Madhya Pradesh travel guide

Top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh

One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.

1. Agar (district headquarters)

   Agar Malwa district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Agar Malwa district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia list).

2. Alirajpur (district headquarters)

   Alirajpur district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Alirajpur district. District of Indore division (Wikipedia list).

3. Anuppur (district headquarters)

   Anuppur district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Anuppur district. District of Shahdol division (Wikipedia).

4. Ashoknagar (district headquarters)

   Ashoknagar district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Ashoknagar district. District of Gwalior division (Wikipedia).

5. Balaghat (district headquarters)

   Balaghat district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Balaghat district. District of Jabalpur division (Wikipedia).

6. Barwani (district headquarters)

   Barwani district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Barwani district. District of Indore division (Wikipedia list).

7. Betul (district headquarters)

   Betul district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Betul district. District of Narmadapuram division (Wikipedia list).

8. Bhind (district headquarters)

   Bhind district · District headquarters

   Headquarters of Bhind district. District of Chambal division (Wikipedia list).

9. Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum

   Bhopal district · Museums

   Listed by Incredible India.

10. Burhanpur (district headquarters)

    Burhanpur district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Burhanpur district. District of Indore division (Wikipedia).

11. Kandariya Mahadev Temple

    Chhatarpur district · Western Group

    Built 1025-1050 AD under the Chandela king Vidyadhar; 101 ft high (Incredible India).

12. Chhindwara (district headquarters)

    Chhindwara district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Chhindwara district. District of Jabalpur division; Pandhurna was carved from its Pandhurna and Sausar tehsils in 2023 (Drishti IAS).

13. Damoh (district headquarters)

    Damoh district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Damoh district. District of Sagar division (Wikipedia list).

14. Datia (district headquarters)

    Datia district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Datia district. District of Gwalior division (Wikipedia).

15. Dewas (district headquarters)

    Dewas district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Dewas district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia list).

16. Mandu (Jahaz Mahal and Hindola Mahal)

    Dhar district · Mandu

    Jahaz Mahal between two lakes; sound and light show at 7 PM (MP Tourism).

17. Dindori (district headquarters)

    Dindori district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Dindori district. District of Jabalpur division (Wikipedia list).

18. Guna (district headquarters)

    Guna district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Guna district. District of Gwalior division (Wikipedia list).

19. Gwalior Fort

    Gwalior district · Fort and palaces

    Spread over 3 sq km; Man Mandir palace, Teli ka Mandir (9th century), Sas Bahu temples (11th century); open 6 AM-5:30 PM (Incredible India).

20. Harda (district headquarters)

    Harda district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Harda district. District of Narmadapuram division (Wikipedia list).

21. Rajwada

    Indore district · City heritage

    Holkar palace with a seven-storey facade, built by Malhar Rao Holkar (Incredible India).

22. Bhedaghat Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls

    Jabalpur district · Bhedaghat

    Narmada through marble cliffs up to about 100 ft; Dhuandhar drops about 30 m; boats from Panchvati Ghat (Incredible India).

23. Jhabua (district headquarters)

    Jhabua district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Jhabua district. District of Indore division (Wikipedia).

24. Katni (district headquarters)

    Katni district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Katni district. District of Jabalpur division (Wikipedia list).

25. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

    Khandwa district · Omkareshwar

    Jyotirlinga on an island in the Narmada; Mamleshwar temple across the river (MP Tourism).

26. Maheshwar Fort and ghats

    Khargone district · Maheshwar

    Fort with Ahilyabai statue and temples; Narmada ghats; Rehwa Society weavers (MP Tourism).

27. Maihar (district headquarters)

    Maihar district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Maihar district. Separated from Satna in September 2023 (Drishti IAS).

28. Kanha Tiger Reserve

    Mandla district · Tiger reserve

    Sanctuary 1933, national park 1955; core zones Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, Sarhi; open mid-October to end-June per Incredible India (core reopens 1 October per Outlook Traveller).

29. Mandsaur (district headquarters)

    Mandsaur district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Mandsaur district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia).

30. Mauganj (district headquarters)

    Mauganj district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Mauganj district. Created 15 August 2023 from Rewa (Wikipedia; Drishti IAS).

31. Morena (district headquarters)

    Morena district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Morena district. District of Chambal division (Wikipedia).

32. Pachmarhi

    Narmadapuram district · Pachmarhi

    Hill station at about 1,100 m in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (Incredible India).

33. Narsinghpur (district headquarters)

    Narsinghpur district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Narsinghpur district. District of Jabalpur division (Wikipedia list).

34. Neemuch (district headquarters)

    Neemuch district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Neemuch district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia).

35. Orchha Fort complex (Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Sheesh Mahal)

    Niwari district · Palaces and fort

    Three palaces; Jahangir Mahal built by Udait Singh to welcome Emperor Jahangir (Incredible India).

36. Pandhurna (district headquarters)

    Pandhurna district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Pandhurna district. Formed in 2023 from the Pandhurna and Sausar tehsils of Chhindwara (Drishti IAS).

37. Panna (district headquarters)

    Panna district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Panna district. District of Sagar division (Wikipedia).

38. Sanchi Buddhist Monuments

    Raisen district · World Heritage

    Great Stupa begun under Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE; four toranas; open 8 AM-6:30 PM; UNESCO 1989 (Incredible India).

39. Rajgarh (district headquarters)

    Rajgarh district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Rajgarh district. District of Bhopal division (Wikipedia list).

40. Ratlam (district headquarters)

    Ratlam district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Ratlam district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia list).

41. Rewa (district headquarters)

    Rewa district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Rewa district. Divisional headquarters (Wikipedia); Mauganj carved out 15 August 2023 (Wikipedia).

42. Sagar (district headquarters)

    Sagar district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Sagar district. District of Sagar division (Wikipedia list).

43. Satna (district headquarters)

    Satna district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Satna district. District of Rewa division; Maihar was carved out in 2023 (Drishti IAS).

44. Sehore (district headquarters)

    Sehore district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Sehore district. District of Bhopal division (Wikipedia list).

45. Seoni (district headquarters)

    Seoni district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Seoni district. District of Jabalpur division (Wikipedia).

46. Shahdol (district headquarters)

    Shahdol district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Shahdol district. District of Shahdol division (Wikipedia list).

47. Shajapur (district headquarters)

    Shajapur district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Shajapur district. District of Ujjain division (Wikipedia list).

48. Sheopur (district headquarters)

    Sheopur district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Sheopur district. District of Chambal division (Wikipedia).

49. Shivpuri (district headquarters)

    Shivpuri district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Shivpuri district. District of Gwalior division (Wikipedia).

50. Sidhi (district headquarters)

    Sidhi district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Sidhi district. District of Rewa division (Wikipedia).

51. Waidhan (district headquarters)

    Singrauli district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Singrauli district. District of Rewa division (Wikipedia list).

52. Tikamgarh (district headquarters)

    Tikamgarh district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Tikamgarh district. District of Sagar division (Wikipedia list).

53. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

    Ujjain district · Temples

    One of the twelve Jyotirlingas; darshan 4 AM-11 PM; Bhasma Aarti from 4 AM, booked online (Incredible India).

54. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

    Umaria district · Tiger reserve

    Forest gifted to the state by the Maharaja of Rewa in 1968; Bandhavgarh Fort about 2,000 years old; closed about 1 July to mid-October (Incredible India).

55. Vidisha (district headquarters)

    Vidisha district · District headquarters

    Headquarters of Vidisha district. District of Bhopal division (Wikipedia).

Districts of Madhya Pradesh 55

55 (Mauganj, Pandhurna and Maihar added in 2023) — 55 in the NIC directory (Sept 2026). Several websites wrongly say 57. Bina and Junnardeo proposals pending.

• Agar Malwa

  HQ Agar · 1 placesDistrict of Ujjain division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Alirajpur

  HQ Alirajpur · 1 placesDistrict of Indore division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Anuppur

  HQ Anuppur · 4 placesAmarkantak, source of the Narmada, with its Kalachuri temples and Kapildhara falls.Highlights: Amarkantak and Narmada Udgam temple

• Ashoknagar

  HQ Ashoknagar · 5 placesChanderi: fort, stepwells, sultanate monuments and Chanderi weaving.Highlights: Chanderi Fort

• Balaghat

  HQ Balaghat · 2 placesPart of Kanha Tiger Reserve.

• Barwani

  HQ Barwani · 1 placesDistrict of Indore division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Betul

  HQ Betul · 1 placesDistrict of Narmadapuram division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Bhind

  HQ Bhind · 1 placesDistrict of Chambal division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Bhopal

  HQ Bhopal · 9 placesThe capital's lakes, the Tribal Museum and Museum of Mankind, Taj-ul-Masjid and Van Vihar.Highlights: Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya

• Burhanpur

  HQ Burhanpur · 1 placesMughal-era town on the Tapti.

• Chhatarpur

  HQ Chhatarpur · 11 placesKhajuraho's Chandela temples, a World Heritage Site since 1986, with Raneh Falls nearby.Highlights: Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshmana Temple

• Chhindwara

  HQ Chhindwara · 2 placesPart of Pench Tiger Reserve; Pandhurna was carved out in 2023.

• Damoh

  HQ Damoh · 1 placesDistrict of Sagar division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Datia

  HQ Datia · 4 placesPitambara Peeth, Bir Singh Palace and the Sonagiri Jain hills.Highlights: Shri Pitambara Peeth, Bir Singh Palace

• Dewas

  HQ Dewas · 1 placesDistrict of Ujjain division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Dhar

  HQ Dhar · 5 placesMandu's Malwa sultanate palaces: Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Roopmati's pavilion and Hoshang Shah's tomb.Highlights: Mandu (Jahaz Mahal and Hindola Mahal), Rani Roopmati Pavilion and Baz Bahadur's Palace

• Dindori

  HQ Dindori · 1 placesDistrict of Jabalpur division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Guna

  HQ Guna · 1 placesDistrict of Gwalior division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Gwalior

  HQ Gwalior · 7 placesGwalior Fort with Man Mandir, Teli ka Mandir and Sas Bahu, Jai Vilas Palace and the Tansen festival.Highlights: Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Palace

• Harda

  HQ Harda · 1 placesDistrict of Narmadapuram division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Indore

  HQ Indore · 7 placesRajwada and Lal Bagh, the Sarafa night food market, and the gateway to Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Mandu.Highlights: Rajwada, Sarafa Bazaar

• Jabalpur

  HQ Jabalpur · 3 placesBhedaghat's marble gorge and Dhuandhar Falls on the Narmada, and the gateway to Kanha and Bandhavgarh.Highlights: Bhedaghat Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls

• Jhabua

  HQ Jhabua · 1 placesTribal district of western Malwa.

• Katni

  HQ Katni · 1 placesDistrict of Jabalpur division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Khandwa

  HQ Khandwa · 4 placesOmkareshwar Jyotirlinga on its Narmada island, the 108-ft Statue of Oneness and Hanuwantiya.Highlights: Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Statue of Oneness (Adi Shankaracharya)

• Khargone

  HQ Khargone · 2 placesMaheshwar's riverside fort and ghats on the Narmada, home of the Maheshwari sari.Highlights: Maheshwar Fort and ghats

• Maihar

  HQ Maihar · 1 placesNew district (2023) and Sharda temple town.

• Mandla

  HQ Mandla · 1 placesKanha Tiger Reserve in the Maikal hills.Highlights: Kanha Tiger Reserve

• Mandsaur

  HQ Mandsaur · 4 placesThe Ashtamukhi Pashupatinath temple, Gandhi Sagar sanctuary and the Yashodharman museum.Highlights: Pashupatinath Temple

• Mauganj

  HQ Mauganj · 5 placesBahuti Falls, Deotalab's Shiva temple and Nai Garhi fort.Highlights: Bahuti Falls

• Morena

  HQ Morena · 4 placesBateshwar's 200-odd restored temples, the circular Chausath Yogini at Mitaoli and Padavali.Highlights: Bateshwar temples, Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli

• Narmadapuram

  HQ Narmadapuram · 5 placesPachmarhi hill station and Dhoopgarh, the state's highest point, with Satpura Tiger Reserve at Madhai.Highlights: Pachmarhi, Dhoopgarh, Satpura Tiger Reserve (Madhai)

• Narsinghpur

  HQ Narsinghpur · 1 placesDistrict of Jabalpur division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Neemuch

  HQ Neemuch · 2 placesPart of Gandhi Sagar sanctuary.

• Niwari

  HQ Niwari · 7 placesOrchha: Bundela palaces, the Ram Raja temple and riverside cenotaphs on the Betwa.Highlights: Orchha Fort complex (Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Sheesh Mahal), Ram Raja Mandir

• Pandhurna

  HQ Pandhurna · 1 placesNew district (2023) formed from Chhindwara's Pandhurna and Sausar tehsils.

• Panna

  HQ Panna · 4 placesPanna Tiger Reserve, Ajaigarh Fort and Pandav Falls.Highlights: Panna Tiger Reserve

• Raisen

  HQ Raisen · 3 placesTwo World Heritage Sites: Sanchi's Buddhist stupas and the Bhimbetka rock shelters, with the Bhojeshwar temple.Highlights: Sanchi Buddhist Monuments, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur

• Rajgarh

  HQ Rajgarh · 1 placesDistrict of Bhopal division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Ratlam

  HQ Ratlam · 1 placesDistrict of Ujjain division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Rewa

  HQ Rewa · 1 placesDivisional headquarters of the Vindhya region; Mauganj was carved out in 2023.

• Sagar

  HQ Sagar · 1 placesDistrict of Sagar division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Satna

  HQ Satna · 4 placesChitrakoot on the Uttar Pradesh border: Ram Ghat, Kamadgiri and Gupt Godavari; the Bharhut stupa site.Highlights: Chitrakoot (Ram Ghat, Kamadgiri)

• Sehore

  HQ Sehore · 1 placesDistrict of Bhopal division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Seoni

  HQ Seoni · 2 placesPench Tiger Reserve, the Jungle Book country.Highlights: Pench Tiger Reserve

• Shahdol

  HQ Shahdol · 1 placesDistrict of Shahdol division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Shajapur

  HQ Shajapur · 1 placesDistrict of Ujjain division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Sheopur

  HQ Sheopur · 2 placesKuno National Park, home of India's reintroduced cheetahs since 2022.Highlights: Kuno National Park

• Shivpuri

  HQ Shivpuri · 2 placesMadhav National Park, declared a tiger reserve in March 2025.Highlights: Madhav National Park and Tiger Reserve

• Sidhi

  HQ Sidhi · 2 placesSanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve.

• Singrauli

  HQ Waidhan · 1 placesDistrict of Rewa division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Tikamgarh

  HQ Tikamgarh · 1 placesDistrict of Sagar division; official tourism content still to be collected.

• Ujjain

  HQ Ujjain · 7 placesMahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and the Mahakal Lok corridor, the Kshipra ghats and the Vedh Shala; Simhastha city.Highlights: Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Mahakal Lok corridor

• Umaria

  HQ Umaria · 1 placesBandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and its hilltop fort.Highlights: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

• Vidisha

  HQ Vidisha · 2 placesThe Udayagiri caves; railhead for Sanchi.Highlights: Udayagiri Caves

Festivals and dates to plan around

• Tiger reserve core zones — Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna, Sanjay-Dubri: Closed in the monsoon; reopen 1 October (Outlook Traveller, 2024)
• Tansen Samaroh — Gwalior: 14-19 Dec 2026 (Incredible India)
• Khajuraho Dance Festival — Chhatarpur: 20-26 Feb 2027 (Incredible India; MP Tourism)
• Simhastha — Ujjain: 2028; official dates to confirm