About Guna
Guna is an emerging place of tourism in Madhya Pradesh. Located in the Guna district, the place is significant religiously and archaeologically. In ancient times, the city was founded by Chanda Prayota Mahesena and was a part of the Avanti Kingdom. Over the period of time, it became part of the Magadha empire and later under the Maratha leader Ranoji Rao Scindia before it became a part of Gwalior.
After being under different dynasties, the city has a lot to say in terms of history, culture, folklore, etc. It is evident in its various ancient monuments, historical places, gardens, museums, etc. These are the factors that attract more and more tourists to this place.
Guna is located on the banks of River Parvati. It is known as the Gateway of Malwa and Chambal. The city is located in the northeast part of the Malwa Plateau. Due to its location, the city has dry tropical weather with hot summers and moderate winters. Kachori, the fried dumplings, are a famous food item here.
Visiting here can enlighten you about the architectural marvel of the ancient forts. Though they are in a dilapidated condition, they are significant and are part of history.
Famous Places to Visit
- Bajrangarh Fort: Made by the Maratha dynasty, the Bajrangarh fort was built in the 18th century. It is also known as Jharkon. The ruins here include the Motimahal, the gunnery, Rangmahal etc. The fort is at an altitude of 93 m. Inside the fort, there used to be a stepwell, near the gunnery. The well was used as a water tank for the horses. The old temple inside the fort is still relevant to the locals and they visit here regularly.
- Bisbhuji Temple is the famous temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Goddess is visible here with her 20 arms. The temple is situated atop a hill. You can see the huge Deepastambha near the temple. The temple is open on all days of the week but Durgashtami is the most auspicious time for a visit here.
- Gopi Krishna Sagar Dam is an eco-tourism centre with rich flora and fauna around the place. The main purpose of the dam is irrigation and supply drinking water to the nearby areas. The public can go boating on the reservoir. As part of eco-tourism, the government is trying to promote the local culture and heritage through various activities. It is one of the must-visit places in Guna.
- Hanuman Tekri is an ancient Hanuman temple located on a hill about a few kilometres from GUna. You will have to climb hundreds of steps to reach the temple which is all white in colour.
- Panchmukhi Hanuman Ashram, as the name suggests, has Lord Hanuman represented as a five-faced avatar. The five faces refer to Varaha, Hayagreev, lion, monkey and Garuda, which is an amalgamation of Lords Varaha, Anjaneya, Hayagreeva, Garuda and Narasimha. The statue of Hanuman was unveiled recently in 2011. The ashram is in Vivek Colony, just a few kilometres from Guna.
- The Jain Temple, Sri Shantinath Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra, was built in the 13th century. There are various idols of Jain Tirthankaras inside the temple. The locals believe that Shri Pada Shah, the founder of the temple, found a touchstone which enabled him to finish the construction of this temple in a short period. The deity inside the temple is in a standing position and faces the sky. The idol stands tall at 18 ft.
Best Time to Visit
The most convenient period to visit Guna will be the winters when the temperature stays comfortable at up to 26 degrees and the lowest being 10 degrees. Guna is a hot and dry place that will have unbearable summers with the temperature soaring to 48 degrees. Summer is clearly not the best time to visit. The city gets a good amount of rain so the monsoon season is also not a suitable period to visit. Winter will have tolerable day temperatures and comfortably chilly weather at night. The best months to visit Guna will be February - March when the temperature is neither chilli nor hot.
Buses and Railway Connectivity
Guna has a railway station close to the city centre. It is easier to find train tickets at cheaper rates than flights. Trains to Guna or those passing through Guna station are available from Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, etc. An airport is not as close as a railway station or bus station. The nearest airport is Bhopal.
Buses are a more convenient option to reach Guna. Buses are available from Gwalior and other cities of Madhya Pradesh to Guna. Guna online bus booking is possible from online portals such as redBus. The buses operate to and from the bus stand or from other stipulated stops as decided by the individual bus operator. Most buses available on Guna routes are private buses.
Famous Bus Routes from Guna
Guna bus helps you connect to other cities in Madhya Pradesh, neighbouring states, the capital city of Delhi, etc. Popular routes from Guna are,
- Guna to Bhopal
- Guna to Delhi
- Guna to Dwarka
- Guna to Gwalior
- Guna to Indore
- Guna to Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh
Famous Bus Routes to Guna
- Indore to Guna
- Bhopal to Guna
- Gwalior to Guna
- Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh) to Guna
- Delhi to Guna
- Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) to Guna
Conclusion
Guna is surely a wonderful place to spend a quick weekend. People who love history or like to visit religious places will enjoy it most. Since booking tickets are easier and there are multiple bus options to choose from, you can plan a trip here at any time. The redBus online portal is the best option to book Guna bus tickets. There are multiple options for finding a suitable seat on a Guna bus here. The buses can be AC or non-AC, seater or sleeper etc. There will be no booking fee levied and you can easily change the travel date or cancel the ticket as needed.
Guna consists of a good blend of hotels and tourist locations, making it an ideal place to visit. Travellers may visit Guna all around the year and experience the diversity of the place. Guna is speckled with varied social amenities and has a smooth dispense of services.
