Bhimbetka cave paintings : A world Heritage centre 46 km from Bhopal. Over 600 rock shelters with pre-historic painting are located in a forest of teak and Sal. Only 15 are accessible and is linked by concrete path. By Itarsi bus get down for the caves. The caves are 3 km from the main road. You can visit the caves on one day tour conducted by MP Tourism.



Sanchi : Sanchi is a World heritage centre, 47 km from Bhopal. Archaeological museum (Friday closed).

Twenty three centuries ago, horrified by the slaughter he had inflicted on the people of Kalinga (now part of Orissa), Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, forsook war and embraced Buddhism. As penance he built his first stupa at Sanchi near the birthplace of his wife.

The 300 BC Great stupa, 16.4 m high and 36.5 m in diameter with 4 carved gateways, is a major Buddhist pilgrim centre. Few stupas, pillars and temples are nearby.

Vidisha (10 km) - Museum (3 m high Kuber statue, camera Rs 20), Heliodorous pillar (140 BC, worshiped by local fishermen), Udayagiri caves : Twenty Gupta caves dating from AD 320 to 606, of which 2 are Jain, the other 18 Hindus. Take an auto rickshaw from Vidisha to the caves (Rs 50, 5 km).