Khan. MP also has a rich tribal culture: the bison-horn dance of the Muria tribe in Madhya Pradesh is a dynamic interpretation of nature's mating season.

Famous Personalities
Madhya Pradesh has produced great men and women who are held in high esteem due to their great deeds. India's immortal poet-dramatist Kalidas belonged to Ujjain and great musician Tansen to Gwalior. Bravery of great women like Durgawati, Avantibai, Kamlapati and Devi Ahilya Bai is inscribed in golden letters in history. Among the eminent artists/poets produced by the state are Shri Makhan Lal Chaturvedi, Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Hari Shankar Parsai, Sharad Joshi, Gajanan Madhav Mukti Bodh and Vinod Kumar Shukla.

Madhya Pradesh at a glance

Capital : Bhopal

Area (sq km) : 308,144

Population : 6,03,85,118 (Census 2001)

Male : 3,14,56,873 (52.09 %)

Female : 2,89,28,245 (47.91 %)

Females per 1000 males : 920 (Census 2001)

Literacy : 64.11 %

Male : 76.80 %

Female : 50.28 %

Ratio of urban population : 26.67% (Census 2001)

Density of Population : 196 per sq km

Principal Languages : Hindi

Per Capita Income (Rs. at current prices in 1992-93) : 4,725

Recorded Forest Area ('000 sq. km) : 155.4

Revenue Divisions : 9

Districts : 48

Chhatisgarh plains

Balaghat

Northern Hill Region

Shahdol, Anuppur, Sidhi and Parts of Mandla

Kymore Plateau & Satpura Hills

Rewa,Satna,Panna, (Partly) Seoni and Katni tehsil of Katni.

Central Narmada Valley

Jabalpur, Katni (except Katni teh.) Narsinghpur and Hoshangabad & Harda

Vindhya Plateau

Bhopal,Sehore,Raisen, Vidisha,Guna,Ashoknagar,Sagar & Damoh.

Gird Region

Gwalior,Bhind,Shivpuri (except Pichore and Karera Tehsil ). Morena & Sheopur kala

Bundel-khand

Chhattarpur,Datia, Tikamgarh, part of panna Teh.Karera and Pichore of Shivpuri.

Satpura Plateau

Betul & Chhindwara

Malwa Plateau

Mandsaur,Ratlam, Ujjain,Dewas, Indore,Shajapur, Rajgarh & Dhar (except Kukshi & Manawar Tehsils) and Petlawad Tehsil of Jhabua.

Nimar Plains

Khandwa,Burhanpur,Khargone, Barwan,i Kukshi & Manawar, Tehsils of Dhar District.

Jhabua Hills

Jhabua District. (Except Petlawad Tehs )