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The “Heart of Incredible India”, Madhya Pradesh is a land full of astonishing landscapes, exotic wildlife and thrilling adventures. Be it historic monuments, intrinsically designed temples, lip-smacking local food or the colourful local culture- Madhya Pradesh has all this and a lot more to offer to its travellers.
With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the Madhya Pradesh government has introduced various safety measures to keep travellers visiting the state safe. To confirm the same, the Additional Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Ms Sonia Meena joined us on World Tourism Day and talked about how MP is preparing itself to safely welcome tourists.
Read ahead for a detailed guide to Madhya Pradesh including all the measures and guidelines to be followed by tourists, the protocols being followed in the state to keep everyone safe, the reopened tourist spots and more.
Safety Protocols In Madhya Pradesh
The state of Madhya Pradesh has seen an increasing rate of COVID-19 cases recovery. Moreover, to keep the spread of the virus at bay, the Madhya Pradesh government has introduced strict safety guidelines for all travellers and stakeholders of the travel industry to abide by.
Safety Measures For Tourists In MP:
- It is mandatory for all travellers to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing in public places.
- Introduction of various safety protocols for public vehicle disinfection, monuments, hotels. etc, for travellers’ safety.
Role Of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board In Tourism Revival
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has introduced unique safety guidelines for wildlife tourism, hotels and accommodations, reopened religious places and operational recommendations for tourism service providers in the state. This has greatly contributed to making the state a safe travel destination for domestic tourists and is a step towards the revival of tourism in Madhya Pradesh.
The state has various offbeat trails, camping sites and national park experiences that enable tourists to adhere to social distancing naturally and enjoy their time amidst nature at the same time. Some lesser known trails in MP where travellers can go trekking are the forests of Satpura, Ratapani Jungle Reserve and Panna National Park among others. Tourists can also explore the majestic wildlife of MP with wildlife safaris in various national parks. The buffer zones of these national parks are open now and the core zone of the parks will also be opened for safari from the 1st of October.
The MP tourism board has also introduced the Sarthak Lite app to provide quick and easy medical assistance to all. Travellers can download the app and register for any grievances, complaints or medical emergency they might have while in MP. The app also provides a list of all hospitals and medical centres for health emergencies and a dedicated customer care team which will ensure immediate response for any reported complaints and emergencies.
Further, the tourism board has also launched a campaign called “Intezaar Aapka” to engage travellers by featuring the popular monsoon destinations across Madhya Pradesh. The campaign will showcase how Madhya Pradesh has safeguarded its tourist hotspots to welcome travellers from all across India.
Getting To & Around Madhya Pradesh
Getting To MP
By Air: Some of the major airports in Madhya Pradesh like Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior are receiving flights from all major cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai.
By Train: Currently, there are two special trains running to Bhopal’s Habibganj Railway Station from Jabalpur and New Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (Train numbers 02155 and 02061).
By Road: Entry to Madhya Pradesh is open via roads and you can visit the state in your private vehicles.
Getting Around MP
Local and intra-state buses are functional in Madhya Pradesh. It is mandatory for all passengers to wear a mask and follow social distancing when travelling in public transport in the state.
Alternatively, you can also rent a car or take cabs to travel within the state.
All You Need To Know About Visiting MP
- Madhya Pradesh is now open for all travellers to be explored safely. Travellers visiting Indore are required to download and self-register on the Indore 311 app before entering the borders of the city. The app will enable the MP government to track and treat asymptomatic patients in the city.
- On arrival at the airport or railway station, a thermal screening & health profiling procedure will be done for each passenger. For those travelling via bus, thermal screening will be conducted on departure and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to depart.
- The passengers found symptomatic will be sent to an institutional quarantine centre. A COVID test will be conducted there and passengers would be quarantined till the results arrive.
- If passenger tests positive, he/she would have to stay at the centre for another 10 days followed by a home-quarantine for 7 days. If found negative, he/she will be allowed to leave the centre. For asymptomatic travellers, a home-quarantine of 7 days is mandatory.
Staying In MP
- Hotels run by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation have been reopened with adherence to the issued safety guidelines by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. All hotels under MPSTDC have trained their staff members to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and daily sanitization is being done at all hotels to keep travellers safe.
- If you show COVID symptoms at your hotel or resort, you must contact the hotel manager and inform them immediately. You would have to isolate yourself until a COVID test is conducted and the results are obtained. Further, you must also call the official COVID helpline number of Madhya Pradesh- 104, for assistance.
Restrictions In Madhya Pradesh
- Swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres and cinema halls remain closed in MP as per the Unlock 4.0 guidelines.
- It is mandatory for all travellers to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing in public areas across the state.
Exploring Madhya Pradesh While Staying Safe
Madhya Pradesh has a variety of destinations to be explored by all types of travellers safely. From exciting wildlife to thrilling adventure experiences and monuments for the history buffs- the state has a lot to be explored by travellers while sticking to the safety guidelines. Here are some of the best things to do in Madhya Pradesh:
1. Go For A Wildlife Safari
Madhya Pradesh houses some of the most popular National Parks and Tiger Reserves in India. Enjoy a wildlife safari in these parks and witness the mighty tigers and other magnificent wild creatures. The buffer zones of national parks and reserves have been reopened for tourists to explore and the core zones of the same will be opened from October 1 for wildlife safaris. Explore the wildlife of the state while staying socially distant naturally at these parks!
2. Waterfall Trekking
Trek through the lush green forests of Madhya Pradesh to witness some of the most beautiful waterfalls ever. The soothing sights of the forests and magnificent landscapes on the way are sure to take your breath away. The best part- these treks will also enable you to stay away from the crowd and safe.
3. Camp In the Wild
Fulfil your longing for the outdoors and nature with a fun camping experience in Madhya Pradesh. With sanitized camps, and all safety measures being adhered to at the campsites in Madhya Pradesh, you are surely going to have a tension-free break in the midst of nature.
4. Go Hiking
With magnificent valleys and endless mountains, Madhya Pradesh is one of the best states in India to go hiking. Some of the best offbeat hiking trails in the state are the forests of Satpura Range, Ratapani Jungle reserve, and Panna National Park.
5. Witness The Historical Monuments
Several monuments in Madhya Pradesh have been reopened to the public with strict adherence to the safety guidelines issued by MP Tourism Board. This includes the popular Sanchi Stupa, Udaygiri Caves, and the Khajuraho group of temples amongst others.
Local and intra-state buses are functional in Madhya Pradesh. It is mandatory for all passengers to wear a mask and follow social distancing when travelling in public transport in the state.
Alternatively, you can also rent a car or take cabs to travel within the state.
Packing Essentials For A Post-COVID Holiday
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced various essential items in everyone’s packing lists for vacations. Here are all of those essential items that you shouldn’t forget carrying while travelling:
- Masks: Wearing a mask can decrease your chances of catching an infection many fold as they trap all the harmful microbes and viruses and restrict them from entering your body. Always carry 3 masks with you when you travel, to be able to change and keep safe while travelling.
- Gloves: To stay safe and avoid your hands getting contaminated from all the surfaces that they touch during travel, wear disposable gloves. Make sure you dispose of them responsibly after use.
- Hand Sanitizer: It is not always possible to wash your hands frequently with soap and water when you travel. Thus to avoid getting contaminated and infected from the virus, always carry a hand sanitizer with you to frequently sanitize your hands and get rid of all viruses.
- Medicine Kit: It is now more important than ever to carry a medicine kit in your bags. The kit must include medicines for fever, cough and cold in case you develop the symptoms for COVID and test negative for the virus.
- Extra Clothes & Bag: To further reduce the chances of infection, carry a pair of extra clothes to be worn only when travelling. The pair can then either be washed thoroughly or be locked in a zip-lock bag to be used again when travelling.
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has issued various safety guidelines to prepare the state for safe tourism. The board is ensuring strict adherence of all hotels, resorts, and tourism hotspots to the issued guidelines to keep all travellers visiting Madhya Pradesh safe from infections. All you need to do is, follow the measures and explore this beautiful state responsibly, and you are sure to have a blast in Madhya Pradesh!