Explore Madhya Pradesh by road: every place, region by region

• 20

  Places in this guide

• 20

  Places with measured road distances

• 4

  Ready-made circuits

• 3

  UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Road distances come from our route catalog (by road, never straight-line guesses); fares are indicative (Oct 2026) from our published rate method, and every place links its official page.

Jyotirlingas

Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar), Omkareshwar

Ramayana places

Chitrakoot, Orchha

The Narmada

Amarkantak, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Bhedaghat (Jabalpur)

The goddess

Maihar (Sharda Devi)

Buddhist

Sanchi

1. Khajuraho Group of MonumentsInscribed 1986
2. Buddhist Monuments at SanchiInscribed 1989
3. Rock Shelters of BhimbetkaInscribed 2003

• Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and ManduFrom Indore: Ujjain → Omkareshwar → Maheshwar → Mandu3–4 days383 km17-seater ₹28,200–34,500Photo: Ashverse, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
• Sanchi, Bhimbetka and PachmarhiFrom Bhopal: Sanchi → Bhimbetka → Pachmarhi3–4 days542 km17-seater ₹28,200–34,500Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
• Orchha and Khajuraho from BhopalFrom Bhopal: Orchha → Khajuraho3–4 days887 km17-seater ₹28,200–34,500Photo: Kartikr.naturephotography, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
• Bhedaghat, Kanha and BandhavgarhFrom Jabalpur: Bhedaghat → Kanha → Bandhavgarh5 days554 km17-seater ₹35,400–43,300Photo: Anshikasjv12, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

• Book safari permits on the MP forest department's official site first; they sell out on weekends and holidays.
• Core zones close for the monsoon (roughly July to mid-October); buffer zones may stay open.
• The group's tempo traveller or bus takes you to the resort and the gate, and waits; it does not go on the safari.

MP Forest: safari booking (official)

• In a Simhastha year, roads into Ujjain carry traffic rules and parking zones for outside vehicles: plan with the operator.
• The official dates are announced by the state government: check before you plan around it.

MP Tourism: The legend of Simhastha

1. JanLokrang · BhopalA festival of folk and tribal arts that opens on Republic Day, 26 January.MP Tourism: Lokrang
2. JanMandu festival · ManduMusic, walks and stays among the ruins around the turn of the year, in the years it is held.MP Tourism: Mandu Festival
3. FebKhajuraho Dance Festival · KhajurahoA week of classical dance against the temples, listed for 20–26 February 2027.MP Tourism: Khajuraho Dance Festival
4. MarMahashivratri · Ujjain, Omkareshwar and PachmarhiShiva's great night (February or March): the Jyotirlingas and Pachmarhi's Mahadev fair are at their busiest.
5. AugShravan and the Mahakal sawari · Ujjain and OmkareshwarThrough the month of Shravan (July–August), Mondays bring huge crowds and Mahakal's procession through Ujjain.
6. OctNavratri · Maihar and every townNine nights of the goddess (September or October); Maihar's hill temple is at its busiest.
7. DecTansen Sangeet Samaroh · GwaliorA classical music festival at the tomb of Tansen, listed for 14–19 December 2026.MP Tourism: Tansen Samaroh

• Poha and jalebi: Indore's breakfast: flattened rice with sev, and hot jalebi.
• Sarafa night market: Indore's jewellers' street turns into a food market after dark.
• Dal bafla: Malwa's baked wheat dumplings with dal and ghee.
• Bhutte ka kees: Grated corn cooked with milk and spices, an Indore snack.
• Bhopali kebabs and biryani: The old city's Mughlai food around Chowk.

• A family or temple group is doing the Ujjain–Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga yatra from Indore, Bhopal or Gujarat and needs one tempo traveller or bus with a driver.
• A school or family group is touring Madhya Pradesh's heritage (Khajuraho, Orchha, Gwalior, Sanchi, Bhimbetka, Mandu) or Pachmarhi with one vehicle.
• A wildlife group needs transport between Jabalpur or Nagpur and Kanha, Bandhavgarh or Pench, with safaris booked separately.
• A visitor from abroad lands at Indore (IDR) or Bhopal (BHO) and wants a vehicle with a driver, with itemised quotes from verified operators.