Jaded with the concrete jungles which hound your every waking moment? Want an escape into a world which promises a picturesque setting around two magnificent lakes and gently rolling hills? Take the first train or the flight out and head straight for Madhya Pradesh's capital city Bhopal, which truly epitomizes all this and more. Situated on gently rolling hills, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh is truly modern, yet has managed to retain its quaint old worldly charm. It, truly carries itself with grace and is constantly surprising its visitors, a place where bustling markets and lush green gardens beckons you to forget your worries and enjoy the warm smiles and the simple life of Bhopal. Truly, a tourist’s delight with its old mosques, palaces, lakes and gardens, Bhopal has managed to retain a clean, green look which is sadly not evident in most metropolitan cities in India.

History

The city is named after the 10th century king Raja Bhoja, who not only founded the city, but also built the Upper Lake. The foundation of modern Bhopal was however laid by Afghan governor Dost Mohammed Khan in 1723. The city also takes pride in its 100-year rule of begums. Lacking a suitable male heir, the royal ladies took charge and administered the kingdom with great ease and expertise for nearly a century. The most popular among them were Sikander Begum (1857-1901) and Shah Jahan Begum (1901-1926), the latter embellishing the city with magnificent monuments.
Following Independence, the princely state acceded to the Indian Union and was made the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Disaster struck Bhopal in 1984 when the killer gas methyl isocyanate accidentally leaked from the Union Carbide factory, choking the city, killing thousands and leaving many more with permanent disabilities. Only recently has the city managed to forget that terrible night and get back to business as usual.