Known For : Grishneshwar Temple Bibi ka Maqbara The Ajanta caves
Aurangabad, which was declared by the Government as the Tourism Capital of Maharashtra back in 2010, is a famous tourist hub which greets its visitors with a richly woven tapestry of sights and sounds. The city got its name for being the erstwhile capital of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century AD. The town is used as the base to explore the extremely famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Daulatabad Fort which is renowned for its strong defence systems, Mausoleums of Aurangzeb and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara famous for its architecture and Grishneshwar Temple, one of the only 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas in India.
Distance from Indore: 409 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Madhav National Park Chhatri The Madhav Vilas Palace
With a very minimal population and located at a height of 478 meters above sea level coupled with some of the most exotic attractions, Shivpuri makes up for a very tranquil and peaceful destination. Shivpuri is another legendary city in the state of Madhya Pradesh with immense historical significance because it is around this area where both Hindu and Mughal Emperors ruled for a long time. Shivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Distance from Indore: 387 km
Best Time: November to March
Lying along the banks of river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, the district of Hoshangabad is a charming tourist destination which has a number of tourist destinations located in and around it. It has been named after Hoshang Shah, the first ruler of the Malwa Region. Hoshangabad is blessed with a mix of natural sightseeing and historical monuments that includes a number of picture-perfect attractions such as the prehistoric Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Pachmarhi - a cool hill station, and the refreshing Adamgarh Hills.
Distance from Indore: 222 km
The oldest sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh, the Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary packs a treat for wildlife and avifauna enthusiasts alike. The River Narmada, which is 150 million years older than River Ganga, graces the sanctuary with its presence. Home to deer, wild hare, tigers and an umpteen variety of birds, this sanctuary is nothing short of paradise.
Distance from Indore: 15 km
Known For : Holkar Fort Mandleshwar Rajwada
Based on the banks of the River Narmada, this gorgeous town is largely referred to as the temple town of Madhya Pradesh. It also holds a lot of mythological and historical importance given the fact that it has found a mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. This was the capital of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar's province, Holkar. She beautified the city with many buildings and public works, the Maratha architecture and this city was also home to her extravagant palace. Maheshwar is renowned majorly for its production of Maheshwari sarees, which makes this place a paradise for shopaholics.
Distance from Indore: 95 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Seven Wonders Park Kishore Sagar and Jagmandir Palace Garadia Mahadev
Kota, the third most populous city in Rajasthan, lies alongside the banks of River Chambal, the only perennial river in Rajasthan. Locals and tourists visit the river shores for watching crocodiles, sighting birds and for boat riding in general. Kota is famous for its thriving coaching culture for IIT-JEE and Medical entrance preparations and every year more than four lakh students visit and live in the city. Not many cities witness such influx of students every year and this has earned the city various names such as Education City of India and Coaching Capital of India.
Distance from Indore: 319 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple Shree Harsiddhi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple Shri Ram Ghat
Ujjain, considered to be one of the holiest cities of India, is an ancient city situated on the eastern bank of the Shipra River in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. Ujjain is one of the four sites for the Kumbh Mela, the largest peace gathering on the planet that attracts 100 million people to the festival. This makes Ujjain an important place of Hindu Pilgrimage. To add to that, it is also home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines to the god Shiva. Ujjain is one of the most glorious cities of ancient India as it is also reckoned to be the educational hub of various Indian scholars.
Distance from Indore: 56 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Jehangir Mahal, Orchha Fort Ram Raja Temple Raja Mahal, Orchha Fort
Orchha is a historical town located on the banks of river Betwa in Madhya Pradesh, known for its grand palaces, and intricately carved temples. Famous as the city of palaces, it is world-renowned for the classic mural paintings, frescos and Chhatris (cenotaphs) that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers. Orchha's old-world charm casts a spell on tourists from all around the world.
Distance from Indore: 492 km
Best Time: July to March
Known For : The Rock Caves Hoshangabad Bhojpur
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent, and thus the beginning of the South Asian Stone Age. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. Bhimbetka is home to more than 500 rock shelters and caves which have a large number of paintings. The oldest paintings are considered to be 30,000 years old, but some of the geometric figures date to as recently as the medieval period.
Distance from Indore: 237 km
Best Time: October to April
With the majestic Pench river flowing through the greens and a variety of wildlife to be spotted in the rocky terrains, Pench National Park served as an inspiration for the famous novel 'The Jungle Book'. Home to a variety of flora and fauna, Pench is one of the most popular national parks in the Central India. The serene surroundings of rich woody forests with the occasional sightings of wild animals make this national park an ideal tourist spot.
Distance from Indore: 518 km
Best Time: October to June
Known For : Sanchi Stupa The Great Bowl Ashok Pillar
Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Buddhist monuments of Sanchi are one of the oldest stone structures in India. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the Great Stupa was installed in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty. The sculptures and monuments present at the site are a fine example of the development of Buddhist art and architecture. The stupa sits atop a hill in Sanchi, 46 km from the city of Bhopal.
Distance from Indore: 238 km
Best Time: July to March
Known For : City Palace, Udaipur Lake Pichola Jagmandir Palace
Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is the crown jewel of the state of Rajasthan. It is surrounded by the beautiful Aravalli Hills in all directions, making this city as lovely as it is. This 'Venice of the East' has an abundance of natural beauty, mesmerising temples and breathtaking architecture which makes it a must-visit destination in India. A boat ride through the serene waters of Lake Pichola will be enough to prove to you why Udaipur is the pride of Rajasthan.
Distance from Indore: 379 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple Kedareshwar Temple Parikrama on the Island
Situated at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the holy city of Omkareshwar is shaped in the form of Hindu religious symbol 'Om', due to the merging of two valleys and a central pool of Narmada waters. It derives its name from 'Omkara' which is just one other name of Lord Shiva. Situated on the Mandhata islands, Omkareshwar houses one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas and hence, draws thousands of devotees each year. It has two ancient shrines- Omkareshwar and Amarkareshwar. The sacred town also boasts of architectural wonders and scenic beauty, in addition to the pilgrim sites.
Distance from Indore: 77 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Rani Mahal Jhansi Fort Jhansi Museum
The city of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is a definite addition to every history buff or traveller who sets foot in this state. The city is at the very south in the Bundelkhand region and is built on the banks of the Betwa and Pahunch rivers. It gets its name from the Jhansi Fort built by Raja Bir Singh Deo who named it so as the rulers could only see a shadow atop a distant hill when gazing at the fort. Jhansi was also the seat of the Chandela Dynasties power and became increasingly popular as the place where Rani Laxmi Bai, who is also referred to as “Jhansi Ki Rani”, lived and reigned.
Distance from Indore: 475 km
Best Time: November to March
Udayagiri mean the mountain of the sunrise, a historical Hindu ritual site home to twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. Vishnu Padagiri is the otherwise known name of the place meaning "the feet of Vishnu". They are extensively carved with iconographies of Hindu Gods, namely Vishnu, Durga and Shiva containing legendary stories of the Gods and their Shrines. Udayagiri hills hold twenty caves dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism sculptures from the Gupta Era. Among which the most prominent one is the fifth cave which is famous for the ancient monumental statue of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as the Boar-Headed Varaha rescuing Bhudevi (earth).
Distance from Indore: 246 km
Best Time: October-March
Known For : Ambika Niketan Temple Sarthana Nature Park Jagdishchandra Bose Aquarium
Surat, having its name associated with Saurashtra (the good land), is a port city in Gujarat. The second most populated city in the state, Surat is a global diamond cutting centre and a commercial hub of textiles. Known as 'the city of flyovers', it attracts tourists who are interested in the colonial history of the region and the exotic wildlife. Packed on the south bank of a sharp bend in the Tapi River (Tapti), Surat is located 306 km south of the state capital, Gandhinagar.
Distance from Indore: 486 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Bee falls Jata Shankar caves Pandava Caves
The only hill station and the highest point in Madhya Pradesh, Pachmarhi is often known as "Satpura ki Rani" or the "Queen of the Satpura Range". Situated at an altitude of 1,067 metres, the picturesque town is a part of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home to leopards and bison. Five sandstone cut caves on the hilltop are believed to be the spot where Pandavas stayed in Pachmarhi during their exile, making it a popular spot among religious tourists.
Distance from Indore: 338 km
Best Time: Throughout the year
Plummeting from a height of 300 meters, the Patalpani Waterfall is the most scenic photo stop in Indore. These roaring falls are enveloped by refreshing mist and dense verdure making them the favourite getaway picnic spot. The monsoons swell the falls and may make it risky for close encounters causing accidents. It is best to maintain cautious distance from the waterfall during the rains.
Distance from Indore: 34 km
Known For : Asirgarh Fort Jama Masjid, Burhanpur Dargah-E-Hakimi
Burhanpur is a historical town based on the banks of the Tapti River in Madhya Pradesh. The most interesting piece of trivia would be that Mumtaz Begum, the reason why the Taj Mahal was built, died in Burhanpur while giving birth to her fourteenth child. The Queen who immortalized love was buried here for the next 23 years waiting the completion of her famed tomb in Agra. It is located in south-west of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India. This town has a lot of history to it.
Distance from Indore: 180 km
Best Time: October to March
The breathtaking sight of water falling from a height is always thrilling, and Mohadi Waterfalls are just the perfect spot where you would take your family to visit for a picnic. Easily accessible, the Waterfall is located at a distance of 30 kms from Indore, it is an idyllic picnic spot if you are looking for a break from the monotony of life and want to be with your family.
Distance from Indore: 29 km