Sacred Trails: Telangana tourists flock to Madhya Pradesh’s temples and heritage sites

A large number of tourists from Telangana have been making a beeline to the ‘Heart of India’ — Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) — with many preferring temples and other pilgrimage centres in that State, thanks to enhanced road and air connectivity between both the States and improved facilities at tourist destinations across M.P.

Although M.P. is home to more than a dozen renowned pilgrimage centres, the Mahakaleshwar Temple and Kal Bhairav Temple in Ujjain, along with the Omkareshwar Temple, remain the most visited by people from Telangana. “Usually, travellers from Telangana prefer the Indore circuit (spiritual destinations) consisting of Jyotirlingas. They land in Indore and then cover the entire circuit. Flight connectivity between Hyderabad and Indore is good,” says a senior officer of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), which operates an office at Tourism Plaza, Begumpet, in Hyderabad.

“Given the varied demands of tourists, we are focusing on customised packages. We design the packages based on the number of tourists, duration of stay, times of visit and mode of transport. However, we can assure visitors of affordable accommodations at our hotels and resorts. The most preferred modes of transport are cars and minibuses since both the States are well connected by a national highway,” the official added.

The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) provides a range of amenities for visitors, including hotel rooms, restaurants, resorts, and cottages at nearly all major tourist destinations. “We operate more than 170 hotels, including three-star properties. Tourists can book rooms through our website: https://mpstdc.mponline.gov.in. Additionally, we offer homestays in many designated rural areas, allowing visitors to experience village life and taste homely food,” an MPSTDC official said.

Having varied and fascinating history, Madya Pradesh boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites — architectural marvels such as the temples of Khajuraho, the stupa of Sanchi, and the rock shelters of Bhimbetka.

Visitors throng Khajuraho temples during the Khajuraho Film Festival in February last week.
| Photo Credit:
P. Laxma Reddy

The recent 51st Khajuraho Dance Festival (KDF), held from February 20 to 26, attracted thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to Khajuraho which is connected by air and rail from Delhi. A dance performance at the KDF-2025 even set a Guinness World Record for the longest classical dance marathon, with 139 artists performing continuously for over 24 hours.

Domestic as well as international tourists from the US and European countries flock Khajuraho every year, according to officials. However, locals lamented that the foreign tourist’s footfall is yet to pick up ever since a significant drop after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Principal Secretary Tourism and Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Sheo Shekhar Shukla the government hoped that their focus on the expanding tourism infrastructure, promoting cultural heritage, and leveraging digital marketing strategies would certainly help them in attracting both domestic and international tourists in greater numbers.

A view of Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh.
| Photo Credit:
P. Laxma Reddy

Several historic forts, such as the 6th century Gwalior Fort and 17th century palaces in Orchha, along with hill stations like Pachmarhi, continue to attract heritage tourists. The State’s national parks, including Panna and Pench, are home to big cats and other wildlife. “Our State is known as the Tiger State, Leopard State, Cheetah State and Vulture State. Jungle safaris are in high demand, and visitors usually need to book tickets two to three months in advance,” an official said. Meanwhile, Film Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Wildlife Tourism are also thriving in M.P., which has over 30% of the State area covered with forest.

Betwa river, which flows alongside the heritage city Orchha, offers an adventurous rafting experience besides providing a great opportunity to have the amazing sights of the city from a different angle.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh’s diverse culinary landscape offers a mouth-watering array of options. The State’s distinct regions, including Bagelkhand, Bhopal, Bundelkhand, and Malwa, showcase their unique flavours and specialities, catering to both vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.

(This correspondent toured Madhya Pradesh at the invitation of the MP Tourism Board)