Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and is noted for its artificial lakes, which is why it is called the City of Lakes. There are many educational institutions and corporate organizations located in this place which have increased the importance of the city. It became world famous after the Bhopal disaster in 1984. The lethal gas release from the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide factory claimed the lives of thousands of people. This is one of the worst industrial disasters in the world.
Bhopal has cool, dry winters and hot summers. The city’s humidity level remains high throughout the year. There are two beautiful large lakes in the city, the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake, which together are called the Bhoj Wetland. Van Vihar National Park on Upper Lake attracts many tourists.
Visitors could reach Bhopal by air at Raja Bhoj Airport located on the outskirts of the city. It is well connected to major Indian cities. The four-lane highway connects the airport with the main city. The Bhopal Railway is one of the most developed in the country, with the Bhopal Junction Railway Station being the most prominent. There are other small railway stations here namely Habibganj railway station, Misrod railway station, Mandideep railway station, Sukhsewanagar and Bairagarh. NH 12 and NH 86 pass through Bhopal, connecting it with neighboring major cities. The Interstate Bus Terminal near Habibganj Station and the Kushabhau Thakre Interstate Bus Terminal are the two major bus stations here.
Bhopal is notable for some religious places like Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Kalighat, Gufa Mandi and Mahavir Giri. Regional Science Center, Manav Sanghralay, Kerwa Dam, Van Vihar National Park, Shahpura Lake, Lal Parade Ground are some of the places of interest in Bhopal. One of the main cultural centers of the city is Bharat Bhavan and it has an art gallery and an outdoor amphitheater. It is situated directly across from Lake Superior and is also home to a tribal museum. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Bhopal.
Bhopal cuisine is mild and less spicy and has its own flavor. Some of the varieties are Bhopali Murgh Rezala, Paneer Rezala, Murgh Hara Masala Rice and Murgh Nizami. Chewing paan is one of the culture of the city and many paan shops are seen around. Other delicacies from this land are chicken tikka, ras malai and kebabs. There are many restaurants in Bhopal that serve delicious non-vegetarian dishes. There are also restaurants in town serving continental, Indo-Chinese and American varieties.
In addition to budget hotels and star hotels, there are some great heritage hotels in Bhopal where Mughal-era palaces and residences have been converted into modern hotels. The Jehan Numa Palace hotel and the Noor Us Sabah hotel are some notable examples of this type. They have a very limited number of rooms but they will give you an aristocratic atmosphere. So trust a good Bhopal travel guide to select the best hotels and restaurants in Bhopal.
