Bhopal
Description
Popularly known as the city of lakes, Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is located roughly 360 miles far from the Indian capital, New Delhi. The origin of Bhopal dates back to the 11th century. It was founded by King Bhoja, king of the Paramara dynasty (1000 CE - 1055 CE). Thus, the city was named after him as Bhojpal. Later in the 13th century, it was attacked and plundered by its neighbouring cities. The city was re-established as Bhopal when Dost Mohammed Khan of neighbouring Islamnagar built a fort (Fatehgarh) here in 1724. Although Bhopal was a small city, it survived several wars and became a princely state in British India in 1818.
Without recounting the glorious rule of Begums, the history of Bhopal is incomplete. The ladies of royal families ruled Bhopal between 1819 and 1926. During the peaceful rule of Begums, Bhopal witnessed great inventions. It was the last city to join the other states of India after independence. At that time, Nawab Hamidullah Khan wanted to retain it as a separate unit, but agitations broke out against the Nawab in December 1948, and so, in 1949, Bhopal joined other Indian states. In 1956, Bhopal got merged with Madhya Pradesh and was named its capital.
About the Destination
Bhopal is one of the greenest cities of India, thus, on a trip to Bhopal, you can explore nature at its best. It is also very popular for its artificial and natural lakes, along with gently rolling hills. The largest lake of them is named as Bada Talab, also known as Shah Ali Shah Talab or Upper Lake. This city is a beautiful amalgamation of old-world charms along with new-age modern set-ups. It holds importance as the economic, industrial, educational, and political centre of Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, it is home to many educational institutions, both state and national. With our special Bhopal tour package, you can learn about the magnificent art and cultural heritage of this city in more detail.
Experience Bhopal
Besides its breath-taking natural beauty and pleasant climatic conditions, Bhopal has succeeded in retaining its old-world charm despite industrialization and modernization. Here, people from both Hindu and Muslim communities are living harmoniously since years, which is reflected in the cuisine of the city too. Bhopal is also equally impressive with its well-built parks, gardens, and broad avenues. Bhopal has a number of tourist attractions and historical places to explore. There are many mosques, heritage sites, and cultural hubs in the city. This city is a combination of both old and new. On a tour of Bhopal city, you will get a chance to explore rock shelters, rich flora and fauna, and magnificent art and cultural heritage.
Take a look at the long list of tourist places in Bhopal that you can visit during a vacation:
Van Vihar National Park
Sightseeing of this famous national park is one an important part of our Bhopal packages. Located near Upper Lake, here, you can experience greenery of nature at its best. You will need to pay a nominal entry fee to explore the beauty of this park. You can feast your eyes by looking at the flora and fauna here. You can also go for bicycle riding with our Bhopal tour package.
Upper Lake
Upper Lake is one of the most majestic tourist destinations which is perfect for taking a break from the daily schedule. It is the oldest man-made lake in India, where you can enjoy boating too. Sair Sapata is an entertainment complex built on the banks of Upper Lake, where one can enjoy a musical fountain, a suspension bridge, and a toy train for joyrides.
Taj-ul-Masjid
This is the largest mosque in India and the second largest mosque in Asia. This mosque has a capacity of 175,000 people and spreads over an area of about 430,000 square feet. Taj-ul-Masjid means ‘The Crown of Mosques’. Sultan Shah Jehan Begum started its construction in 1868, which got completed in 1901. This mosque is built near Motia Talab Lake using red stone. It has three domes and two minarets, which is open on all days for visitors. However, on Fridays, it is only open for Muslims. The architecture of this mosque has similarity with the architecture of Jama Masjid of Delhi.