Explore the city of Lakes in 2022
Bhopal which is, also known as the city of lakes, is a treasure of culture, heritage, and history. The place is the heart of Madhya Pradesh and is known for its religious tourism, as well.
The mesmerizing view of Bhopal city will keep your strings attached to the place, and you will create many memories. If you are planning a vacation, Bhopal is one of the best places to do so.
Van Vihar National Park
Van Vihar National Park is one of the known places in Bhopal, and it was declared a national park in the year 1979. One of the best things about this place is it is well-maintained, and the animals are kept near the natural habitat; they have the animals who are mostly orphaned but not captured from the forest.
Early in mid 20th century, the place was known for illegal stone things as it has a beautiful & big lake, and at that period of time many were trying to get their hands on the location because of its importance of the place. The national park has categorized the animals into two parts; that are the herbivores and captives. So all the carnivore animals are kept inside a limited area whereas all the herbivore animals are kept in a free area.
You can experience fauna like an Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, Indian wolf, wildcat, sloth bear, red fox, Indian jackal, wild dog, striped hyena, mugger crocodile, snakes like python, and many more. Apart from these carnivores, you can find herbivores animals that include nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, chital, sambar, macaque, common langur, porcupine, and in the ponds you can find star tortoise, turtles, and many different kinds of fishes.
The place is home to many different kinds of avian fauna, and at present, the Van Vihar National Park has around two hundred species of birds. The national park is open from 8 am to 5 pm, and the entry ticket costs Rs 15 for the Indians and Rs 200 for the foreigners.
Bhimbetka Caves
Bhimbetka Caves which is also known as Bhimbetka rock shelters is one of the popular spots in Bhopal. It exists from the time of the Mesolithic and Paleolithic periods and it gives some traces of human life and the stone age.
The place consists of seven hills and more than seven hundred and fifty rock shelters, and in that some of them are from the time of over 100,000 years ago. Few of the caves have cave paintings that show themes like animals, dancing, hunting, and warriors on the horse. The Bhimbetka Cave is the oldest known rock art in the India and largest prehistoric complex as well. It also has fossils that are around hundred of millions of years old, even before the human era.
Among many caves, the Auditorium cave is one of the significant ones which is surrounded by quartzite. The place is located in the Bhojpur Raisen area, which is around 45 km from the capital city, and there is no entry cost.
Raisen Fort
Risen is a city located at a distance of around 40 km from the capital city Bhopal the fort is located in the lap of the city situated on the hilltop, and is counted as one of the oldest forts present in Madhya Pradesh, and that’s why it is tourist spots in Bhopal.
The Raisen fort was built in the eleventh century AD and was considered one of the important places from the time of administration of its foundation in the Hindu times. In the 15th century, the Raisen fort was ruled by the Sultans from Mandu but later it shifted to the Rajputs.
Later in the year 1543, the fort was captured by Shershah Suri from the king Puranmal and while the reign of Emperor Akhbar the place was the headquarters of a Sarkar who belonged to Malwa. The fort has houses as well as a temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also, a shrine dedicated to a Muslim saint known as Hazrat Peer Fatehullah Shah Baba and also it has more than forty wells inside the fort.
You can visit the cave from 10 am to 5 pm, and there are no entry fees for the same. You can also trek to the fort, and it takes around 2 to 3 hours to reach. It is one of the most interesting historic places in Bhopal, and you can enjoy the view from the top and also, interact with the locals and have a look around.
National Museum of Mankind
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalya (IGRMS) which is also known as the National Museum of Mankind, is one of the anthropology museums which is located in the Bhopal region. Anthropology directly deals with the scientific study of human behaviors, cultures, society, human biology, study pattern, and many more.
The museum can provide you with the integrated story of the evolution of man and all the cultures in India. The museum is spread over two hundred acres on the Shyamla Hills. You can access the place via the lake view road and the place also has permanent exhibitions that are categorized into indoor galleries, open exhibitions, and some temporary exhibitions such as traveling exhibitions, special exhibitions, online exhibitions, ongoing exhibitions, and many more.
They also have some open-air exhibitions which are partially developed and that have a coastal village, desert village, tribal habitat, traditional technology park, and Himalayan village, and still, they are working on more. You can visit the museum from 11 am to 6:30 pm and the entry fee costs Rs 10. It is a well-known place for tourism.
Shaukat Mahal
Shaukat Mahal is a known historical landmark in the city of lakes mainly due to its construction and is an architectural marvel. The place is located in the heart of the city and is one of the top-visited places by tourists.
The Shaukat Mahal was constructed in the 1830s as a wedding gift for the first-ever full-fledged female ruler of Bhopal known as Sikander Jehan Begum. The Mahal is an integral part of the royal quadrangle. The architecture is a bit different from the other buildings as it has western elements and also it combines the Gothic styles and Post Renaissance styles all this is because of the designs attributed by the Bourbons Bhopal who is considered the descendants of renowned French kings.
The Mahal is built with a combination of European style and Indian-Islamic styles and especially the roof is adorned by a series of complicated triangular-shaped arches and it is surrounded by lush green gardens. You can visit the Shaukat Mahal from 7 am to 6 pm but the Mahal remains closed on Friday and the entry is free of cost.
Yodhasthal
Yodhasthal is basically an army museum located in the city of lakes Bhopal and the place is known for its exhibition of arms and other things used by the Indian army forces. The museum provides various knowledge about the victories and the war stories of the Indian army.
It also provides the visual experience along with enriching audio which shows all about the experience of the Indian armed forces. The museum displays tanks, artillery guns, and many things that were used before and after independence. The main aim of the place is to create awareness among youngsters to commit to this profession.
The museum has different parts that showcase the brave heroes, and the award winners, and also at the time of sunset you can enjoy the view by the amazing water fountain. It takes around 1 to 2 hours to visit the museum and the museum is functional from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm if you are curious to know about the history of the Indian Army so this is the perfect place to visit. Also, there are no entry fees and you will enjoy your time in the museum.
Taj- Ul- Masjid
Taj–Ul–Masjid is one of the known mosques in Bhopal and it is also the largest mosque in India not only Taj- Ul – Masjid is counted among the largest mosques across the globe. The construction was started by the Nawab Shah Jahan Begum who belonged to Bhopal is around 1871.
In the year 1901, when Nawab Shah Jahan Begum died, her daughter Sultan Jahan Begum continued the construction of the mosque. The structure of the mosque was planned in such a way that exists in the midst of 3 water bodies which are known as the Noor Mahal Talab, Motia Talab, and the Munshi Talab.
At some time the mosque remained incomplete due to a lack of funds but later in the 13th century, it was renovated after receiving a donation from the Emir of Kuwait in the memory of his late wife.
The architecture of the mosque is inspired by the Mughal architecture and it has been topped with 2 eighteen story high octagonal minarets along with marble domes. It is one of the must-visit places in Bhopal enjoy a day at the place of Allah and look around the beauty of the largest mosque in India.
Gohar Mahal
Gohar Mahal is one of the marvels that showcase the unique combination of Mughal and Hindu architecture. The mahal was built by Gohar Begum who was also known as Qudisiya Begum who was the ruler of Bhopal and it was constructed in the year 1821.
The Mahal comprises a spacious hall that gives an amazing view of the beautiful lakes and the interior showcases the cultural heritage it is located on the banks of the upper lake of Bhopal. It is one of the most popular structures in the city and one of the popular tourist destinations.
Tribal Museum
Tribal Museum is located just near the state museum at the Shyamla Hills and it is one of the recognized museums in Bhopal and one of the famous tourist spots as well. Madhya Pradesh is a combination of various art forms, customs, and cultures and that makes it a very unique place where you will get the Hindu influence as well as the Mughal influence and so on.
This tribal museum brings life to the tribal features via full-scale models and many more vibrant installations along with the performances. The museum was built in the year 2013 and it was dedicated to the tribal people belonging to Madhya Pradesh.
The whole museum is divided into six different galleries which showcase the diversity of 7 different tribes that resides in the state that is Bheel, Baiga, Korku, Bhariya, Sahariya, and Kol. Apart from that it also shows the rituals, customs, traditions, and forms of worship the people perform to create awareness about the tribals.
You can also see the circle of life which is the birth, marriage, and death at last, which is very beautifully depicted in the museum.
These are some of the places that you must visit in Bhopal, and don’t forget to enjoy the local street food as Bhopal is the center of amazing and delicious food.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
