Bhopal is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Bhopal District and Bhopal Division. Bhopal is the second largest city in Madhya Pradesh after Indore. Bhopal is known as the City of Lakes as its landscape is dotted with a number of natural as well as man made lakes. Historically, Bhopal was also the name of a Muslim princely state in central India.
Bhopal is said to have been founded by the Parmara King Bhoj (1000–1055), who had his capital at Dhar. The city was originally known as Bhojpal named after Bhoj and the dam ('pal') that he is said to have constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal. The fortunes of Bhopal rose and fell with that of its reigning dynasty. As the Parmaras declined in power, the city was ransacked several times and finally faded away into obscurity.
An Afghan soldier called Dost Mohammad Khan (not to be confused with the later
Afghan King carrying the same name) laid out the present city at the same site
following the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. He brought with
himself the Islamic influence on the culture and architecture of Bhopal, the ruins of
which can be found at Islam Nagar. Bhopal, the second largest Muslim state in pre-
independence India was ruled by four Begums from 1819 to 1926. Qudisa Begum
was the first female ruler of Bhopal, who was succeeded by her only daughter
Sikandar, who in turn was succeeded by her only daughter, Shahjehan. Kaikhusrau
Jahan Begum was the last female ruler, and stepped down to her son. The
succession of the ‘Begums’ gave the city such innovations as waterworks, railways
and a postal system. Several monuments still stand in the city as reminders of this
glorious period in its history.
HOW TO REACH
Air - Indian Airlines runs regular air service linking Bhopal with New Delhi and Mumbai. Jet Airways and Air Deccan also has daily flights to Bhopal.
Rail - Bhopal is very well connected by rail and is a major hub and exchange
railway station for the Central and Western Railway networks. Bhopal has two main
railway stations - Bhopal Railway Station in old Bhopal or Habibgunj Railway Station
in New Bhopal. Shatabdi express running between Delhi and Bhopal provides an
excellent and convenient means to get here. Apart from this, regular multiple trains
connect Bhopal to all the major metros in India. Book your tickets on Indian Railways
website
Road - Bhopal is also well connected to the major metros in India through many
national highways.
