Less is More in Madhya Pradesh

Taking in a small slice of central India, at a leisurely pace, this itinerary allows visitors to discover the central heartlands of India.

From the little known but beautiful national park at Satpura to the culturally rich city of Bhopal with its line of female Muslim rulers (the Begums of Bhopal) to sleepy, magical Maheshwar on the banks of the sacred Narmada River; there is such an incredible variety of scenery, wildlife, culture, history and daily life to discover in this small slice of Madhya Pradesh.

Highlights:

Explore Satpura national park at your own pace – by jeep, on foot, by boat or even by bike
An incredible city walkthrough Bhopal, an overlooked gem of a city, rich in history
Stay at a 250-year-old fort on the banks of the sacred Narmada River, steeped in history and romance

Defying stereotypes of visiting India, this is a slow paced trip through quiet countryside and rural backwaters, which enables India to reveal herself slowly. As with all of our holidays, we can adapt this itinerary to suit you in any way you choose.

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DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart and fly to Delhi.

DAY 2 Delhi

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel in the heart of New Delhi.

DAY 3 Delhi

An interesting experience this morning as you explore locally with one of the ex-street kid guides from the Salaam Baalak Trust. They'll give you a brilliant and fun tour of the streets where they grew up, tell you eye-popping stories and give you a fantastic insight into another side of Delhi. The cost of this tour goes directly to the trust in its work, helping other street kids.

After lunch, you will see both sides of Delhi – the historic city and its modern face. Old Delhi is the ancient walled city, capital of the Mughal Empire. Explore by cycle rickshaw and see the formidable Red Fort. Make your way through Chandni Chowk, filled with twisting lanes and crowded bazaars. Return to New Delhi by the very modern Delhi Metro system, a marvel of advanced engineering in one of the busiest parts of India. In the evening we can suggest some superb restaurants for you to try.

DAY 4 Delhi to Satpura National Park

Your drive will take you to the airport this morning for your flight to Bhopal. On arrival, you’ll meet you, chauffeur, for the next ten days and drive approximately 3 hours to Satpura National Park.

Days 5 & 6 Satpura National Park

Satpura is the only park in India where a variety of safari options are available to you. In addition to the usual jeep safari, canoeing and boating safaris are possible, as are walking safaris through the core area of the park. Or, try a night drive through the buffer zone to search for nocturnal animals. The park is little visited and well off the normal tourist trail, so to an extent, you'll have the park to yourselves.

For those looking for more adventure, why not consider two nights of camping and trekking in the heart of the park or a night in a simple, remote lodge in the higher areas of the natural park where tigers roam freely?

And if you want some relaxation, ETG believes that extending your stay to 4-7 nights will allow you to switch off in beautiful surrondings and have the chance to explore the park and the rural areas around to get a full experience of remote India.

Day 7 Satpura to Bhopal

Back to Bhopal today. After arrival and check-in, you can explore Bhimbetka Caves, famous for their 5000-year-old paintings that have been protected from the elements by rock overhangs. On a clear day, the views over the plains from here are quite spectacular.

Day 8 Bhopal

A fabulous walking tour today exploring Bhopal, a city infamous for the tragedy in the 1980s but one with a fascinating and rich cultural heritage. Your guide is a local history buff, and he’ll bring the story of this great city to life, including learning about its female rulers, the Begums of Bhopal, who built and developed the Old City and ruled Bhopal for over 100 years.

Day 9 Bhopal and Sanchi

Off today to Sanchi, to admire the ancient Buddhist monuments on the hilltop here. It's a great place to spend a relaxed morning or to enjoy the beautiful sunset in the evening.

Day 10 Bhopal to Maheshwar

Maheshwar, located in south-western Madhya Pradesh, must be one of the most atmospheric and magical towns in India. The fort and many-tiered temples situated on the banks of the sacred Narmada River are stunning, and people of all faiths are welcome to enter any of the temples to participate in age-old rituals. Your base here is an incredible 250-year-old fort, quirky and enchanting, with delicious food and a lovely pool surrounded by lush gardens.

Days 11 & 12 Maheshwar

Two days at leisure to enjoy the activities on offer here as well as relax and soak up the atmosphere. You might wish to take a trip to the ruined city of Mandu. Inside are 23 miles of walls are palaces, mosques, and pavilions, each with romantic legends attached - such as the 'Ship Palace', which looks like a ship floating on the lake below, and which was once the sultan's harem and home to 15,000 women.

You can also explore the local area on foot, stroll by the ghats or shop for the famed local saris, woven in plain cotton with decorative silk ends.

Days 14 Maheshwar to Delhi

Drive today to Indore and fly to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, we can suggest various ways to enjoy your last evening in India in a memorable way and allow you to reflect on an amazing holiday.