Madhya Pradesh is India’s largest state. It spreads right across the heart of the sub-continent, covering an area much larger than Germany or Italy (443,446 sq. km). Almost a third of the state is under forest cover and it boasts some of the finest wildlife reserves in the country. The denizens of the deep woodlands and forests of Madhya Pradesh are the stately ‘gaur’ (Indian bison), wild dogs (‘dhole’), deer and antelopes like the sambar, chinkara, cheetal (spotted deer), chousingha (four horned antelope) and the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger.

These forests are home to over 900 Royal Bengal tigers, a sixth of the world’s population of this endangered animal. No wonder Madhya Pradesh proudly sports the appellation, “Tiger State”! Spectacular low mountain ranges and ravines, meandering rivers and waterfalls, forts and fortresses, palaces and hunting lodges, ruined cities and temple towns and miles and miles of dense forests just waiting to be explored. Tempted?