Bhopal

Bhopal is the capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

How to reach Bhopal? 46 kms to the south-west of Sanchi by rail and 48 kms (via NH86) by road lies the picturesque city of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of a large lake.

Situated at an altitude of 1622 feet, it possesses a salubrious climate. Taxis and buses are available. Bhopal has a first-class airport.

Places of Interest: Bhopal has two picturesque lakes. The Great Lake is a large sheet of water, 2¼ sq miles in area. The river Betwa which rises near Kumri village adjacent to Bhojpur and the Kaliasot River formerly fed the Great Lake. An overhanging bridge divides the Great Lake from the Lower Lake, about a quarter of a mile in area. From the banks of the lakes, the city rises gradually to about 500 feet from the Shimla hill which overlooks the Great Lake; there is a beautiful view of the city at sunset. At night when myriads of lights from the houses along the lake are reflected in its placid waters the place resembles a fairyland.

Bhopal has many beautiful gardens, the more important among them being the Kamala Park, Aish Bagh (the garden of delight), Farhat Afza Bagh (enhancer of joy) and Nur Bagh (garden of light).

The famous mosques in Bhopal are – the Jama Masjid, the Moti Masjid, and the Taj-ul-Masjid.

Twenty-four miles from Bhopal on the Bhopal-Obedullaganj Road is the famous Shiva temple of Bhojpur. This incomplete temple consists of huge beautifully carved slabs of purple sandstone joined together without the use of mortar. The temple is Romanesque in grandeur and the visitor is impressed by the boldness of those who conceived it. The Shiva linga in the temple is 7 ft 4 inches in height and has a radius of 17 ft and 4 inches. The polish on the linga is intact.