Bhopal

BHOPAL

Bhopal     is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative. Bhopal is known as the City of Lakes  for its various natural as well as artificial lakes and is also one of the greenest cities in India.  The city attracted international attention after the Bhopal disaster, when a Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide manufacturing plant leaked a mixture of deadly gases including methyl isocyanate on the intervening night of 2 / 3 December 1984, leading to the worst industrial disaster in the history of industrialization and a loss of thousands of lives. Since then, Bhopal has been a center of protests and campaigns which have been joined by people from across the globe.

Located on a slope in the Malwa Plateau, the city is a naturally blessed with woody forests, majestic hills and vibrant landscapes. Besides these natural bliss, the man made lakes, reflect the twinkling lights of city at night, which is a sight to be worth watching.

Though the city is not too well endowed with monuments, it has a unique character of its own. It presents a harmonious blend of Hindu and Islamic cultures with a perfect symphony of North Indian and South Indian traditions. The uniqueness of this historic city lies in the fact that, perhaps it will be the only Indian city which was ruled over by the powerful Begums over centuries. These progressive rulers outnumbered their male counterparts in every field and the beautiful mansions and mosques are the speaking edifices of their golden rule.

Modern Bhopal is a place where one can see the richness of tradition is intertwined with the modern life. The remnants of the glorious past live on in the havelis, grand mosques and the museums. These elegant structures exhibits a superb blend of Islam, Hindu and European style architecture. Steeped in to these magnificient past, Bhopal’s new face, presents, verdant parks and gardens, broad avenues and modern offices. In short, Bhopal has successfully transformed into a sprawling city coloured by its vibrant past.

A cradle of arts and culture, Bhopal provides numerous centers of contemporary and performing arts. Being the capital of a state with a large tribal population, Bhopal is a hub of the folk and tribal arts that give a feel of village life in the state. Besides all these, Bhopal is acclaimed for the famous cave paintings, which are not only valuable for their artistic values but also for their ethnicity.

A write up of Bhopal could not be completed, without a reference to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy that was one of the worst industrial disasters India ever had seen.

A rambling city with a celebrated past and a glittering present, Bhopal is all set to mesmerize the visitor with its enduring

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Upper Lake

A beautiful water body of the 11th century, Upper Lake is the oldest man-made lake in India. Locally called as Bada Talab, it is a massive earthen bund constructed across the Kolans River. Legend says that King Bhoj constructed this gigantic lake, which is believed to have cured his skin disease.

A massive lake with a catchment area of 36.1 sq km, the Upper Lake happens to be the major source of potable water for the people of Bhopal. An attractive royal garden called Kamla Park in the vicinity makes the surroundings more scenic. A favourite spot of the water enthusiasts, this lake is the hub of all water sport activities in Bhopal.

Lower Lake

A beautiful remnant of the great Mugal Empire, Lower Lake in Bhopal is situated in the serene surroundings of majestic hills and the massive upper lake. The Lower Lake, which is also called as the Chota Talaab, is separated from the Upper Lake by an over-bridge.

Hemmed by the magnificient Kamala garden, the Lower Lake presents aesthetic appearance. Exciting trips by sail, paddle and motorboats over the Lower Lake is fascinating attractions for adventure lovers.This lovely lake along with the magnificient Upper Lake have given Bhopal its title as the "City of Lakes". The beauty and charm of this wonderful pond is greatly affected by the human settlements from all sides.

The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum in Bhopal exhibits an impressive collection of sculptures obtained from different parts of the state. Various articles on display in this museum helps to get a deep insight about the cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh.

The museum in Bhopal offers a wide spectrum of a rich tradition. The precious artifacts of this museum includes statues of Lakshmi, Buddha, images of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, paintings of various schools and copies of paintings from the Bagh caves among other things. The image of Shiva and Parvathi, Jain sculptures dating back to the 12th century, and a fine carving of two couples from Khajuraho make oneself spellbound.

The museum is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm except on Mondays and Government holidays. Illustrating a rich heritage, Archaeological Museum adorns a remarkable place in the tourist map of Madhya Pradesh.

 Bharat Bhavan

A center of unparalleled excellence, Bharat Bhavan is a unique institution for performing and visual arts. This multi-art complex is so designed that its shape is in superb accord with the surrounding landscape and it offers a visual impact of spaciousness.

A place for contemporary expression, exploration, manifestation and innovation, this multi-arts complex provides interactive propinquity to the vocal, visual and performing arts. A thriving center of contemporary arts, which has its accolades countrywide, Bharat Bhavan is a must-visit for art enthusiast. Apart from a tribal museum, Bharat Bhavan has an art gallery where permanent exhibitions of the works of artists and sculptors are put on display.

Shaukat Mahal

Situated at the Chowk area of Bhopal, Shaukat Mahal is one of the architectural wonders of Bhopal. The Mahal is an odd combination of Indo-Islamic and European styles of architecture. Supposed to be designed by a profligate Frenchman, the building is very different from the rest of the Islamic architecture in the locality.

The unique feature of this Mahal is that it is made of beautiful white alabaster and the roof the building is adorned with a series of complicated triangular-shaped arches. The delicate floral patterns of on the exterior of the palace give it a very eco-friendly appearance.

Birla Museum

Birla Museum is a genuine endeavor to put on display the rich and varied culture of Madhya Pradesh. One of its kinds, Birla Museum occupies a significant place among the monuments and museums in Bhopal. The museum exhibits various objects from the primitive period onwards. Tools and equipments used by the Paleolithic and Neolithic man will catch the attention of the visitor.

It is certain that the stunning scale model of Bhimbetka rock shelter with its ancient murals will make the viewer dumbfound. Tourists who are interested in archeology will be greatly benefited by the display of stone sculptures from the 7th to 13th century and coins, manuscripts and Terracotta belonging to 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD.

Van Vihar National Park

Spread over a vast area of 445 hectors of land on a majestic hillock, the Van Vihar National Park is situated in the heart of Bhopal city. An oasis of greenery, this national park house a variety of herbivorous and carnivorous species in their natural habitat.

Van Vihar is more of a zoo than a national park. Most of the animals are either orphaned, brought from various parts of the state, or those which are exchanged from other zoos. Van Vihar is a place where the visitors are provided with the opportunity to enjoy, experience, understand and appreciate nature.

The park is open from 7 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 5 pm and closed on Tuesdays. It provides free entry to the park for schools, colleges and senior citizens. July to September is the ideal time to visit the park.

Taj-ul-Masjid

One of the largest and most elegant Muslim mosques, Taj-ul-Masjid is the most imposing structure in Bhopal. The literal meaning of the term Taj-ul-Masjid is ‘The Crown of Mosques’, and the building really presents a magnificent spectacle and is worthy for a watch. It’s pink façade and the huge white-domed minarets provide it a miraculous charm.

The mosque also has so many other spectacular features, which adds its natural charm. Among them the three huge bulbous domes, an impressive main hallway with attractive pillars, marble flooring and a spacious courtyard are very conspicuous. The mosque is also functioned as a madarsa, an Islamic religious school during daytime.

The serene premises of this marvelous shrine draws large gathering during the annual three-day Ijtima congregation.

Moti Masjid

Moti Masjid, a lovely shrine in Bhopal is a significant landmark in the history of muslim women in India. This marvelous shrine was constructed by the progressive muslim ruler Sikander Begum in the year 1860. The architectural design of the Moti Masjid has a close similitude to the famous Jama Masjid in Delhi.

This pretty mosque is comparatively smaller in size, but grabs thousands of tourists with its architectural marvel. Its dark red towers and golden spikes are really fantastic. The façade of the mosque is of glittering white marble, which provides an ethereal look. The Moti Masjid is also called as Pearl Mosque because of this sparkling white fascia.

Sair Sapata complex

Sair Sapata is a tourism and entertainment complex situated on the banks of the Upper Lake in Bhopal. Developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, it is spread over an area of 24.56 acres, and was inaugurated on 29 September 2011 by State Chief Minister. Aimed at promoting tourism, the complex has attractions like musical fountain, two acres of children’s play area, toy train and a suspension bridge, among other things.

HOW TO REACH

BY RAIL - Bhopal Railway Station is a major railhead in Mumbai – Delhi broad gauge. It has connection trains to all major cities in India. Daily Shatabdi expresses shuttle between Bhopal and Delhi

BY AIR - Bhopal Airport, also known as Raja Bhoj Airport, is 15 km away from the heart of the city. Taxi Cab will charge about Rs 150, one way. Bhopal airport is connected to Mumbai, Indore, Gwalior and Delhi. International flights to Gulf cities like Sharjah and Dubai are operated from Bhopal.

BY ROAD -  Lots of bus facilities, public and private, are available in Bhopal. All cities in the state are connected to Bhopal by bus services. Overnight deluxe buses from Delhi, Gwalior and Jabalpur are available to Bhopal. Deluxe buses charge Rs. 3-4 per km.