Bhopal is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of the Bhopal district and Bhopal division. Bhopal is known as the Lake City (or City of Lakes) as its landscape is dotted with a number of natural lakes, setting off the greenery. Situated on the 11th century city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja Bhoj, Bhopal lies in the Malwa region and, like Rome, is built on seven hills.
It is a mix of the old and the new with a lot of old Bhopal reminiscent of the Mughal influence and the new showcasing the planned development of a modern Indian city. Apart from its natural beauty, Bhopal is famous for its mosques. Its population of 1.06 million is spread over 285 square kilometres and the main languages spoken are Hindi, Urdu, Chhatisgarhi (a local dialect) and English.
What to See
Laxmi Narayan Temple, also known as Birla Mandir, is a beautiful temple on the Arera Hills that has a museum attached to it, housing a collection of sculptures from Raisen, Sehore, Mandsour and Shahdol districts of Madhya Pradesh; Bhojeshwar Temple, 28 kilometres away; Gohar Mahal; Taj ul Masjid, said to be the largest mosque in the country; Birla Museum; Bharat Bhavan; and Van Vihar National Park.
A trip out is recommended to travel to some breathtakingly beautiful places in Madhya Pradesh, such as Sanchi, a Buddhist pilgrim destination. The first of the "stupas" here were built in about the third century BC/BCE by King Ashok, a follower of Buddhism. Sanchi is about 45 kilometres from Bhopal. Khajuraho, with its umpteen temples and display of the Kamasutra through the figures/statues on the temples, is about 380 kilometres from Bhopal. Pachmarhi, a quaint little army settlement, known as the Hill Station of Madhya Pradesh, is about 210 kilometres from Bhopal.
From Bhopal, you can also connect to Jabalpur, which is about 160 kilometres from the Kanha National Park. This national park is spread over 1940 square kilometres and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the majestic tiger in all its mystique and natural glory.
How to Get There
By Air:
Bhopal has a domestic airport and is connected to Gwalior, Indore, Mumbai and Delhi. The airport is fairly close to the city and commuting is not much of a problem.
By Rail:
Bhopal is very well connected to the rest of the country by rail and is a major hub and exchange railway station for the Central and Western Railway networks. Bhopal has two main railway stations: Bhopal Station in old Bhopal or Habibgunj Station in New Bhopal.
By Road:
Bhopal is well connected to the major metros in India through many national highways.
Getting around:
Bhopal has a decent public transportation system comprising buses, mini-buses, three-wheeled autos and the smoke-belching tempos that are a major pollution hazard for this city, but which are very popular as they are impossibly cheap. It is easy to book a taxi for a full day to get in and around the city. A private firm has started plying a number of full-sized buses called Star-bus in the city streets for public usage. These are safe and fun to travel in.
When to Visit
The climate is moderate in Bhopal. The summers are hot and winters cold, but it does not face extreme weather conditions. It rains moderately during the rainy season with mostly pleasant weather throughout the year. The best time to visit is October to March.
Where to Stay
Bhopal has ten starred hotels and eight other rated hotels. The Residency Hotel; Hotel Amer Palace; Hotel 4 Seasons; Hotel Amar Vilas (wi-fi complimentary); Hotel Arch Manor; Hotel G-shy and the Lake View Ashok are among the prominent names.
Where to Eat
The best Chicken Biryani is at Jameel Hotel in old Bhopal; Hotel Jehanuma Palace has a very good restaurant that serves awesome north Indian delicacies. Hotel Noor us Sabah also has a couple of good restaurants to choose from. Indo-Chinese, continental and American cuisine is available in the various restaurants around the city.
