Jaded with the concrete jungles which hound your every waking moment? Want
an escape into a world which promises a picturesque setting around two magnificent
lakes and gently rolling hills? Take the first train or the flight out and
head straight for Madhya Pradesh's capital city Bhopal, which truly epitomizes
all this and more. Situated on gently rolling hills, the state capital of
Madhya Pradesh is truly modern, yet has managed to retain its quaint old worldly
charm. It, truly carries itself with grace and is constantly surprising its
visitors, a place where bustling markets and lush green gardens beckons you
to forget your worries and enjoy the warm smiles and the simple life of Bhopal.
Truly, a tourist’s delight with its old mosques, palaces, lakes and
gardens, Bhopal has managed to retain a clean, green look which is sadly not
evident in most metropolitan cities in India.
History
The city is named after the 10th century king Raja Bhoja, who not only founded
the city, but also built the Upper Lake. The foundation of modern Bhopal was
however laid by Afghan governor Dost Mohammed Khan in 1723. The city also
takes pride in its 100-year rule of begums. Lacking a suitable male heir,
the royal ladies took charge and administered the kingdom with great ease
and expertise for nearly a century. The most popular among them were Sikander
Begum (1857-1901) and Shah Jahan Begum (1901-1926), the latter embellishing
the city with magnificent monuments.
Following Independence, the princely state acceded to the Indian Union and
was made the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Disaster struck Bhopal in 1984 when the killer gas methyl isocyanate accidentally
leaked from the Union Carbide factory, choking the city, killing thousands
and leaving many more with permanent disabilities. Only recently has the city
managed to forget that terrible night and get back to business as usual.
Places to See
Gauhar Mahal
A wonderful blend of Hindu and Mughal architectures, this palace stands on
the bank of the Upper Lake on VIP Road.
Shaukat Mahal
In a sea of Islamic buildings stands this very French and very Gothic palace.
It is said to have been designed by a Frenchman belonging to the royal Bourbon
dynasty.
Sadar Manzil
Near the Shaukat Mahal lies the elegant Sadar Manzil that used to be the hall
of public audience of the former rulers of Bhopal.
Bharat Bhavan
This Mecca for the art lovers is a centre for performing and visual arts.
Designed by the famous architect Charles Correa, it has a museum, an art gallery,
a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theatre, indoor and outdoor auditoria,
rehearsal rooms, and libraries. It is open 2 pm to 8 pm every day except Mondays.
Government Archeological Museum
Located in the picturesque Shamla Hills, the museum has a collection of coins,
sculptures and paintings. It is open 10 am to 6 pm except on Mondays (Tel:
2553307, 2553432).
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind)
This is a unique and innovative attempt to showcase the life of tribals from
all over India. Almost 200 acres of land has been transformed into tribal
villages, highlighting their architecture, crafts and pottery. The tribals
themselves are said to have designed the museum display. The museum is open
every day expect on Mondays and national holidays, from 10 am to 6 pm.
Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake
These beautiful lakes have rightfully given Bhopal its epithet the City of
Lakes. Upper Lake is certainly where the action is. MP Tourism offers sailing
and boating facilities here, at very nominal rates. The lake has a walkway,
an aquarium, and a dargah, or memorial, to Shah Ali Shah.
Van Vihar
This safari park is on a hill adjacent to the Upper Lake. Animal watchers
can view a variety of herbivorous and carnivorous species, and it makes a
great picnic spot. The best time to visit is around 4 pm when animals come
out for food. The park is closed on Tuesdays
Excursion
Islamnagar
Its pride is the palace of the city’s erstwhile Afghan rulers, built
by Dost Mohammed Khan. The palace is an amalgam of Indo-Islamic art and is
set in the midst of a beautiful garden. Islamnagar is 11 km away on the Bhopal-Berasia
Road.
Delawadi
A picture-perfect picnic spot 62 km away from the city.
Bhimbetka Caves
A World Heritage Site; there are almost 600 caves with pre-historic paintings.
These caves are believed to have been homes of Neolithic men over 10,000 years
ago. The well-preserved paintings depict the life of these cave dwellers.
The oldest paintings are believed to be almost 12,000 years old. Bhimbetka
is 46 km from Bhopal and easily reachable by road.
Bhojpur
Some 28 km from Bhopal, Bhojpur's Shiva temple is one of the finest examples
of temple architecture. Its main idol is a 21-ft high Shiva linga. Surprisingly,
the temple was never completed and the ramp used to reach the dome still stands.
Sanchi
Another World Heritage Site, these stupas, temples and gateways are embellished
with delicate carvings depicting the life and teachings of the Buddha. On
Buddha Purnima (full moon), Buddhists from all over the world congregate at
Sanchi to celebrate the triple anniversary of Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment
and renunciation. Situated 46 km from Bhopal, hiring a cab is the best way
to reach here
Dining Out
The Mughal influence is very strong in the local delicacies in Bhopal
- Mughlai food preparations laced with aromatic spices can be a delight for
the meat lover. The most authentic Mughlai food including delicacies like
the spicy achar gost (pickled lamb), kheemas (minced meat), rogan josh (mutton
dish) and a variety of pulao's (aromatic rice), Kebabs, Goat Biryani, Chicken
Tikka etc. can be got in the dhabas in the Chowk area, though some hotels
also serve some very good examples of this cuisine. Bhopal is also very famous
for the Bhopali Paan (betel leaf), which is considered the perfect way to
end any meal.
The locals love snacking , especially 'chat' - the sweet-sour spicy crunchy
snack which is very popular along with other snacks like burgers and popcorn
on Lake Drive Road, which comes alive with stalls every evening. The MP tourism
outlet Tarang has a good selection here.
Apart from North Indian and Mughlai cuisine, you can also savour Continental
and the much popular Indian Chinese in restaurants here.
Bhopal has its share of fine dining options. For Kebabs under the stars and
with live music in the background try the Sunset Barbeque at the Welcom heritage
Noor-Us-SabahPalace. For authentic Chinese the Dynasty at the same hotel is
a good option. The Shahnama and La Kuchina at the Jehan Numa Palace are excellent
choices to savour authentic Bhopali and Mediterranean cuisine respectively.
The Tesu at the Palash Residency and Wind & Waves at Lake Drive Road have
a good multi-cuisine spread to choose from. The Nanking at Hotel Nisarga is
perfect for business lunches and specialises in Shezwan and Cantonese cuisine
Shopping
Bhopal’s must-buys are the exquisite, gossamer-thin Chanderi (cotton/silk
mix, so sheer that Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb insisted that his daughter wear
7 layers of it) and Maheshwari saris, colourful beadwork bags, and sequinned
cushions and purses. A must buy are Tussar and other forms of raw silk that
are famous in the Bhopal market.
The city has three main shopping areas: Chowk (old city), New Market and Bittan
Market. The old city market extending over Peergate, Ibrahimpura, Nadim Road
and Sarafa is ideal if you have time to explore and can choose from piles
of wholesale stock. New Market and Bittan Market are better organised, with
neat rows of shops. Most big brands have their showrooms here too. Apart from
these, you can pick up handicrafts and handlooms from the ongoing fairs and
exhibitions. A safe bet for handicrafts and handlooms is Mrignayani, the state
emporium (on Hamidia Road, Near Railway Station and opposite Brijwasi Sweet
Shop, New Market). For Chanderis and Maheshwaris, visit Radhika sarees (10
Arera Colony) and Malvika (opposite Saify Shoes, New Market).
Visiting
Thanks to its nawabi culture, the city welcomes guests round the year. However,
it is advisable to plan your trip between October and March and avoid the
summer months when the mercury soars over 400C.
How to get there
By Air : Bhopal has regular flights to and from Delhi, Gwalior,
Indore and Mumbai.
By Train : Bhopal is on the Delhi-Chennai line. The city’s
two railway stations flag off trains to all the metros, as well as to Hyderabad,
Bangalore, Nagpur, and major towns and cities within the state.
By Road : Regular bus services connect the city with Indore
(186 km), Mandu (285 km), Ujjain (188 km), Khajuraho (383 km), Pachmarhi (195
km), Gwalior (423 km), Sanchi (46 km), Jabalpur (295 km) and Shivpuri (311
km).
