Bhopal is the capital city of the Madhya Pradesh state of India. The city is good fusion of old and new traditions and cultures. The city is located in the heart of India and has a number of palaces and forts that belonged to the Holkars and other dynasties that ruled here.
This city was originally called as Bhojpur due to the rule of Ujjaini king, Raja Bhoja who was a popular king in this area and there are many places that are dedicated to him. This city remained an important part of the Ujjaini kingdom before it was conquered by Britishers.
Bhopal is known for the infamous Bhopal Gas Tragedy that happened in 1989, killing more than 1 lakh people and created genetic disorders to more than a million.
Reaching Bhopal
The Bhopal has its international airport that is named after Raja Bhoja. The airport has all the latest facilities that can handle limited international and domestic flights. Bhopal is well connected by the Indian Railways network and there are a number of regular trains from different parts from India to Bhopal. There are a number of national highways in India that connect Bhopal. You can reach here using any of the available highways to this city.
Attractions in Bhopal
Bhopal is one of the best cities in India that is known for its past heritaghe and culture. A number of heritage walks and chows are organized on regular basis. This city is a fine amalgam of past and present with a number of narrow "gullies" on one side and urban sprawl on the other.
Bhopal has a number of mosques that are known for their style and architecture. Some of them were made during the Mughal era and are really worth visiting. Some of the mosques that you must visit when you come here are Jama Masjid, Juma Masjid and Taj-ul-Masjid. Taj-ul-Masjid is the largest mosque in the country and is known for its screen and carvings that are done on the walls and domes.
Another must visit place in Bhopal is the Old Market which is locally known as Chowk Bazaar. Walk through the narrow lanes to catch a glimpse into the past and you can purchase various souvenirs and artefacts for highly attractive prices. The market is known for its bead and embroidery work.
Museum of Man is another popular place that you can consider visiting. This museum is sponsored by Government of Bhopal and showcases the lifestyle of tribal people of Madhya Pradesh.
One of the main centers of attraction of Bhopal are the lakes. There are two lakes that are known for their past. The Upper Lake, also known as Bada Talaab was created during the rule of Raja Bhoja. The lake has an interesting story related to Raja Bhoja. You can rent out boats and enjoy boating. Another interesting lake is Lowre Lake which is also known as Chotta Talaab. This lake was created during the Mughal era and is separated to the Upper Lake by a bridge.
