| Bhopal, the capital of Madhya
Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, historicity
and modern urban planning. It is situated on the site of a 11th
century city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja Bhoja. The founder of
the existing city was however an Afghan soldier of fortune,
Dost Mohammed. Fleeing from Delhi in the chaotic period that
followed Aurangazeb's death, Dost Mohammed encountered the beautiful
Gond queen Kamalapati, who sort his aid after the murder of
her consort.
A charming legend relates how the queen would recline in
lotus barge, that on moonlit nights, would drift across the
lake. The two lakes of Bhopal still dominate the city, and
are indeed its nucleus. Bordered along their shores stand
silent sentinels that testify to the growth of a city.
Taj-ul-Masjid, This towering edifice is said to be the largest
mosque in the country. The building of this tower was begun
by Shah Jehan Begum (1868-1901) but was incomplete even at
the time of her death. This great queen, Bhopal's eighth ruler,
left many monuments in the city and to her goes the credit
for Bhopal's postal system, railways and waterworks.The most
striking features of the mosque are the impressive main hall
with its inter-arched roof, broad facade, spacious courtyard
and smooth marble floors.
Jama Masjid, Built in 1837, by Kudsia Begum, this is a beautiful
mosque with gold spikes crowning the minarets. It is said
that centuries earlier, a queen of King Upayadita Paramara
(1059-80 AD), grandson of Raja Bhoja, founded a temple here
known as Sabha Mandala in 1184 A. D.
Tribal Habitat, An open air exhibition of tribal house types
located on the Shamla hills, the tribal habitat is a presentation
of actual-size dwellings typical of contemporary tribal cultures
in various states of India. The exhibition highlights architectural
features and has elaborately displayed interiors. The surroundings
have been reconstructed to match some of the interesting environmental
features of tribal villages.
Access by Air :
Regular flights connect Bhopal with Delhi, Gwalior, Indore
and Bombay.
Access by Rail :
Bhopal is on the Delhi-Madras main line. Major trains going
from Bombay to Delhi via Itarsi and Jhansi also go through
Bhopal.
Access by Road :
Regular bus services connect Bhopal with Indore (186 km),
Mandu (285 km), Ujjain (188 km), Khajuraho (383 km), Panchmarhi
(195 km), Gwalior (423 km), Sanchi (46 km), Jabalpur (295
km) and Shivpuri (311 km).
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