planning a tour to madhya pradesh

eNCHANTING MADHYA PRADESH

Located in the Heart of Incredible India, Madhya Pradesh has been an active witness to much of the action in the subcontinent. Nevertheless, its  location was a tactical benefit in addition to being an issue, as it was frequently embedded with  intrusions amongst contending rulers for political & economical control over the area.

Early human beings inhabited practically all parts of India apart from the largely forested locations.. Traces of ancient early civilization has been discovered alongside the banks and tributaries of the Krishna,Narmada and Godavari rivers, in the basin & river valleys of Central India, on the plateaus of eastern India and in the rock shelters of Bhimbetka. In reality, archaeologists have scientifically dated the evolution of human life in this area to as far back as 50,000 years.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Before you plan a Tour of Madhya Pradesh

What is the best time to visit the national parks of Madhya Pradesh

The park is open to tourists from 1st October to 30th June every year. However, all the zones may not be opened for tourism till 15th of Oct. During winters ( Nov – Feb ), the forests are lush green & offer a spectacular experience. Summers ( April – June ) are the best time for tiger sighting as they are usually sighted near the water holes.

Wildlife Safari in the National Parks of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has six national parks namely Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Sanjay Dubri and Satpura.

Tourism in the park is restricted to core and buffer.

The best flora & fauna is showcased usually in the core area.

Permits are issued by the Forest Department to avail the game drives. There are restrictions on the numbers of permits issued, hence a prior booking is highly recommendable.

Game drives are conducted in the morning ( from dawn ) and the afternoon ( till dusk ).

Registered vehicles can accommodate 6 tourists, 1 driver and a forest department guide.

There are no noon safaris on Wednesdays & the entire day is off on Diwali & Holi.

 

The best season to visit Madhya Pradesh

Summers start from end of March & last till end of June & the temperature can go extremely high upto 44° C. The best places to visit in summers are Pachmarhi & the National Parks of Madhya Pradesh like Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Sanjay Dubri and Satpura.

Madhya Pradesh receives above average rainfall. However, during this time, the national parks are closed for tourism. The best places to visit in monsoon are Mandu, Pachmarhi, Orchha. Maheshwar & Ujjain.

Winter season starts approaching from mid November and lasts till the end of February. During this period the weather compels the visitors to wear heavy layers of winter clothes as the mercury might go down to 20C. Thenational parks offers exemplary beauty with open marshy hollows which get covered with frost and the greenery looks impressive. All the destinations are extremely ideal to visit during winters.

How to book a wildlife trip to Madhya Pradesh

A wildlife trip to Madhya Pradesh incorporates three crucial components :

  • Transfers
  • Accommodation
  • Booking of game drives

The safaris can be booked by logging on to https://forest.mponline.gov.in/ .

Should you need any assistance, you can connect with our team too.

It is recommended to book well in advance. The booking window is of 120 days

What informations are required to book a jungle safari

The mentioned details of each persons availing the safari are required at the time of booking :

  • Name
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Nationality
  • ID Type
  • ID No

The mentioned ID in original should be carried while exercising the safari & has to be mandatorily shown at the entry gate.

What is the experience in wildlife safari

The game drive enables you to penetrate deep inside the forest. The jungle is showcased in all it’s glory. The accompanying guide cum naturalist details the flora & fauna ( tree’s, birds, sounds of birds, alarm calls, animals, etc ) which is an extremely enriching experience. He also explains the conservation efforts to flourish this rich inheritance. The experience of virgin wilderness is itself an everlasting experience.

What is the probability of tiger sighting

The national parks of Madhya Pradesh are renowned for the highest tiger sighting index.

The accompanying guide tries to work out a systemic algorithm based on recent pug marks, last sighting & location, alarm calls, any recent kill, etc. It is always advisable to be extremely patient while eagerly awaiting the king to emerge.

One should enjoy the serenity more and not be disappointed. Multiple game drives are recommended to enhance the chances of tiger sighting.

Recommended attire during Safari

Light colored clothes / olive / green / camouflaged prints are recommended.

Winters can be extremely chilly inside the jungle & appropriate protection is advised ( headwear, scarf, mufflers, jackets, gloves ).

Summers can be hot & humid & loose light colored clothes are recommended.

Indian currency & exchange process

Rupee is the Indian currency. It is advisable to exchange at the airport of arrival. However, money exchange is available with major banks as well as authorized money exchange counters. International currencies may not be readily accepted at smaller establishments.

Your hotel or tour operator can assist you in this.

Usage of international credit cards in India

Visa & Mastercards are widely accepted, however, in smaller towns & remote destinations like wildlife, there can be a denial. It is advisable to carry cash too. Pre paid reservation with hotels or all amenities booked in advance through your tour operator can be convenient & recommended.

Availability of ATM’s in India

In India, ATM’s are very conveniently located in the airports, railway stations, major cities and even in smaller towns. They usually process international debit cards too. A four digit PIN is required to authenticate the transaction.Again, while travelling to remote locations, prefer to carry cash.

Tips & Gratuities

It is not mandatory to tip any of your local service provider. Should you be satisfied by a particular service, it is absolutely out of your free will. Most hotels have tipping boxes which are equally distributed amongst the staff. At other verticals, you can directly tip the respective driver, naturalists & guides ( when on a wildlife safari ) or a local restaurant server.

Visa for India

Visa / e-visa is mandatory to travel to India. You can connect with your local Indian embassy for the same.

At present, travelers from more than 160 countries can apply for a Tourist e-Visa, Business e-Visa or Medical e-Visa, depending on the purpose of their visit to India. Travelers who use the e-Visa program apply, pay a fee online and receive their electronic visa online before traveling to India. The process is very simple !

Medical Precautions

Travelers to India can be exposed to various infectious diseases; water-borne, water-related, and zoonotic diseases may be imported to India where the disease is not endemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that all international travelers should be up to date with routine vaccinations. The recommended vaccinations for travelers to India vary according to the traveler’s age, immunization history, existing medical conditions, duration, legal requirements for entry into countries being visited, travelers preferences, and values. Travelers should consult with a doctor so that there is sufficient time for completion of optimal vaccination schedules. No matter where traveling, one should be aware of potential exposure to certain organisms that can cause severely illnesses. There is no doubt that vaccines have reduced or virtually eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled children and adults just a few generations ago. Thus, travelers must take recommended vaccines per schedule before traveling to India.

Indian SIM

The local SIM Card in India gets you an entry to important services in the country : shopping, ordering taxis, food delivery, maps, internet, connecting with your hotels or tour operators  – you name it.

Make sure your phone is unlocked to any network before you fly to India. Usually you can just call your network provider to request this; sometimes there is a cost. Iphone usually requires this.

You have an option of buying the Indian  SIM at the kiosk in the airport of your arrival to India or at a local retailer at the nearest town.

It is also recommended to carry a universal plug adaptor.

You need to have the following documents to buy a SIM card in India:

  • Original Passport
  • Photocopy of passport and visa (big offices usually do it on spot by themselves)
  • Passport picture (2-inch x 2-inch)

 

Sometimes you can be also asked for:

  • Local reference number (You can provide our cell no here )
  • Address proof in your country of residence (utility bill, ID Card, driver’s license)

 

Usually, the sim card gets activated in a few hours time.

Important Contact Numbers

  • On a trip to Madhya Pradesh, the mentioned phone numbers can be helpful :

Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has .launched a 24×7 Toll Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Help Line in 10 International Languages besides Hindi & English. Toll Free number is 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 and operational 24x 7.

  • Toll free no for MP Tourism : 1800-233-7777
  • Your tour operator direct number
  • Your hotel front desk number
  • Police : 100
  • Ambulance : 102 / 108
  • Women’s helpline no : 181

If your tour is arranged by a tour operator, always keep their number handy as they will be frequently coordinating about your wellbeing & can also revert at the earliest.

Information about electric supply & plugs

Current is 230V/50Hz; plugs have two round pins. It is also recommended to carry a universal plug adaptor.

The following plugs are used :

Internet accessibility

  • There are few internet cafes these days, as wi-fi/3G/4G access is so widely available; wi-fi is usually free at your accommodation, but some places charge. Most restaurants, cafes and bars also offer free wi-fi, and there are a few public wi-fi hotspots in major cities.

    • Charges, when they are applied, vary regionally; hourly rates range from ₹15 to ₹100 (or as high as ₹500 in five-star hotels). There’s often a 15- to 30-minute minimum.
    • The bandwidth load tends to be lowest in the early morning and early afternoon.
    • Some places may ask to see your passport.

    Be cautious about using online banking on any nonsecure system. If you have no choice but to do this, consider changing your passwords afterwards as soon as you’re on a secure connection.

    • The simplest way to connect to the internet, when wi-fi is unavailable, is to use your smartphone as a personal wi-fi hot spot (use a local SIM to avoid roaming charges).
    • Alternatively, companies that offer prepaid wireless 3G/4G modem sticks (dongles) include Reliance, Airtel, Tata Docomo and Vodafone. To connect you have to submit your proof of identity and address in India; activation can take up to 24 hours.
    • Make sure your destinations are covered by your service provider; sometimes coverage is restricted to one state, or is more expensive when you move to another state.
    • Plug adapters are widely available throughout India, but bring spare plug fuses from home (local fuses will rarely fit).

Drinking water

It is always advisable to opt for packaged mineral water.

Do’s & Don’ts – Travelling to India

  • Travelers should get properly inoculated against Yellow Fever if coming through infected regions.
  • It is advisable to cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim.
  • Carry proper maps of the places proposed to visit in India, as signboards are often absent. Try to reach a station during daytime if traveling on your own. In any case avoid persistent touts and taxi-wallahs at airport/stations/bus stand to help you find your hotel. Always use tourist assistance desk for proper advice.
  • Women traveling alone in certain deserted places should avoid walking at odd hours.
  • Don’t ever enter a temple, tomb, dargah or Gurudwara with shoes on and/or scantily dressed. One should cover his/her head with a cloth while in a Gurudwara or Dargah. Parikrama or walking around the sanctum sanctorum should always be in clockwise direction.
  • Do not wear black clothes while visiting a Jain temple. Leather articles are forbidden to be carried in Hindu and Jain temples. Taking photograph of the deity in a temple is normally not permitted.
  • Participating in a social occasion or visiting a home requires conservative dress codes. Do not shake hands with ladies. Always pick up a thing and eat with your right hand. Take only as much as you can eat, do not leave anything uneaten over the dish.
  • Do not point your finger at any person. It is taken as a sign of annoyance.
  • While changing money, insist on getting encashment certificate.
  • Do not encourage beggars.
  • Do not checkout of the hotel in hurry. While checking out it has been noticed in some hotels, the extras are unreasonably charged which the guest hurriedly pays without cross-checking. Do not leave your cash and valuables in your hotel rooms. Keep your cash divided in different pockets.
  • Take care of proper disposal of your rubbish always whether you are exploring desert, or Himalayas or beaches or anywhere else.
  • Be careful of cultural and social sensitivities of the regions. There is no single rule for that, the best way is to observe and follow.

 

  • Take care of contamination of water and food problem. Always drink safe mineral water and take well-cooked food.
  • Don’t buy antiques more than 100 years old. Selling and buying “shahtoosh” shawls is a crime. The same goes for ivory and wildlife.
  • Buy at genuine shops only. Bargaining is a popular practice in India and necessary too. Don’t ever believe in lucrative offers of antique dealers in which they offer you to carry a parcel of some other buyer back home with your own margin described. Entire transaction should be legal and transparent so that you may claim later if dissatisfied.
  • Don’t eat anything offered by fellow travelers on train or road travels. It might have sleeping pills. Always travel reserved class in trains.
  • Always chain and lock your luggage under your berth in a train. Don’t keep anything valuable near the window. Always carry plenty of water, fluids in trains. A lone woman traveler may request to be accommodated near other women travelers.
  • Do not visit places which encourage orthodoxy, social injustice and inhuman practices (like visiting a sati temple).
  • Don’t photograph women without permission.
  • Don’t accept offers of visiting anyone’s home unless you are confident of the person.
  • Use licensed guides for sightseeing.
  • Always use strong suitcases/baggage, as mishandling is common at airports/stations.
  • Don’t tip unreasonably and unnecessarily in a hotel. The NEWS soon spreads in the hotel and by the time you checkout there will be a group of them saluting you to expect something.
  • While traveling, don’t act confused. Keep a posture of a person known to the region.

JUNGLE SAFARI'S

DO’S

  • It is mandatory to have an authorized guide with each of the safari vehicles / teams.
  • While entering into the protected area, there should be minimum 50 meters distance to be maintained between the vehicles.
  • There may be specific instructions from the safari administrators about the dress code to be followed. Mostly, clothes should be of nature-merging colors.
  • The park entry pass and identity proof has to be kept handy, which needed to be produced if asked by authorized person.
  • Do sit at the allocated position only in the vehicle.
  • Listen to the safety instructions and code of conduct clearly and clarify doubts if any before getting on to the safari vehicle.

 

DON’TS

  • The safari vehicles should not carry more number of passengers than allowed capacity, including guide and driver.
  • The travelers are not supposed to get down at any places other than permitted while inside the protected forest area.
  • Usage of camera flashes may also have limitations inside the jungle, which one should strictly follow.
  • Don’t play music instruments or songs during the safari.
  • Try not to make any loud noise inside the jungle, which may either attract or panic the animals.
  • Try not getting scared on seeing an animal, just follow the instructions given.
  • Don’t try to get so close to wild animals.
  • Don’t throw plastic, bottles, packets, or tins inside the jungle.
  • Do not drink or smoke.

Each safari will be having its own specific set of instructions, which need to be carefully learned and followed by the travelers to enjoy a safe and exciting trip.