IndiaMumbai & Central IndiaDividing the steamy south from the arid north, stretching from the Arabian Sea into Madhya Pradesh at the very heart of the country, central India is spectacular – and almost criminally undervisited. Overview Trip ideas Experiences Regions Best time to visit Accommodation Back to India's regions Mumbai is the glittering hub of the region: home of Bollywood, playground of the rich and famous, and global megacity of mind-boggling proportions. Life is the star of the show here, from overflowing commuter trains to seething markets, all wedged between dazzling skyscrapers and Indo-Saracenic British relics. Beyond it, Maharashtra boasts Ajanta and Ellora: rock-cut cave temples that constitute the finest gallery of art from any ancient civilisation, anywhere in the world.Heading north, Madhya Pradesh holds a quiet wealth of places few travellers reach. For wildlife lovers there’s nowhere better – it has five of India’s best national parks, and your best chance of spotting tigers, leopards, sloth bears and more. Beyond the jungles, it has history in spades: Gwalior’s fort and palace, the hidden city of Orchha, and the astonishing temple carvings of Khajuraho – any one of these can compete with anywhere in Rajasthan.Looking west is Gujarat, best known for its magnificent textiles but even more impressive for its geographical variety. Dense forest and tribal culture in the Dangs, a royal palace in the sunburnt desert at Bhuj, and wildlife-rich salt marsh in the Little Rann of Kutch – all in a single state.Central India is rich in wildlife, history, architecture and geographical diversity, and the best part about it all? You’ll be exploring beyond the oft visited destinations, so this feels like intrepid cultural adventure. Destinations in Mumbai & Central India India AhmedabadGujarat’s biggest city has it all – including World Heritage status – plus a little extra Delhi doesn’t have: a bit of peace and quiet. India Aurangabad, Ajanta & ElloraKnown for their rock-cut temples built over a millennium, the caves of Ajanta & Ellora are among the greatest masterpieces of the ancient world. India BandhavgarhSmaller and busier than Madhya Pradesh's other national parks, Bandhavgarh is hilly, rugged, beautiful – and has the best rate of tiger sightings in India. India BhopalOne of our favourite unsung cities, Bhopal’s lakeside setting, Islamic old town and history of feisty female rulers are just a few of its draws. India BhujMughal palaces and sunbaked desert are the backdrop to laid-back Bhuj, where old-fashioned workshops produce some of the finest textiles in the world. India GwaliorJust a stone’s throw from the Golden Triangle, little-visited Gwalior boasts one of the most ostentatious palaces and the finest pre-Mughal fort in India. India KanhaKanha is absolutely magical. Covering a huge swathe of Madhya Pradesh's highlands with sal forest and grassy savanna, it’s one of our favourite national parks in India. India KhajurahoA collection of World Heritage temples dating back over a thousand years, remarkable for being covered from top to toe in stunningly intricate carvings. India Little Rann of KutchA unique salt desert with diverse wildlife, engrossing local culture, and a history stretching back to the Indus Valley Civilisations. India MaheshwarStay at a converted fort with the descendants of a famous Maratha queen, and enjoy the magic of the Maheshwar countryside's ghats and riverside temples. India MumbaiHome of Bollywood, city of dreams, of haves and have-nots: Mumbai is extreme in every sense, and there’s no better people-watching on Earth. India OrchhaHidden for years in tangled scrub forest, Orchha’s tumbledown palaces, temples and cenotaphs hark back to the heyday of the once-great Bundela clan. Load More