History of Bhopal

The history of Bhopal dates back to the 11th century AD, when the legendary King Bhoja built it. The region witnessed a power struggle between local rulers and the Mughals, with eventually the Mughals taking over. The decline of the Mughal Empire with the death of Aurangzeb (AD 1707) led to political turmoil in this region. The founding of the existing city was after the death of Aurangazeb in 1723 by an Afghan soldier, Dost Mohammed. Fleeing from Delhi in the chaotic period that followed Aurangzeb's death, Dost Mohammad met the Gond queen Kamlapati, who sought his aid after the murder of her consort. A charming legend relates how the queen would recline in a 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. Bhopal aligned itself with the British, in their fight against the Marathas, in 1817. At the time of India's independence in 1947, Bhopal remained a separate state until 1949, when it acceded to India.

Tourist Attractions In Bhopal : 

Laxmi Narayan Temple :

Also known as the Birla Mandir, the Laxmi Narayan Temple is situated to the south of the Lower Lake on the Arera Hills. Near the Temple is located a museum that houses a collection of sculptures from the districts at Raisen, Sehore, Mandsaur, and Shahdol in of Madhya Pradesh. The stone sculptures here are mainly of Shiva, Vishnu, and their respective consorts and incarnations.

Moti Masjid :

Built by Qudsia Begum's daughter Sikander Jahan Begum in 1860 A.D., the Moti Masjid is similar in style to Delhi's Jama Masjid. The mosque is smaller in size than the Jama Masjid, and has two dark red minarets crowned by golden spikes.

Taj-ul Masjid :

The Taj-ul Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. The construction of this mosque was started by Shah Jahan Begum during her reign (1868 A.D. to 1901 A.D.), but it was never completed in her lifetime. It was only with the intervention of the Government of India in 1971 that the construction of the mosque was completed. Today, this huge pink mosque with two massive white-domed minarets is used as a madarsa (religious school). A three-day annual Ijtima congregation held here draws scores of people from all over the country.

Shaukat Mahal :

In the heart of the walled city in Bhopal, at the entrance to the Chowk area, lies the Shaukat Mahal. The building evokes archaeological interest as it is built in an European style, thereby setting it apart from the predominantly Islamic architecture of the area.

Sadar Manzil :

Near the Shaukat Mahal lies the elegant Sadar Manzil. It used to be the hall of public audience of the former rulers of Bhopal.

Upper and Lower Lakes :

Covering an area of about 6 square kilometers, the Upper Lake is separated from the Lower Lake by an overbridge. You can hire motorboats for exciting trips on the Upper Lake. Adjacent to the Lake is the zoo called Van Vihar, where you can have a look at the tigers, leopards, lions, and bears, among other animals. Near the Lower Lake, you can visit an aquarium. This fish-shaped aquarium houses a number of fascinating species of fish.

Bharat Bhavan Bhopal : 

The Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal has four distinct halls dedicated to different arts. There is Rang Mandal, dedicated for theatre and sustained theatre movements. The indoor theatre is called Antrang while the outdoor theatre is known as the Bahirang. The hall for classical music called the Vagarth. The Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal also has a library for poetry and for the lovers of verses called the Vagarth which has a collection of more than 7000 books of poetry in different Indian languagesThere is also an open air auditorium within the Bharat Bhavan complex. . The museum of art at Bharat Bhavan is known as Roopankar. The Roopankar has two sections, one displaying contemporary Indian art and sculpture while the other section has an amazing collection of tribal and art folk. Anhad is the Library of Classical and Folk Music while the Ashram is the Residence for the guest artists.