Bhopal to Indore with Pachmarhi and Mandu

Bhopal to Bhojpur 28 kms, Bhojpur to Bhimbetka 30 kms, Bhimbetka to Pachmarhi 160 kms

Arrival Bhopal Railway Station/ Airport, Meet and greet by our Company representative, Pick up from Airport/ Railway Station and drive to Pachmarhi.

On the way visit largest shivilng and World Heritage site, Arrival at Bhojpur after 1 hours. Visit Shiv Mandir. This shiv Mandir have the biggest shivling in world.  It was founded by the Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj (1010-53) and was named after him which is about 28 km from Bhopal, Bhojpur is famous as an archeological site because of its magnificent remains of Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam. The temple is a simple square with outside portion of 66 feet, there are no re-entrant angles usual domes, though it is incomplete but has a magnificent soaring strength of line and is supported by four pillars. Like dome the pillars are also massive but they retain a remarkable elegance due to their tapering form. Divided into three sections the lowest is an octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section. The doorway is richly carved from above and from below it is plain throwing sharp relief against the two exquisitely sculpted figures that stand on the either side. The other three sides are balconies each supported by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars. The lingam in the sanctum rises to an awe inspiring height of 7.5 feet with a circumference of 17.8 feet. Set upon a massive platform 21.5 feet square and made of three superimposed limestone blocks, the architectural harmony of lingam and platform creates a superb synthesis of solidity and lightness. Due to reason unknown the temple was not completed and the earthen ramp used to raise it to dome level still stands. The temple is one of the finest examples of temple architecture of the12th and 13th centuries.

After Bhojpur drive to Bhimbetika. which is around 35 K.M. from the Bhojpur. On the way have your lunch at some good restaurant. Bhimbetka is surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhya mountain range, Bhimbetka is also known as Bhima’s Lounge (Bhima was the second of the five Pandava princes in the Hindu epic Mahabharata). A pre-historic site, its giant rock formation must have provided ample shelter to the ancient tribes that dwelt here. Recently, about 760 rock shelters of the Neolithic age (circa 8,000 b.c.) were discovered here. These shelters are decorated with picture writings, depicting the life and times of pre-historic cave dwellers. Some of the drawings in white are reminiscent of the cave paintings in Pachmarhi, making the Bhimbetka group an archaeological treasure trove, an invaluable chronicle in the history of man.

Post lunch drive to Pachmarhi arrival Pachmarhi after 3-4 hours,  in the evening check in hotel, dinner and night stay.

Carry spare clothes and Towels while travelling to Bee Fall

Today morning post breakfast at 09:30 AM move to Explore Pachmarhi by Gypsy on sharing basis. Visit Jatashankar - The temple is an ancient worship center for the local tribes. One needs step down more than 150 uneven and rocky steps to reach the cave but it is worth the effort. The amazing rock formations in the shape of Shiv Jata, a crocodile and several Lingams are a natural wonder. Than visit church & Museum (Sangrahalaya). Post lunch move to visit B-Fall, Charming waterfall & trail network in mountain surrounds with local vendors offering tea & snacks. It's a must visit water fall, but you must be ready to climb steady stairs numbering around 400-450, As walk till the water fall is through steep descent steps, we do not recommend it for very small children and elderly people.  Later drive to experience the most mesmerizing view of Pachmarhi i.e. sun set at Dhoopgarh in the evening. After that return to the hotel for a cozy night stay.

Today morning at 09:00 AM after breakfast check out from the hotel and move to visit few more places of Pachmarhi like Pandav Caves, Bada Mahadev, Guptmahadev, Priyadarshni, Handi Kho, Lake (depending on the availability of time). Remaining day at leisure. Night stay. .

Local Bhopal

Morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Bhopal.

Check-in to the hotel, relax for some time and Move to explore Bhopal.  “city of Lakes” Start from Mahaveer Giri, Bada Lake, Lake View, Van Vihar, Manav Sangrahalaya and than Tribal Museum and In the evening visit Shaurya Smarak before 07:00 PM and Birla Mandir before 09:00 PM. In the evening return to hotel for a night stay.  (you can have your dinner at Wind & Waves, restaurant near to Lake)

  Later evening visit a good restaurant for local cuisine.

Bhopal to Sanchi: 48 Kms. Sanchi to Udaigiri Caves: 08 Kms , mandu 335 kms.

Today early morning post breakfast and Check out from the Hotel at around 09:00 AM and drive to Mandu. First visit National Heritage sites, Visit Sanchi and Udaigiri caves.

Visit Sanchi visit local places like  the World renowned Stupas, Monasteries, temples and pillars which was built in the reign of Mughal Emperor Ashoka in 300 BC. It is a excavated site which was rediscovered by British India officer General Taylor in 1818 but actual restoration work was initiated from 1912 to 1919 under the supervision of Sir John Marshall. Till year 1881, many amateur archaeologists and treasure hunters ravaged the site. It has been declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in year 1989. Amongst the many Stupas the most renowned is the Great Stupa 1 that was built by the Great Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Ashoka built a total of eight stupas at Sanchi in the 3 B.C. though today only three of the Stupas remain. These Stupas have the relics of Buddha like His teeth, hair and the shoulder bones. The Great Stupa 1 is a major attraction here.

It is counted among must visit tourist attractions of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India. These monuments record the genesis, efflorescence and decay of Buddhist art and architecture over a period of 1300 years.

The Udayagiri Caves, The caves are twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh from the early years of the 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples and iconography in India. They are the only site that can be verifiably associated with a Gupta period monarch from its inscriptions. One of India's most important archaeological sites, the Udayagiri hills and its caves are protected monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Udayagiri caves contain iconography of Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Durga and Matrikas) and Shaivism (Shiva). They are notable for the ancient monumental relief sculpture of Vishnu in his incarnation as the man-boar Varaha, rescuing the earth symbolically represented by Bhudevi clinging to the boar's tusk as described in Hindu mythology. The site has important inscriptions of the Gupta dynasty belonging to the reigns of Chandragupta II (c. 375-415) and Kumaragupta I (c. 415-55). In addition to these, Udayagiri has a series of rock-shelters and petroglyphs, ruined buildings, inscriptions, water systems, fortifications and habitation mounds, all of which remain a subject of continuing archaeological studies. The Udayagiri Caves complex consists of twenty caves, of which one is dedicated to Jainism and all others to Hinduism. The Jain cave is notable for one of the oldest known Jaina inscriptions from 425 CE, while the Hindu Caves feature inscriptions from 401 CE.

Later drive to Mandu via Indore. Arrival and night stay.

Morning Post breakfast check out and move to explore Mandu, start with Delhi Darwaza, than the Jahaz Mahal which looks like a ship that’s about to sail. However, for centuries this ship made of stone and mortar never did. Instead, it stood floating over the twin lakes, bearing a silent witness to Mandu's long, rich and varied history.

The city of Mandu is adorned with spell-binding Afghan architecture surrounded by baobab trees, native to Africa.  Visit Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Jami Masjid and Rupmati’s Pavilion. Transfer to Hotel and Night stay.

Madagascar to Mandu: “Mysterious Mandu: the land of Afghan architecture and baobab trees”“The city of Mandu is adorned with spell-binding Afghan architecture surrounded by baobab trees, native to Africa.  Baobabs are often called the Tree of Life. Native to Madagascar, some parts of mainland, sub-Saharan Africa and Australia, the baobab is known for not just its towering height (up to 98 ft), but also girth (up to 36 ft) and life span (3,000 years). The rather succulent trunk is said to hold as much as 100,000 litres of water — perfect to soak up Mandu’s generous monsoon bounty — while its flowers bloom only at night. Their otherwise mild fragrance intensifies when it mingles with the aroma of wet earth.

When cracked open, Mandu ki imli — the elongated baobab fruit — is a cluster of white pulp-coated seeds that resemble giant custard apple segments. The powdered seeds and the dried pulp are mixed with chilled water to make a tangy, vitamin C-rich drink that I relish at a hawker stall after a sweltering trek up Baz Bahadur’s palace.

In the evening return from Mandu, check in , relax for some time and late evening at around 10:00 PM move to Rajwada.

“Take a small Heritage walk to Rajwada to enjoy delicious dessert at Rajwada. Visit Rajwada taste some local cuisine.”

Morning post breakfast at around 11:00 AM check out from the hotel and visit local Indore, move to explore the city of Holkars,

OPTIONAL:  Can visit Kanch Mandir, Khajrana Ganesh, Lalbagh Palace, It is one of the few impressive architectural monuments that represent the enviable lifestyle and the inventive eye of the Holkars. Built in 1886 by Tukoji Rao Holkar II, Bada Gangati. Later transfer to Airport/ Railway station.