Popularly known as the City of Lakes, Bhopal is the capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh.. The city of Bhopal is dotted with a number of picturesque natural lakes and manmade lakes. The city is deeply rooted in traditions and has a great history with a picturesque landscape as well as modern buildings. While there are narrow alleys, crowded markets and havelisalong in the Old city of Bhopal, there is modern architecture in the new city. There are lot of getaways near Bhopal like Sanchi with a heritage history or Pachmari which is a scenic grandeur. Besides the natural grandeurs, Bhopal is also known for its mosques. The Taj-ul-Masjid in Bhopal is the largest mosque of India. The city attracted international attention as a consequence of the Bhopal disaster, when the Union Carbide plant (now a part of Dow Chemical Company) leaked deadly Methyl Isocyanate gas during the night of December 3, 1984.
History:
It is believed that Bhopal was founded in the 11th century by legendary Raja Bhoja of the Parmara dynasty. Bhopal was initially called Bhopal owing its name to the then king Raja Bhoja and the Dam he constructed which is known as Pal. During 1707, following the death of Mughal King Aurangazeb, Dost Mohammad Khan brought to Bhopal Islamic influences which can be seen to date in the culture and architecture in this city. From 1819 to 1926, Bhopal was ruled successively by 4 begums (Women rulers). Bhopal, unlike other states in India attained Independence in 1949 when the ruler of Bhopal acceded to the Indian Government
The climate in Bhopal is moderate ranging between 24°- 48° C during summer and between 9°-36°C during winter. Summer is relatively hot. The best time to visit Bhopal would be anytime except for summer. The weather throughout the year is pleasant
Big hotels are able to exchange currency/travellers cheques though one can get a better rate at bigger bank branches. There is also a currency exchange counter at the airport.
Most shops and establishments accept Visa and Mastercard. American Express is accepted in few places. There are a number of ATMs around the city and a number of them accept credit and debit cards issued by foreign banks.
No permits are required to travel to Bhopal other than a visa for India.
By Air: Bhopal is well connected by flights to cities like Delhi, Mumbai. Gwalior and Indore. There are regular flights. Bhopal airport is only a 12 kms drive from the Old City.
By Rail: The best way to reach Bhopal is by train, as it is well connected to lot of cities across India by train. As it is located on the Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Chennai route, it is very convenient to reach Bhopal from other parts of India.
By Road: To reach Bhopal by road, one can book a cab or opt for traveling by a bus. There are buses plying regularly to and from Sanchi which is only a 46 kms drive while Vidisha and Indore are both only 186 kms away and a little further ahead is Ujjain which is 188 kms and Jabalpur is located at a distance of 295 kms.
Bharat Bhawan Bharat Bhawan houses a Museum of Art, an Art Gallery, Workshop for Fine Arts, A Repertory theatre, Libraries, Outdoor and Indoor Auditoriums and rehearsal rooms. This is indeed a unique institute in India. A renowned Architech Mr. Charles Correa had designed it. Timings: 2 pm to 8 pm every day except Mondays.
Gohar Mahal A fusion of Hindu and Mughal style of architecture, the Gohar Mahal is a popular tourist attraction. It was built by Kudsia Begum who was also known as Gohar Begum, after whom the Palace was named. It is situated on the banks of the Upper lake and behind the Shaukat Mahal.
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya National Museum of Mankind is one of its kind. An interesting kind of museum that exhibits actual sized typical contemporary tribal cultures from different states of India. Timings: 10 am to 6 pm, every day except on Mondays and national holidays
Regional Science Centre Located on the scenic Shamla Hills, It is a science museum and a Planetarium which houses around 300 exhibits. Popular with the kids, the Invention and Fun Science galleries surely catches their attention. Timings: 10.30 am to 6.30 pm on all days except Mondays
Shaukat Mahal and Sadar Manzil Situated in the heart of the city at the entrance of the Chowk, Shaukat Mahal and Sadar Manzil is a blend of styles in Occidental idioms which set it apart from the predominantly Islamic architecture that is usually found in Bhopal.
Taj-ul-Masjid This magnificent building towering edifice was begun by Shah Jehan Begum and which continued after her death went on to become the largest mosque in India. Every year a three-day Ijtima congregation is held which draws people from all over the country.
The Upper Lake and The Lower Lake A Bridge divides the Lake into two, namely the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. It is Bhopal is called as the’ City of Lakes’ because of these two picturesque lakes. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Yacht Club has set up for trips by sail, paddle and motorboats at the Upper Lake and Lower Lake.
Van Vihar There is a safari park on a hill situated near the Upper Lake. Timings: 7-11 am and 3-5.30 pm, open everyday, except Tuesday
Shahpura Lake Another lake in Bhopal known for its picture perfect beauty is a lake constructed on a stream . It is a man made lake situated near Mata Mandir which is about 3 kms in the upstream of the Lake
Accomodation in Bhopal is not a problem at all as there are plenty of options to choose from. From luxury hotels to Lodges one can find a place that would fit every budget. It is however recommended to make booking in advance to avoid any hassles. Most of the Hotels in Bhopal are on the Hamidia Road and in the Old city. Some of the Hotels that top the list of tourists are Noor-Us-Sabah Palace Hotel, Jehan Numa Palace, Hotel Lake View Ashok, Ivy Suites
Where To Eat:
When in Bhopal, one must try the Dhabas which are located along the Hoshangabad Road. Here the food is not only yummy but also easy on the pockets. Some of the Dhabas worth trying are Mana Dhaba, Vrindavan Dhaba and Sakshi Dhaba. Bhopal is known for it’s Nawabi food. From Kebabs to Biryani, they serve it all and the Mughlai cuisine is sure to tickle one’s taste buds. The Jehan Numa Palace and Noor-Us-Subah Palace are the best places to try the Nawabi cuisine of Bhopal. Apart from these places one can also try the street food like Pani puri, Samosa Chaat etc which can be found at almost every nook and corner of the city.
Shopping:
While in Bhopal, one must head to the Chowk and the New Market for shopping. Bhopal is known for Tussar silk and women surely go gaga over the Tussar saris here. If you are planning to buy some souvenirs then the Mrignayani Emporium and Handicrafts Emporium are the best places to get the best deal. However, one can also shop at street and local vendors to get the best bargains.
Bhimbetka: Located only at a distance of 46 kms from Bhopal is Bhimbetka , a World Heritage site. It is known for the 500 odd caves which depict the life of tribes inhabiting there ages ago. There are jungles with more than 500 shelters which belong to the Neolithic age
Bhojpur Temple On the way to Bhimbetka is the Bhojpur temple which has the biggest monolithic Shiva lingam. This ancient temple was built more than 1000 years ago.
Sanchi Located on 46 kms from Bhopal is Sanchi which known for its Buddhist Monuments, monasteries, temples and the Sanchi Stupa.
The other places nearby are :
Ujjain Known for the Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain is located 188 kms from Bhopal. It is a temple town which hosts the famous Mahakumbh mela held once in every 12 years.
Panchmarhi Located only 210 kms from Bhopal, Pachmari is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh. An ideal get away for a holiday has been attracting tourists from across the world.
Khajuraho The temples of Khajuraho known for celebration of beauty beyond compare an eternal expression of love. This heritage site was built over 100 years and dates back to between 950 to 1050 A. D.
Bhopal has a rich heritage which it still retains and presents a perfect blend of the past and the present.
