|
Quick Getaways in Bhopal
Islamnagar - Located
11 km away on the Bhopal-Berasia Road, past the infamous
Union Carbide Factory (the poisonous gas leakage causing
the worst industrial disaster in 1984), Islamnagar
is a small village known for the palace of Bhopal's
Afghan rulers built by Dost Mohammed Khan. Gardens
surround the palace and the pavilion. The pavilion,
a fusion of Hindu and Islamic ornamental art, has
pillars richly done with floral motifs. Other important
monuments are the hamam (baths) of the Chaman
Mahal and the double-storeyed Rani Mahal.
Bhojpur -
Located 28 Kms from Bhopal, Bhojpur is well-known
for the magnificent 11th century Shiva temple, Bhojeshwar
Mandir and the lake constructed by the legendary
Parmar King of Dhar, Raja Bhoj (1010-1053). The huge
Shiva Lingam in the temple carved out of
a single rock over a three tiered square sandstone
platform, is the largest in India. The Lingam is 7.5
ft tall and almost 21.5 mt in circumference. The temple
is a simple square with a richly carved dome supported
by four pillars guarded by two ornamental figures
at the entrance. There is a simple Jain shrine nearby
which has a 6m high black statue of a Thirthankara
along two smaller ones. A very colourful and big mela
is organised here on the occasion of the festival
Maha Shivratri.
Sanchi
- Sanchi, 46 kilometers from Bhopal,
located on an isolated hill crowned by a group
of Stupas from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th
century A.D., occupies an unmatched place in
Buddhist history. Its Stupas, Chaityas, Temples,
Monasteries, and gateways embroidered by delicate
carvings depict the Buddha's life and teachings.
To Buddhists all over the world, Sanchi is almost
as holy a spot as Bodh Gaya or Sarnath. On Buddha
Purnima (full moon), which usually falls in
April/May according to the lunar calendar, Buddhists
from many countries all over the
world come to Sanchi to celebrate
the triple |
|
anniversary
of Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenments and
Parinirvana.
Bhimbetka - Bhimbhetka
based on the northern fringe of Vindhya Mountain
ranges is a major tourist attraction 46 kms
from Bhopal. This place has South Asia's richest
collection of prehistoric paintings and other
archeological discoveries. The paintings in
over 500 caves depict the life of the prehistoric
cave dwellers and a smaller number have evidences
of Stone Age habitation. The oldest paintings
are believed to be up to 1200 years old. Executed
mainly in red and white with the special use
of green and yellow, the scenes usually depict
hunting, dancing, music, horse and elephant
riders, animals fighting, honey collection,
decoration of bodies, disguises, masking and
household scenes. Animals such as bison’s,
tigers, lions, wild boar, elephants, antelopes,
dogs, lizards, crocodiles etc, have been abundantly
depicted in some caves. Popular religious and
ritual symbols also occur frequently. |
|
Udaygiri - Five kilometers from Vidisha
are located the Udaygiri Caves, carved into
the side at a sandstone hill. The caves date
from A.D. 320 to 606. An inscription in one
of these caves suggests that it was carved out
during the reign of Chandragupta II (A.D. 382-401).
Of the 20 Gupta caves, two are Jain and the
remaining 18 Hindu. One can have a look at an
image of Vishnu in his boar incarnation in Cave
number 5. |
Events in Bhopal
A three-day Ijtima (religious congregation)
is held in the grounds of the Taj-ul-Masjid annually.
It draws scores at Muslim pilgrims from all parts
of India.
Every
year in January/February, the villages of the Manav
Sangrahalaya comes alive with the potters' workshops,
folk music and dance, and open-air plays. It provides
an opportunity for the tribals at the region to demonstrate
their skills in painting, weaving, and the fashioning
of bell metal into exquisite works of art.
Getting
There & Away to Bhopal
 |
Bhopal
airport is 12 kilometers from the Old City.
Regular flights operate daily to Delhi, Mumbai,
and Indore. |
 |
Bhopal is
an important railway station as it is situated
on the main Delhi-Chennai route. The station
is near Hamidia Road. Bhopal is well linked
to Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi, and
Ujjain. |
 |
Tourist
places like Sanchi, Indore, Ujjain, Panchmari
and Jabalpur, and Khajuraho are easily accessible
from Bhopal by the road network. |
Getting Around
There are no metered taxis. However, tourist taxis
are available at the airport and at hotel travel desks,
or you can hire cars from travel agencies. The common
modes of transport are auto-rickshaws and tourist
cars and jeeps which are available on hire.
|