One of the greenest cities in India, also known as the city of lakes due to its various natural and artificial lakes and, the city offers an amazing unique cultural experience. It is home to the largest mosque in India and one of the largest mosques in the world. Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh state of central India, founded by famous Raja Bhoj, the history of royal city dates back to the 11th century and the present city established by an Afghan soldier, Dost Mohammed, in the 18th century. Interestingly, unlike any other princely state in Indian history, Bhopal was ruled by four Bagums (women rulers) and popular as ‘Bagum Bhopal’, each being the first-born daughter of the former queen. With its stunning heritage sites and numerous cultural hubs, the green city of Bhopal still bears the stamp of the Bagums of Bhopal who ruled the city for long time. Its’ two lakes are divided from each other by an over-bridge. The Upper Lake (also known as Bada Talaab) is the bigger of the two, and was built in the 11th century by Raja Bhoj. The Lower Lake is located in the old part of the city, and was built by Nawab Chhote Khan in 1794. Taj-ul-Masajid ‘Crown of Mosques’ considered one of the largest mosques in the world, this grand mosque built by Shah Jehan Begum, the eighth ruler of the place and Bhopal’s third female ruler. The excellent example of Indo-Islamic architecture and art, a pink facade, tall minarets, arched roofs, three huge domes, marble flooring, massive pillars, ornate ceilings and a huge central hallway. With an interior area of about 430,000 square feet, the mosque has capacity of 175,000 people.

There is enough to see and do around this unique city being the capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh also called the ‘heart of India’ rich in tourism, heritage and wild-life. The state houses to four UNESCO world heritage sites, Sanchi town located just around 40 km from Bhopal; the UNESCO world heritage site contains some of the finest examples of ancient Buddhist architecture, famous for its Great Stupa, the ancient site was built by the great Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Another ancient town Bhimbetka, just around 44 km from Bhopal; the UNESCO world heritage site contains a cluster of 14 rock shelters which house some of the best prehistoric rock art in the world. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times. Bhimbetka rock art is considered oldest petroglyphs in the world, some of these similar to aboriginal rock art in Australia and the Palaeolithic Lascaux cave paintings in France. Of the 750 rock shelters, only 12 to 15 are open to visitors.