5 offbeat tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh
The heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, is home to numerous tourist destinations. One cannot complete visiting all the tourist spots in the state even in a month. However, that list probably does not contain the names of these offbeat places in the state that travelers would love to visit. Get your cameras ready for an awesome experience of history and architecture in Madhya Pradesh.
Asirgarh Fort
Asirgarh Fort is located on the hills in the Satpura Range and yet is one of the unexplored places in the history-laden state. Emperor Asi Ahir built this 15th-century fort. The architecture of the fort displays a blend of Indian, Afghan, Persian, and Turkish architectural elements. Many believe the fort to be haunted, which gives history buffs all the more reason to visit.
Ken Gharial Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh has a wide range of wildlife sanctuaries like Bandhavgarh, but Ken Gharial Sanctuary is one of the lesser-known ones. The sanctuary was founded for the conservation of gharial and mugger crocodiles in 1981. The Ken Gharial Sanctuary is a delight for wildlife photographers and nature lovers. You can visit it along with Raneh Falls in Panna.
Mandu
Located in western Madhya Pradesh, this fortress town is celebrated for its architecture. In the 11th century, Mandu was the subdivision of the Taranga kingdom. Monuments like Baz Bahadur's Palace, Hindola Mahal, Jahaz Mahal built in the 10th century make Mandu an ideal destination for history and architecture buffs. The Jahaz Mahal has an upper story which makes it look like a ship's bridge.
Patalkot
If you love natural wonders, Patalkot is a valley that lies in the Satpura range at over 3,000 feet. The place was not known to many people even twenty years ago and is majorly inhabited by tribals. The name "Patalkot" comes from patal which means very deep. Legend says that after worshipping Lord Shiva, Ravana's son Meghnad went to Patal-lok through this place.
Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh was part of the Orchha kingdom. It was known as Tehri until India's independence in 1947, which means "triangle" for being a group of three villages. From here, you can catch a beautiful view of the Mahendra Sagar lake. The ruins of Garh Kundar Fort are also present here. Tikamgarh was established by a king of the Bundela dynasty, Rudra Pratap Singh.
