Bhopal Travel Guide
Location :
Bhopal is located in the northwestern part of Madhya Pradesh, in the
central region of India. It lies along the slopes of a sandstone ridge,
which is a part of the Malwa plateau
About Bhopal :
Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh combines scenic beauty, historicity
and modern urban planning. It is situated on the site of an 11th century
city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja Bhoja.Bhopal today presents a
multi-faceted profile; the old city with its teeming market places and
fine old mosques and palaces still bear the aristocratic imprint of its
former rulers; among them the succession of powerful Begums who ruled
Bhopal from 1819 to 1926. Equally impressive is the new city with its
verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and
streamlined modern edifices.
Getting There :
By Air : Bhopal is well connected by air to Delhi,
Indore, Gwalior and Mumbai.
By Rail : Bhopal is on the Delhi-Mumbai and the
Delhi-Chennai mainline.
Tourist Attractions :
Government Archaeological Museum :
A fine collection of sculptures are on display here from various parts
of Madhya Pradesh. Highlights of the collection are: paintings of
various schools, copies of paintings from the Bagh Caves near Mandu and
the statues of Alakshmi and the Buddha. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Taj-ul-Masjid :
Said to be the largest mosque in the country, the building of this
towering edifice was begun by Shah Jehan Begum (1868-1901) but was
completed after her death. It’s a huge pink mosque with two massive
white-domed minarets and three white domes over the main building. A
three-day Ijtima congregation held here annually draws people from all
over the country
Bharat Bhawan :
One of the most unique national institutes in India, Bharat Bhawan is a
centre for the performing and visual art. Designed by the renowned
architect Charles Correa, the contours of Bharat Bhawan merge in
exquisite harmony with the landscape creating a visual impact of
spacious and national elegance. The centre houses a museum of the arts,
an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theater, indoor
and outdoor auditoria, rehearsal room, and libraries of Indian poetry,
classical and folk music. Open from 2 pm to 8 pm every day except
Mondays.
Van Vihar :
This safari-park is located on a hill adjacent to the Upper Lake, with
at area of 445 hectares. In these natural surroundings, wildlife
watchers can view a variety of herbivorous and carnivorous species. Open
everyday, except Tuesday, from 7-11 am and 3-5.30 pm.
Tribal Habitat (Museum of Man) :
An open-air exhibition of tribal house types located on Shamla Hills,
the Tribal Habitat is a presentation of actual-size dwellings typical of
contemporary tribal cultures in various states of India. The exhibition
highlights architectural features and has elaborately displayed
interiors. The surroundings have been reconstructed to match some of the
interesting environmental features of tribal villages. The habitat is
open every day expect on Mondays and national holidays, from 10 am to 6
pm.
Upper and Lower Lakes :
The Upper Lake is divided from the Lower by an overbridge and is six
sq. km. in area. Madhya Pradesh Tourism's Yacht Club on the Upper and
Lower Lakes provide facilities for exciting trips by sail, paddle and
motor boats on the two lakes.
