Since most urban travellers are used to doing yoga and meditation in closed rooms, experiencing the joy and tranquillity of practising them under the open skies is unparalleled. Madhya Pradesh offers many such refuges for modern yogis who seek to immerse themselves in the lap of nature.
The Vindhya Range in all its verdant splendour is a natural draw for seekers of peace. The mountain range runs through many parts of Madhya Pradesh, but the area close to Mandu is one of the more easily accessible areas, marked by row upon row of green, low-lying hills. It’s a great option for slow hikes, forest bathing and meditation.
In Mandu, the historic 16th century palace of Baaz Bahadur has a serene, calming energy that draws many to it. Early morning is the best time to visit the place as you’ll rarely find anyone there, and you can choose a corner on the terrace to meditate all by yourself.
Sometimes such places can be found right within the city limits. Teliya Talab in Mandsaur, for instance, is a manmade lake that can calm an unquiet mind in no time. Though it’s technically a reservoir, meditating on its banks on a fine evening can be surprisingly refreshing. The quieter corner along the lakes in Bhopal are worth considering too.
Any pursuit of peace in Madhya Pradesh would be incomplete, of course, without a visit to the National Parks and Tiger Reserves in the heart of India. From Kanha to Satpura, Bandhavgarh to Pench, each has its own charm and several restful properties run by the State Tourism Board, the forest department or private hoteliers.
Kanha Earth Lodge, situated in the buffer area of Kanha Tiger Reserve, is one such place with cottages that have an ’earthy’ character, spacious verandahs and yoga mats in every room. However, the best perch for yoga or meditation is the rooftop of the common area, designed for a group of 6-8 people to practise together.
Bagh Villas, also in Kanha, has a designated space for yoga, meditation and spa therapy. A raised platform surrounded by lush green trees on all sides. Just what the doctor ordered.
With the largest forest cover in the country, and a diverse landscape ranging from hills and plateaus to rivers and waterfalls, Madhya Pradesh has no dearth of calming and healing spaces for anyone who cares to seek them out.