Travelers to Gwalior should be prepared for extreme weather variations. Winters here are bitter and the summers fiery hot. The best time to visit is between October and March. One of the favorite pastimes is attending classical music performances. Each year around November or December, the city holds a classical music festival that brings in the country's best musicians and performers.
Two of the best accommodations in town offer guests the royal treatment: Usha Kiran Palace Hotel, recipient of the National Award for Excellence, has 30 air-conditioned rooms and suites with luxurious art-deco furnishings; and The Hotel Shelter, a castle with banquet facilities, 68 luxurious rooms, a relaxing pool in a tropical setting, and the savory selections of its Multi Cuisine Restaurant
Located about 321 km from Delhi, the city has good air, rail, and road connections. Bus service running between Gwalior and other major cities is also good.
Points of Interest
The Fort; Jai Vilas Palace; Mausoleum of Ghaus Mohammed; Sun Temple; Tomb of Tansen
Jabalpur, nicknamed “the city of the rocks,” is perched along the banks of the holy river Narmada in the heart of the state. Famous for its marble ledges along the holy river, Jabalpur is one of the largest cities in Madhya Pradesh and is a popular tourist site. Many travelers stay in Jabalpur en route to the numerous wildlife sanctuaries within the state or come here to marvel at the famous gorge along the holy River.
Kanha National Park, located about 160 km from Jabalpur, is a popular off-shoot of a Jabalpur vacation. Famous for its wildlife safaris and bird-watching activities, the Park is home to a myriad of exotic species, including the barasingha (deer), gaur (an Indian bison),chital, and the sambhar.
There are all levels of accommodations in town from budget to high-end hotels. Most budget accommodations are located near the bus station, while the luxury hotels are strewn along Station Road. One of the best sleeps in town is the 5-star Samdariya Hotel, a full-service hotel with luxurious rooms, restaurant for fine dining, a gymnasium, sauna room, and rooftop pool. Vatika, the hotel's swanky restaurant, offers the perfect remedy for stress: a dish of Indian (or continental) delicacies and a glass of bubbly..
Point of Interest
The Marble Rocks; Kanha National Park; Bandhavgarh National Park
Ujjain is located about 56 km from Indore and is considered one of India's most holy cities among Hindus. The city has a tropical climate and is steamy in summer and nippy in winter There are many temples to visit here, two of the most interesting of which are Bhaironath (the liquor drinking deity) temple and the Mangalnath temple which, supposedly, sits on the line of the earth's first meridian.
Ujjain is also home to many palaces and ancient buildings that remind us of India's once-upon-a-time princely regime. Kalideh Palace, a magnificent display of ancient architecture, is a popular tourist site on the outskirts of town. Another interesting exhibit of Indian history is The Observatory which has numerous ancient astronomical instruments on display.
Fairs and festivals are common in this city, especially during the Hindu religious holidays. One such festival is the Maha Shivratri, when thousands of Hindus make a pilgrimage to the Mahakal temple to pay homage to Lord Shiva.
There are two main government-approved hotels in Ujjain with a total of 64 rooms between them: Hotel Ashray, rated two stars, offers an air-conditioned restaurant that serves Indian, Chinese, and continental specials; and Hotel Shapira.
Points of Interest
Mahakaleshwara Temple; Bhartrihari Caves; Chintamani Ganesh; Bhartrihari Caves; Harsiddhi Temple; Kal Bhairava; Observatory; Vikram Kirti Mandir; Gopal Mandir; Navagraha Mandir
