Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal was founded in the 11th century by the Paramara king Bhoja, ruled from his capital at Dhar. Due to the presence of many artificial and natural lakes around the boundaries it is known as the city of lakes. It is one of the greenest cities , 16th largest city in India and 131st in the world.
Honors of Bhopal
Bhopal was selected as one of the first twenty Indian cities (the first phase) to be developed as a smart city by the Smart Cities Mission. Bhopal was also rated as the cleanest state capital city in India for three consecutive years, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Bhopal has also been awarded a 5-star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating, making it the cleanest State capital in the country in 2023. Bhopal has been ranked 6th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results’
Strong Economy of Bhopal
The Economy of Bhopal is quite strong as many small, medium and large industries operate in and around Bhopal. Bhopal is considered as one of the important financial and economic destinations of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal’s GDP(nominal) was estimated at INR 44,175 crores (2020–21) by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Madhya Pradesh.
When city attracted international attention
In December 1984 Bhopal disaster occurred , which is famously known as Bhopal gas tragedy, when a Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing plant leaked a mixture of deadly gasses composed mainly of methyl isocyanate, leading to the worst industrial disaster in history.
Climates of Bhopal
The visitors can visit Bhopal any time, the climate here is mostly under control and convenient. Bhopal has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa), with cool, dry winters, a hot summer and a humid monsoon season. The hot season is from April to June with high temperature.The cool season lasts for 2.5 months from November to February. The coldest month of the year is January.
Foods and culture
Combination of local specialities and traditional Indian cousins but main Bhopal includes breads, curries of fish, chicken and mutton and the variety of rice like biryani and kababs. Bhopal is a mixture of culture and traditions. It is known for diverse populations like hindu, muslim, sikh and cristian. All the festivals like diwali, dussehra, holi, navratri, are celebrated with full of joy and happiness.
Lakes of Bhopal city
Due to presence of many lakes, Bhopal is called the city of lakes
1. Bhojtal (Bada Talab/ Upper Lake)
2. Chhota Talaab (Lower Lake)
3. Shahpura Lake
4. Motia Talaab (at Taj-Ul-Masajid, Shahjahanabad)
5. Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan Talaab (First Step lake Below Motia Talaab)
6. Munshi Hussain Khan Talaab (Second Step lake Below Motia Talaab)
7. Lendiya Talaab (Ram Nagar Colony)
8. Sharangpani Lake (Piplani, BHEL area)
9. Manit Lotus Lake (Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology)
10. Jawahar Bal Udyan Lake (Ravishankar Nagar, Below Char Imli)
11. Bordi Kalan (Bhadbhada Road)
12. Preet Nagar Lake (Vidisha Bypass Road)
13. Nariyal Kheda Golf Course Lake (SKEPTA Golf Course)
14. Laharpur Lake
15. Mullah Sarovar (Barkatullah University, Habibganj)
16. Nevri Talaab (Ajgar Talav near Sanjeev Nagar)
17. New Jail Pond (Ayodhya Bypass Road)
18. Bairagarh Visarjan Ghat (Sant Hirdaram Nagar)
Tourist places in Bhopal
1. Upper lake
Upper lake is by far the most important lake in Bhopal , popularly referred to as the Bhojtal, located to the west of Bhopal, it is also known as bada talab, it provides approximately thirty million gallons of drinking water each year.
Timings: The lake can be visited from 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM on all days of the week.
Location: Upper Lake, Near CM House, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
2. Van vihar national park
Sitting in close proximity to Upper Lake, the Van Vihar National Park is one of the unmissable tourist places in Bhopal. Serving as the lungs of the city, the park is under strict observation and protection. It is also home to a wide array of wildlife like Blackbuck, Cheetal, Sambar, Blue Bull, Porcupine, Wild Boar, and Hyena, besides exotic floral species.
Timings: The park remains open for visitors from 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM throughout the week, except for Tuesday.
Location: Lake View Walk Path, Krishna Nagar, Shyamla Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
3. Moti Masjid
Moti Masjid was built in 1862 by the most progressive and free-thinking woman of her time, Sikander Jahan Begum. Crafted with beautiful, pure white marble, the architecture of the mosque holds a striking resemblance to the historic Jama Masjid in Delhi. A perfect retreat for history lovers, as well as the curious, Moti Masjid, is indispensable on your Bhopal tour.
Timings: The place remains open to visitors from 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM every day.
Location: Moti Masjid, Hawa Mahal Rd, Chowki Talaiya, Peer Gate, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
4. Udayagiri Caves
A magnificent set of twenty sculpted caves that date back to the early 5th century CE, the Udayagiri Caves hold within their walls some of the most ancient icon drawings and carvings. The inscriptions inside the caves associate their relation with the reign of the Gupta monarchy.
A significant historic monument, the caves are managed under the observation of the Archaeological Survey of India. The drawings depict stories of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, and Parvati.
Timings: The caves are open for exploration and visit from 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM every day.
Location: The place sits near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh
5. Sanchi Stupa
One of the most unbeatable places to visit in Bhopal, and possibly in entire India, the magnificence of the Sanchi Stupa remains unmatched till date. Believed to have originated in the 3rd century BCE, the building was built it the reign of the great emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty and is one of the most remarkable Buddhist monuments in the country.
Timings: The site remains open for visiting from 08:30 AM to 05:30 PM every day.
Location: Sanchi, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
6. Bhimbetka Caves
Situated at around 45 km south of Bhopal, the monumental Bhimbetka Caves have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed that the caves date as far back as over 30,000 years!
One of the most exotic places to visit in Bhopal, the Bhimbetka Caves are truly one of their kinds, which by themselves constitute a timeless piece of art.
Timings: The caves are open to visitors throughout the week from 07:00 AM to 06:00 PM.
Location: Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Bhojpur Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
7. Lakshmi Narayan Temple
The famous Lakshmi Narayan Temple was built as a tribute to the Hindu Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and her consort Lord Vishnu. It is also known as Birla mandir. Besides the beautiful idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu, the temple also houses a reclining idol of Lord Shiva with his wife Goddess Parvati.
The Birla Museum attached to the temple exhibits marvelous sculptures dating back to the 12th century! The temple, besides being a religious abode, offers outstanding views of the Old Bhopal city.
Timings: The temple remains open for worship from 06:30 AM to 07:00 PM every day.
Location: Lakshmi Narayan Temple Bhopal Address: Arera Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
8. Lower Lake
It is also known as chota talab. The lake is bathed in an aura of blissful quiet and tranquility, making it perfect for nature lovers and tourists alike it is one of the most picturesque places in Bhopal.
Timings: The lake is open to visitors from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM every day.
Location: Lower Lake, Jahangirabad, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
9. Bhojpur Temple
Another stunning heritage built by Raja Bhoj in the 11th century is the Bhojpur tmple. The Bhojpur Temple is a religious tribute to the Hindu God Shiva, nestled in the rustic village of Bhojpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Timings: The temple is open to pilgrims for worship from 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM every day.
Location: Bhojpur Temple, Bhojpur Rd, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh
10. Gohar Mahal
Gohar Mahal is undoubtedly one of the most historically beautiful places to visit in Bhopal. Built-in 1820 by Qudsia Begum. The palace is ornamented with intricate interior carvings and beautiful decorations on the exterior.
Timings: The site remains open for visitors from 08:00 AM to 06:30 PM every day.
Location: Gohar Mahal, VIP Road, Nakkar Khana, Peer Gate Area, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
11. Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
One of the most famous places in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum is extremely well planned, and the works displayed have their roots in the tribal culture. It is advised to collect a brochure at the entrance in order to learn a few basics of tribal life, which makes it easier to decipher the paintings.
The campus is carefully segregated into 6 galleries, each of which is dedicated to tribal culture, life, art, and mythology. If you’re a history buff or a mythology enthusiast, this place is one that you absolutely cannot afford to miss out on.
Timings: The museum is open to visitors every day from 12:00 PM to 08:00 PM.
Location: Shyamala Hills Road, Near State Museum, Shamla Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
12. National Museum of Mankind
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, otherwise known as the National Museum of Mankind, is seated atop the Shamla Hills, along with the Upper Lake in Bhopal. The anthropological museum presents a beautiful illustration of the evolution of mankind, with reference to India.
Timings: The museum is open to visitors from 11:00 AM to 06:30 PM from March to August and from 10:00 AM to 05:30 PM from September to February. The museum is closed on every Monday, and on National Holidays.
Location: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Lower Lake View, Near Boat Club, Shamla Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
13. Sair Sapata
Sair Sapata is a major entertainment zone and tourist attraction in Bhopal. The complex hosts’ various stimulating activities like bike racing, car dashing, boating, forest hiking, and more.
It also showcases a beguiling musical fountain, children’s play area, a suspension bridge, and a toy train.
Timings: The place remains open to visitors from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day.
Location: Sair Sapata, Bhadbhada Road, Prempura, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
14. Shaurya Smarak
Developed as a public park, sprawling across an area of 12 acres in Arera Hills region of the city, Shaurya Smarak houses an underground museum that has galleries dedicated to war heroes.
Timings: The park is open to visitors from 12 PM to 7 PM every day.
Location: Arera Hills, M P Nagar, Bhopal
15. Bijasan Mata Temple, Salkanpur
One of the best religious places to visit in Bhopal, the Salkanpur Temple is a sacred shrine of the Hindu Goddess Durga, in the form of Maa Durga Beejasan.
Timings: The temple timings are 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM every day of the year.
Location: In the Sehore district, near Hoshangabad.
How to reach Bhopal
By air- The Bhopal airport is situated around 13 KM to the north-northwest to the city center, cabs are available to take passengers from the airport to the city of heart.
By train- Bhopal junction is the busiest train station in the city. Bhopal is on one of the two main Delhi to Mumbai railway lines and also on the main line to the southern state capitals of Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram. It is on one of the two major Delhi to Mumbai railway lines. Dakshin Express, Punjab Mail, Goa Express, Tirukkural Express, Jhelum Express, Andaman Express, Kushinagar Express and Jaipur Express are the main trains that pass through the station. It is also the terminus of the Shatabdi Express, which daily shuttles between Delhi and Bhopal.
By Road– There are extensive bus services (private and state) to cities within the region and interstate.
Best time to visit
You should avoid visiting Bhopal during the summer months because of the high temperatures. Bhopal is best visited during the winter months of October to February. The weather is moderate and pleasant during these months and Temperatures range from 7°C to 23° C. You can easily explore the lake city with all convenience and comfortability.