Madhya Pradesh is India's largest state and the geographical heartland of the country. Most of the state is a high plateau and in summer it can be very dry and hot. Virtually all phases of Indian history have left their mark on Madhya Pradesh, historically Known as Malwa. There are still many pre-Aryan Gond and Bhil tribal people in the state but Madhya Pradesh is overwhelmingly Indo-Aryan with the people speaking Hindi and following Hinduism.