New Year’s nature trips: Exploring Madhya Pradesh's natural diversity

When travelling within the state of Madhya Pradesh, one will notice the vast expanses of lush forests, rolling hills, and meandering rivers. Across its diverse landscape lies the famous national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls, valleys and canyons. For a nature enthusiast, as the unending natural beauty unfolds across the state’s diverse landscapes, it creates experiences that are not only memorable, but also unique.

Kanha National Park is one of the largest national parks in India, and is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. The national park is renowned for its diverse ecosystems, including dense sal and bamboo forests, meadows, and water bodies. Kanha is most famous for its significant population of Bengal tigers, leopards, swamp deer (barasingha) and numerous species of birds.

Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, and is a renowned wildlife sanctuary most celebrated for its rich biodiversity and historical significance. The park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. The dense forests and rocky hills are home to a significant population of tigers, sloth bear, wild boar, leopard and numerous species of birds.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an archaeological marvel. The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters provide a glimpse into prehistoric art and human evolution. Located in the Raisen District, these rock shelters feature paintings that date back to the Mesolithic period.

Satpura National Park is characterised by deep valleys, rivulets, and dense forests. This park is unique in the fact that this is the only national park in the country where visitors are allowed to go on a guided walking safari inside the national park’s core zone.

Pachmarhi is a hill station within the Satpura Range. The region is well known for its lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and ancient caves. Some of the caves in the region, like the Jatashankar and Mahadeo Caves, are also popular as religious sites.

This is one of the most beautiful sights you are going to see in Madhya Pradesh. The marble canyon is situated along the Narmada River, and features towering marble cliffs rising dramatically on either side of the river.

Straddling the border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench National Park is known for its teak forests and a healthy population of tigers and leopards. It is a well-known fact that the national park inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

Nestled in the lush hills of the Mhow, Patalpani is an offbeat yet scenic getaway that captivates visitors with its natural beauty. The region is most famous for the Patalpani Falls. The entire area is surrounded by dense forests, and a small trek is the best way to reach the waterfall site. It’s definitely worth the effort. The waterfall is best during the monsoon season when the volume of the water rises.