Top Things to do In Bhopal

Top Things to do In Bhopal

1. Laxmi Narayan Temple
The Laxmi Narayan Temple erected by industrialist Birla is located to the south of the Lower Lake on the Arera Hills. Close to the temple is a museum that is the repository of sculptures from the districts of Raisen, Sehore, Mandsaur, and Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. There are stone sculptures mostly of Shiva, Vishnu, and their respective consorts and incarnations.

2. Bharat Bhawan
Bharat Bhawan, located in Bhopal, a unique national institute, was designed by the legendary architect Charles Correa for performing visual arts. The contours of Bharat Bhawan harmoniously merge with the landscape around to create an eye candy for the onlookers. The centre also has a museum of arts, an art gallery, workshop for fine arts, indoor and outdoor auditoriums.

3. Bhimbetka Paintings
Bhimbetka, 46 km south of Bhopal, is rocky terrain of dense forest and craggy cliffs, and over 600 rock shelters belonging to the Neolithic age were recently discovered. It is surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhyan ranges. Paintings over 500 caves depict the life of the pre-historic cave dwellers making the Bhimbetka group an archaeological treasure, an invaluable chronicle in the history of man.

4. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya spreads over 200 acres of land on the Shamla Hills. This museum exhibits a miniature presentation of Indian folk ways by displaying eco-specific habitations and subsistence practices of the tribal, coastal, desert, and Himalayan habitats. The museum’s library has one of the world’s best audio-visual collections of ethnographic specimens.

5. Government Archaeological Museum
The Government Archaeological Museum an eyedrawing tourist attraction of Bhopal. The museum houses a fine collection of sculptures from various parts of Madhya Pradesh. One can also find the collection of rare paintings of Bagh caves and the statues of Alakshmi and the Buddha.

6. Love at Brindaban
Brindaban Garden is one of the most beautiful parks in Bhopal. It has access to a well landscaped walk way with a fantastic lake view. This park is frequented by families, young romantic couples, tourists, college students, joggers seeking exercise and single men and women searching for new for lovers.

7. Moti Masjid
The fabulous Moti Masjid was built by Qudsia Begum's daughter Sikander Jahan in the year 1860 A.D. and is identical in style to the Jama Masjid of Delhi. The two dark red minarets covered by golden spikes add to the grandeur of this beautiful masjid.

8. Taj-ul Masjid
The Taj-ul-Masajid is one of the largest mosques in Asia, built by Nawab Shahjehan Begum around a courtyard with a large tank in the center and with an imposing double storeyed gateway with 4 recessed archways and 9 imposing cusped multifold openings in the main prayer hall. The mimber is made of black basalt. Construction of the mosque was completed in the year 1971 by the efforts of the Government of India.
This huge pink mosque featuring two stupendous white-domed minarets is used as a school for religious teachings. The religious ceremony called Ijtima is held here each and every year that attracts numerous tourists from all parts of India.

9. Sanchi
Sanchi is known for its monasteries, temples, stupas, and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The Sanchi Stupa 1 was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism.

10. Uday Giri
The Udaygiri Caves is just five kilometres from Vidisha, and is cut into a sandstone hill. The caves date back to 320 A.D. On the top of the hill are the ruins of the 6th-century Gupta temple. From an inscription, we come to know that, it was produced during the reign of Chandragupta II. Of the twenty Gupta caves, two are Jain and eighteen are Hindu. An image of Vishnu in his boar incarnation is visible in the Cave 5.

11. Van Vihar
Van Vihar is a safari theme park situated on a hill bordering the Upper Lake covering an area of 445 acres. Watching wildlife in its natural surroundings will provide a heavenly experience especially to the city dwellers. One can view a variety of herbivorous and carnivorous species.

12. Sadar Manzil
The Sadar Manzil is a red-bricked edifice of the princely period. It is situated in the Chowk area which was used as a public hall for public gatherings and shows. The area around the hall is full of lush greenery add elegance and serenity to the atmosphere. It is situated close to Gohar Mahal and is a popular sightseeing attraction for tourists coming to Bhopal. One just cannot afford to miss out the glory of Bhopal.

13. City of Lakes
Bhopal is called as 'City of Lakes' because of Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake. Sprawling over an area of about 6 square kilometers, the Upper Lake is divided from the Lower Lake by an overbridge. A boat trip is a perfect fun way to get there. The fish-shaped aquarium housing a number of enthralling species of fish, is situated near the Lower lake.

14. Pachmarhi
The most acknowledged jewel of MP, Pachmarhi, is a place where nature has found exquisite expression in myriad enchanting ways. Green shades embrace the mountains, and everywhere is heard the gentle murmur of flowing water. Bridle paths lead into tranquil forest glades, groves of wild bamboo and jamun, dense sal forests and delicate bamboo thickets.

15. Bhojpur
Founded by the legendary Parmar King of Dhar, Raja Bhoj, Bhojpur, is around 28 km from Bhopal, and is renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva temple that draws thousands of devotees and tourists from far, all year long. Temple's structure towers to a height of sixty-six feet. The dome is supported by four richly carved pillars.The temple is known as the Bhojeshwar Temple.
Cyclopean Dam was considered to be a marvel during olden times, the great dam now lay in ruins on the western side of Bhojpur. The dam was built on a vast lake which is no more there. The construction of the dams was done without using mortar. The dams held up water of about 250 square miles.

16. Designer Shopping
Bhopal makes famous beaded purses with draw strings or batuas. The old quarter of Bhopal is famous for traditional crafts such as embroidery, zardozi work, bridal wear and tailored sherwanis.  A traditional Bhopali paan, will add to your taste if you have it at the place where some recipes of which have been handed down from generation to generation.

- By Sunil R Yadav

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