Bhopal Tourism (2024) - Madhya Pradesh > Top Places, Travel Guide

Bhopal Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 days

Best Time: July to March Read More

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"City of lakes"

Bhopal Tourism

The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is famous for the pair of artificial lakes (Upper Lake and Lower Lake) that split the city. Towards the north of the lakes lie the intriguing old town with rustic mosques, bustling bazaars, serpentine alleys and exquisite havelis. To its south is the new town with swanky infrastructure, shopping complexes and wide roads. It is this contrast that makes Bhopal an exquisite blend of the old and the new, the past and the present, the rustic and the classy.

Bhopal is replete with majestic mosques which showcase classic Mughal architecture exemplified by the Taj-Ul-Masjid (one of the largest in India, built by the third female ruler Bhopal had, Shah Jahan Begum), and Moti Masjid. The city will catch your attention through its breathtakingly beautiful havelis and museums as well as Nawabi food that is an absolute delight for foodies. Tragically, Bhopal is also a reminiscence of a world's worst industrial disaster in the chemical plant of Union Carbide that was responsible for at least 8000 deaths from the explosion alone.

Upper Lake

Van Vihar, Bhopal

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya

Lower Lake

Bhimbetka Rock Shelters

Gohar Mahal

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Bhopal Travel Packages

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4 Days / 3 Nights

Bhopal Sightseeing Package with Pachmarhi

Bhopal(2N) → Pachmarhi(1N)

$130/person

6 Days / 5 Nights

Best Of Madhya Pradesh: Panchmarhi, Bhopal, Sanchi

Bhopal(2N) → Pachmarhi(3N)

$210/person

7 Days / 6 Nights

Madhya Pradesh Heritage Tour

Gwalior(1N) → Khajuraho(2N) → Orchha(1N) → Chanderi(1N) → Bhopal(1N)

$361/person

8 Days / 7 Nights

Madhya Pradesh Heritage with Ujjain Simhastha &...

Jhansi(0N) → Orchha(1N) → Khajuraho(2N) → Indore(2N) → Ujjain(1N) → Bhopal(1N)

$ 298

17% off

$246/person

4 Days / 3 Nights

Allure of Bhopal

Bhopal(3N)

$79/person

3 Days / 2 Nights

Simply Bhopal

Bhopal(2N)

$ 88

11% off

$78/person

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Culture of Bhopal

Bhopal is known for its culture and tradition. The city has a mixture of Hindu-Muslim art styles which brings a special feel to the city. Hindi, Urdu and English languages are spoken and understood throughout the place. The food in Bhopal is delicious, not very spicy and hence is liked by many. The Bhopali Gosht Korma is a must-try here. The city is also home to Bharat Bhavan, which celebrates and hosts cultural events like tribal dances, folk songs and other programs. When it comes to music, three predominant types be traced here. They are Tribal, Countryside and Bhakti Cult which are adapted from the surrounding areas of Bhopal. This place is a true haven for art, culture and tradition.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is known as the world’s worst industrial disaster. A pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide accidentally exposed 42 tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas to almost 500,000 people. People woke up with a burning sensation in their lungs, and some people died instantly after being exposed to the gas. The immediate deaths caused by the gas was 2,259 and more 8000 deaths were reported a week after the incident took place. An additional 8000 people later died due to complications with gas.

History of Bhopal

Known as Bhojpal in the 11th century, Bhopal was ruled by Parmara King Bhojpal. He was said to have built many lakes that surround the city today. This city was improved upon by Dost Mohammed Khan, who established rule upon this city after the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. Bhopal is known for its culture, arts and architecture which was polished upon during the reign of the Begums.

In the 19th century, Bhopal came to be ruled by Muslim women which led the city to great prosperity. Mamola Bai, they first Begum, looked after the administration of the city after her husband's death. She was then succeeded by Qudsia Begum who took over after her husband was assassinated. Her daughter, Sikander ruled the kingdom after her. During this reign of the Begums, there was peace in the kingdom which gave rise to a mixed culture in Bhopal where people observing different religious existed in harmony. Arts, culture, education and architecture flourished which made Bhopal into the beautiful city that it is today.

Restaurants and Local Food in Bhopal

Bhopal fosters a cuisine where much of culture, styles and elements blend to give the visitors a rich and delicious platter to relish. Bhopal has a Muslim influence over many of its sphere and food too, is not left untouched by this influence. Hence, Bhopal houses some of the richest and elaborate delicacies like Biryani, Kebabs, Chicken Tikka, Korma, Rogan Josh and lots more. Other than these Mughlai flavours, the sweet, sour and spicy chaat of this city is very famous and so is the traditional Dal Bafla. Also, do not miss the popular items like Lassi, Sugarcane Juice and Bhopali Paan (Betel leaf).

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Suggested Itinerary for Bhopal

Day 1 - Reach Bhopal in the morning. Freshen up and head towards the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Alternatively, you can also head towards the Upper Lake. Post this, you can visit the magnificent Taj-Ul-Masjid along with along with Jama Masjid. If you are interested in artefacts and antique collections, the museum is your place to go. Later in the evening, you can shop at the local bazaars.
Day 2 - Visit the Van Vihar National Park early in the morning. You can catch glimpses of a variety of animals in their natural habitat. Do not forget to carry necessities like a torch, scarves/caps, water bottles, etc. Later, you can head towards the Shaukat Mahal and the Birla Mahal. Spend your evening at the banks of the Lower Lake and the adjacent royal gardens.
Day 3 - Located around 45 km from the city of Bhopal, the Bhimbetka caves are a must-visit for people who find solace in the ruins of history. The caves house one of the oldest paintings in the world. The nearby Shiva temple is the largest in India.

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How to Reach Bhopal

How to Reach Overview

Bhopal being the capital city of Madhya Pradesh has it's own airport and a railway station which connects it to all major cities of the country. It also has very efficient bus and cab services which can be particularly helpful while travelling to places near Bhopal.

How to reach Bhopal by flight

Bhopal has its own Airport, the Raja Bhoj International Airport, where regular flights operate to various cities of the country. The airport is about 15km away from the city.

How to reach Bhopal by road

Bhopal is easily accessible through an excellent system of roadways and highways. NH12 and NH 86 run through Bhopal.

How to reach Bhopal by train

Bhopal Junction falls under the west-central zone of India railways. The city is well connected to all major railway stations in the country.

Local transport in Bhopal

The local auto-rickshaws, buses and cab services facilitate travelling locally in Bhopal.

Most frequently searched routes to Bhopal

Route Name	Distance	Time	More Information
Delhi to Bhopal	822 km	13 hours 21 mins	View Details
Mumbai to Bhopal	775 km	12 hours 22 mins	View Details
Kolkata to Bhopal	1,380 km	1 day 2 hours	View Details
Hyderabad to Bhopal	850 km	14 hours 50 mins	View Details
Chandigarh to Bhopal	1,050 km	16 hours 40 mins	View Details
Jaipur to Bhopal	607 km	11 hours 45 mins	View Details

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What are the things to do in Bhopal?

The top things to do in Bhopal are Upper lake, Van Vihar, Bhopal, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Lower Lake, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Gohar Mahal. You can see all the places to visit in Bhopal here

What are the places near Bhopal?

The top places near to Bhopal are Bhimbetka which is 41 km from Bhopal, Sanchi which is located 41 km from Bhopal, Udayagiri caves which is located 47 km from Bhopal, Pachmarhi which is located 136 km from Bhopal, Agra which is located 439 km from Bhopal

How much does a package cost for Bhopal?

The packages for Bhopal start at INR 6500 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the best way to reach Bhopal?

What is the local food in Bhopal?

What is the best time to visit Bhopal?

The best time to visit Bhopal is during the winter months of October to March. The weather is an ideal one for exploring the experiencing the rich flavours of the grand city. July-September is the second best time to visit the city.
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Who should visit Bhopal?

Ideal for family vacations, couples, and weekend getaways for people living in and around Madhya Pradesh.

What is not so good about Bhopal?

Gets slightly overcrowded in the peak season.

What is famous about Bhopal?

Beautiful destination. Mesmerising lakes and palaces.

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Bhopal Reviews

Your rating

mayukh chakraborty

3 years ago

very bad, badbu very good naalas very good so many naalas very bad khana 5 rupee ke petrol me se dhaal se gaadi uttar jati hai 7 hr. se jada bhopal ghumna hanikarak hai Danger!!! Danger!!!

Swati Zope

4 years ago

its such a beautiful,smart city to live and work .it has international airport, world class railway station,metro,malls,coaching hub of iit,medical,upsc,railways,cat,clat. malls,shopping market ,indu (Read More)stries ,lakes rivers,hills,and kanha national park ,international schools,aiims,smart roads with wifi connectivity,gardens, and much more .

Rutvi Saxena

6 years ago

When visiting Bhopal, do not miss dropping by the Museum of Mankind. The museum houses various open and indoor galleries, which have life-size replicas of tribal residence and communities. The materi (Read More)als they use have been transported all the way there and provides for a completely immersive perspective into tribal lives. The little souvenirs sold at affordable rates-handmade earrings, moulded stick figures, paintings-all of them will add a unique touch to your home. If the weather is pleasant, a trip to Van Vihar will give you a glimpse of some of the most colourful birds in India, in addition to the leopards and lions. The traffic isn't too bad, and if you're on a long trip, a visit to Bhimbetka Caves and Sanchi Stupa are an absolute must! They're some of the most fascinating monuments the country has to offer (Paleolithic carvings and Buddhist sculpture), and if you really start missing your Metropolitan hometown, find recourse in DB Mall; the youth of Bhopal throngs there, but it makes for some good old shopping experience.

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Bhopal

Top Hotel Collections

Bhopal Travel Essentials

"City of lakes"

Bhopal Tourism

Places To Visit In Bhopal

Bhopal Travel Packages

Bhopal Sightseeing Package with Pachmarhi

Best Of Madhya Pradesh: Panchmarhi, Bhopal, Sanchi

Madhya Pradesh Heritage Tour

Madhya Pradesh Heritage with Ujjain Simhastha &...

Allure of Bhopal

Simply Bhopal

Top Hotels In Bhopal

More on Bhopal Travel

Culture of Bhopal

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

History of Bhopal

Restaurants and Local Food in Bhopal

Suggested Itinerary for Bhopal

Best Time to Visit Bhopal

Top Stories about Bhopal Tourism

Nearby Places

How to Reach Bhopal

How to Reach Overview

How to reach Bhopal by flight

How to reach Bhopal by road

How to reach Bhopal by train

Local transport in Bhopal

Most frequently searched routes to Bhopal

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Bhopal Photos

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What are the things to do in Bhopal?

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How much does a package cost for Bhopal?

What is the best way to reach Bhopal?

What is the local food in Bhopal?

What is the best time to visit Bhopal?

Who should visit Bhopal?

What is not so good about Bhopal?

What is famous about Bhopal?

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