Tourism in Madhya Pradesh is booming, primarily due to its popular destinations like Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mandu, Maheshwar, and Gandhi Sagar. These locations attract both domestic and international tourists, with approximately 40% being domestic and 7% being international. To further enhance the tourist experience, the tourism department is showcasing local art, cuisine,...
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and cultural performances like folk songs and dances. This initiative is creating a unique identity for the region. Tourists are not only enjoying the historical sites but also immersing themselves in local crafts, folk culture, lifestyle, and traditional cuisine. The department is introducing traditional dishes like opium vegetables in Gandhi Sagar, dal-paniyas and heritage wine in Mandu, Kadaknath chicken in Jhabua, and dal-bafala in Ujjain. They are also using local artisans and chefs, providing a live kitchen experience where tourists can observe the preparation of these dishes. The tourism department is further branding the state's culture through local artifacts displayed at their hotels. For example, tourists can explore tribal dolls and bows and arrows in Jhabua, Maheshwari weaving in Maheshwar, and wire art in Mandu. The department is also organizing cultural performances for larger tourist groups, offering a deeper insight into the local culture through live cooking demonstrations. Improved infrastructure and accessibility are also contributing to the rise in tourism in the region.

Ujjain, known for its religious significance, has become a major hub for religious tourism in Madhya Pradesh. The number of visitors has significantly increased since the construction of the 'Shri Mahakal Mahalok,' an expansion of the Mahakaleshwar temple. Previously, around 24,000 devotees visited the temple daily. After the Mahalok's completion in...
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2022, this number has risen to approximately 100,000 per day. Ujjain is home to various renowned temples like Kal Bhairav, Mangalnath, Chintaman, Harsiddhi, and Iskcon, as well as Sandipani Ashram, where Lord Krishna is believed to have received his education. Besides these, sites like Ram Ghat on the Shipra River and the Kalyadeah Palace attract tourists. Experts predict a continued rise in visitor numbers. The increase in devotees has boosted the Mahakaleshwar temple's income, rising from 51 crore rupees in 2019-20 to 218 crore rupees in 2023-24. This growth has also impacted the Omkareshwar-Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga in the Khandwa district. The number of devotees visiting this temple has tripled, reaching 40,000-55,000 daily compared to the previous 15,000-20,000. On special occasions, the number can reach 70,000-75,000.

The Indian Railways has announced a yard remodelling project at Shahganj station on the Barabanki-Ayodhya Cantt-Akbarpur-Jafrabad section of the North Railway Lucknow Division. This project will affect train operations on the Ratlam Railway Division. Two trains have been cancelled and eight trains have had their routes adjusted. The cancelled...
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trains are the 09465 Ahmedabad-Darbhanga Clone Special, departing from Ahmedabad on September 27th, and the 09466 Darbhanga-Ahmedabad Clone Special, departing from Darbhanga on September 30th.

The Indian Railways has extended the operation of the Ujjain-Bhopal special train (train number 09313) till December 31, 2024, and the Bhopal-Ujjain special train (train number 09314) till January 1, 2025. The special train will have stops at Shujalpur, Maksi, Sehore, and Sant Hirdaram Nagar stations. The Railways has also announced...
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the cancellation of the 02132 Jabalpur-Pune weekly special train on September 22 and the 02131 Pune-Jabalpur weekly special train on September 23 due to non-interlocking work on the Daund-Manmad section in the Pune division of Central Railway.