Bhopal Tourism and Travel Guide
History of Bhopal: Being one of the oldest cities of the country, Bhopal has a glorious past. The History of Bhopal tells tales of interesting, heroic andBhopal amazing incidents.
It can take pride in its excellent blend of Islamic and Hindu cultures. Various dynasties have ruled the city over the years, contributing to its architectural and historical richness.
The History of Bhopal takes us back to the eleventh century when Raja Bhoja – the great ruler built a city called Bhojpal. According to the historians, it was the original Bhopal City. Later on, the Mughals captured the city and ruled it till the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Afghan soldier – Dost Mohammed established the princely province of Bhopal in 1723. Well supported by the tribal queen – Rani Kamalpathi, he was able to ward off the neighboring Rajput kings.
When speaking about the History of Bhopal, the contribution of the Begums cannot be written off. The females of the royal family ruled the state for almost hundred years. They led austere lives, followed their religion faithfully and were able administrators. Begum Nawab Sultan Jahan was one of the greatest Begum rulers of Bhopal.
Sultan Jahan’s son Hamidullah inherited the throne in the year 1926. Under him, the Bhopal State signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ and became the part of the Indian Republic in 1947. The sleepy town of Bhopal has today transformed into a swanky modern city.
Bhopal, also called the city of lakes, is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Tourists can reach Bhopal by air, rail and road
Fairs and Festivals
A three-day Ijtima (religious congregation) is held in the precincts of the Taj-ul-Masjid annually. It draws many Muslim pilgrims from all parts of India.
Shopping
Bhopal is known for its fine craft markets that offer a number of Bhopalarticles to the souvenir hunter. One can find traditional craft products like silver jewelry, beadwork, embroidered velvet items and leather goods in Bhopal. The chowk area in the Old City is a good place for shopping for local handicrafts. Another important shopping area is located in the New Bhopal area.
Places to Eat
The bus station, the railway station, and the areas surrounding them are replete with stalls serving low-budget food. Restaurants and hotels around Hamidia Road are known for quality foodstuff. Travelers can enjoy Indian, Chinese and fast food in most eating places in Bhopal city.
Bhopal by Air: Bhopal airport is 12 km from the Old City. Regular flights connect Bhopal with Delhi, Gwalior, Indore and Mumbai
Bhopal by Rail: Bhopal is on one of the two main Delhi to Mumbai railway lines. The railway station is near Hamidia road. Major trains going from Bombay to Delhi via Itarsi and Jhansi also go through Bhopal
Bhopal By Road: There are numerous daily buses to Sanchi (46 km), Vidisha, Indore (186 km), Ujjain (188 km) and Jabalpur (295 km).
