Page 167 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INTRODUCING CENTR AL INDIA  165

Pilgrims on the banks of the Ganges in Bihar
state, and its political agenda too has in of cotton fields, craggy ravines, rolling
recent years been dominated by caste- hills, and vast tracts of forest and
based issues, at the expense of social and grassland, which are home to at least
economic development. As a result, rural half of India’s tiger population. A tragic
poverty is still widespread, and the literacy industrial disaster in the state capital,
rate remains abysmally low, at around Bhopal, in 1984 (see p244) has made the
62 per cent. Ironically, this was a state people of this state especially active in
that once had one of the ancient world’s environmental issues, and many of them
greatest universities, at Nalanda (see have been campaigning against a large
pp222–3), and was the seat of two of dam on the Narmada river (see p255).
India’s greatest empires, the Maurya and Madhya Pradesh still gets relatively few
Gupta empires (see pp46–7). Bihar also visitors, yet few other states can rival its
occupies an important place in the history range of attractions, which include the
of Indian civilization, as the birthplace World Heritage monuments at Sanchi
of Buddhism – for it was here, at Bodh (see pp248–9) and Khajuraho (see pp240–
Gaya (see p226), that the Buddha gained 42), and some of India’s very finest
enlightenment. This historic legacy can be wildlife sanctuaries.
seen in the state’s famous Buddhist sites. At the same time as Jharkhand and
Present-day Bihar has an earthy vitality, Uttarakhand, Chhatisgarh came into
which can be experienced at the huge being. This southeastern part of Madhya
annual cattle fair at Sonepur (see p220), Pradesh is a thickly forested area, populated
where a prime attraction is the unique by different tribal communities, engaged
elephant bazaar. in agriculture and a variety of beautiful
The new state of Jharkhand, in what crafts (see p257). Facilities are still being
was southern Bihar, came into being in developed to welcome visitors to this
November 2000. An area of great natural fascinating part of the country.
beauty, Jharkhand comprises a forested
plateau, home to a large population of
tribal people with distinctive cultures, who
now dominate the political and economic
life of their nascent state. Jharkhand is
blessed with great mineral wealth, and its
rich deposits of coal and iron, in particular,
ensure its future prosperity.
Madhya Pradesh (MP) provides a
sharp contrast to the flat, crowded plains
of UP and Bihar, with its varied terrain
and relatively sparse population. The
countryside here is an enchanting mosaic A poster depicting Varanasi as the home of Shiva

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