Madhya Pradesh is called the Heart of India because of its location in the centre of the country . It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism , Buddhism , Jainism etc. Innumerable monuments, but exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts & palaces are dotted all over the state. Madhya Pradesh was awarded the Best Tourism State Award in 2012 . World heritage sites . Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Located 50 km of Bhopal Sanchi, variously known as Kakanaya, Kakanava, Kakanadabota and Bota-Sriparvata in ancient times, has a singular distinction of having remarkable specimen of Buddhist art and architecture right from the early Mauryan period (c. third century BC to twelfth century AD). Sanchi is famous in the world for stupas, monolithic Asokan pillar, temples, monasteries and sculptural wealth. It was Emperor Asoka who laid the foundations of a religious centre at Sanchi fascinated probably by the location of the hill or because of his Queen Devi, who