BHOPAL WITH SANCHI

At a distance of 6 km from Bhopal Junction, Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Bhopal, and among the must-visit places during Bhopal Trip.

Built atop the striking Arera Hills, the famous Birla Temple was built as a tribute to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. It was erected by the famous industrial family - the Birla Group and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The temple is spread over 7.5 acres and is adorned with well-maintained lawns, gardens, fountains, and sculptures. Apart from Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, this temple also houses a beautiful shrine of Lord Shiva, with his wife Parvathi.

It is one of the oldest and well-maintained temples in Bhopal. The grand temple attracts thousands of devotees during the festivities of Janmashtami and Diwali. Surrounded by greenery and an ancient charm, the temple not only provides a spiritual experience but also a panoramic .....

At a distance of 8 km from Bhopal Junction, State Museum Bhopal is an archaeological museum located on Shyamla Hills in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated opposite to Regional Science Centre, it is one of the popular museums in Madhya Pradesh, and among the prominent places to visit in Bhopal.

The State Museum was established as Edward Museum in 1909 AD by the rule of Bhopal state and governed with the name of Ajayabghar in the present central library building. After the formation of Madhya Pradesh state, the museum was shifted to the building at Banganga road and was called as Bhopal Museum. In 2005, the State Museum, Bhopal was inaugurated in a new form in a newly constructed building and is one of the beautiful specimens of architecture.

This museum contains outstanding art pieces & rare antiquities that showcase the rich cultural heritage and historical tales of Madhya Pradesh. The museum comprises 17 galleries on various subjects include thematic gallery, pre-history & .....

At a distance of 8 km from Bhopal Junction, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum is a museum located at Shyamla Hills in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated just beside State Museum, it is one of the popular museums in Madhya Pradesh, and among the prominent Bhopal Tourist Places.

The cultural tapestry of Madhya Pradesh is woven with varied art, craft, architecture, and customs as it is home to several tribal communities such as the Gonds, Baigas, and Bhariyas. The Tribal Museum in Bhopal brings to life the culture of these tribes through full-scale models and colorful art installations and performances. Established in 2013, the museum was created and dedicated to the tribal people of Madhya Pradesh.

Spread across 7 acres of land, the museum is divided into 6 colorful galleries showing the diversity of the seven tribes of the state - the Bheel, Gond, Korku, Baiga, Sahariya, Bhariya, and Kol. The artistic displays are mesmerizing as it creates awareness about the tribal rituals, customs, .....

At a distance of 8 km from Bhopal Junction, Van Vihar National Park is a national park located in the beautiful city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the banks of Upper Lake, it is one of the popular parks in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must-visit places as part of Bhopal Packages.

Declared a national park in 1979, Van Vihar covers an area of about 4.45 sq. km. It has the status of a national park but is developed and managed as a modern zoological park, following the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. The animals here are kept closest to their natural habitats, making it a haven for people who love nature. Most of the animals here are either orphaned and brought from various parts of the state or exchanged from other zoos. The park is unique because visitors access it from a road through the park, and security of animals assured from poachers by building trenches and walls, chain-link fence.

Van Vihar National Park categorizes animals into 2 categories, i.e., .....

At a distance of 7 km from Bhopal Junction, Upper Lake is an artificial lake situated in the heart of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Locally known as 'Bada Talaab', it is the oldest man-made lake in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must include places in Bhopal Tour Packages.

Bhopal holds several lakes hence the city is widely known as the city of lakes. Of these, the Upper Lake is the most significant one that lies on the west of Bhopal. Also referred to as Bhojtal, the Upper Lake was created by Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty in the 11th century CE. According to the folklore, once king Bhoj suffered from a skin disease and all Vaidyas failed to cure him. Then, one day a saint told him to build a tank to combine 365 tributaries and take a bath in it to get cured of the skin disease. The king got his engineers to work on the same, with some help from Gond Commander Kalia, who gave him the address of a secret river to bring the total number of rivers to 365. And that was how the Upper Lake .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Sanchi Stupa or the Great Stupa is a Buddhist monument located inside the historic site of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. Situated atop a small hillock, it is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in India, and among the must include places in Sanchi tour Packages.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989, the Great Stupa is the largest stupa as well as the most noteworthy of the structures at the historic site of Sanchi and counted among the best conserved ancient Stupas of central India. Also called Stupa No. 1, the Sanchi Stupa was originally built in the 3rd century BCE by the Mauryan king Ashoka and is believed to house the ashes of the Buddha and his disciples. The stupa was originally a low structure of brick, half the diameter of the present edifice hemispherical in shape with raised terraces at the base. It was damaged in the 2nd century BCE during the rule of Shunga Emperor Pushyamitra Shunga and later his son Agnimitra .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Ashoka Pillar is one of the pillars built by Ashoka. Situated close to the Southern gateway of the Great Stupa in Sanchi, it is one of the must-visit places as part of Sanchi Packages.

Known for its aesthetic proportions and exquisite structural balance, Ashoka Pillar is one of the most popular attractions in Sanchi. The Pillar erected in the 3rd century BC consists of a shaft and a crown of four lions that stand back to back. It is rather unfortunate but the total Ashoka Pillar does not stand here now. The shaft of the pillar can only be seen at the gateway and the crown has been kept in the Sanchi Museum. The figure of these lions was later adopted as the National Emblem of India.

The structure of the pillar is influenced by the Greco Buddhist style. It also resembles the Sarnath pillar a The sandstone out of which the pillar is carved came from the quarries of Chunar. The pillar is 42 feet tall and consisted of a round .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Sanchi Stupa 3 or Stupa No.3 is a Buddhist stupa located in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the Buddhist monuments in the historic site of Sanchi and among the top Sanchi tourist places.

Stupa 3 is located just 100 m north of the Great Stupa, and in the 2nd century BC during the time of the Shunga rule complete with the staircase and the balustrade. As the diameter of its pedestal is about 15m, its scale is nearly the same as Stupa 2 as a whole. It is similar in design to the Great Stupa, though smaller, with a single, rather fine gateway. However, the outer wall has been lost and there remains no more than the South Torana among those of the four cardinal points at present.

The Stupa 3 has a crown on the hemispherical dome which has special religious importance. It has an umbrella made of polished stone. The single torana gateway oriented to the south is not Shunga and was built later under the Satavahanas, probably .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Great Bowl & Buddhist Monasteries are among the ancient ruins within the historical site of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the way to Stupa No.2, it is one of the must include places in Sanchi Tour Packages.

Amongst the various historical monuments which stand tall in Sanchi after centuries of being constructed, the Great Bowl or the Grand Gumbha is a monolithic stone bowl carved from a single huge rock that collected offerings monks received in the Ashokan Era. The Sanchi group of monuments used to house monasteries for a great number of Buddhist monks. At day-end, all the food offerings collected by them used to be poured into this huge stone basin and each was given a portion from it. This was their passage to detachment and community living.

As for Buddhist monasteries, there were seven, one of which is Monastery 51, located in a place situated partway down the hill towards Stupa 2. It has a typical plan with an .....

At a distance of 500 m from the Great Stupa, and 2 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Sanchi Stupa 2 or Stupa No.2 is a Buddhist stupa located in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the Buddhist monuments in the historic site of Sanci, and among the top places to visit in Sanchi.

Stupa 2 stands on the hillside about to the west of the Great Stupa and is one of the oldest existing Buddhist stupas in India. It is believed to have been constructed during the end of the 2nd century to the 1st century BCE and is the oldest of the three Stupas from the Shunga period. It is of particular interest since it has the earliest known important displays of decorative reliefs in India, probably anterior to the reliefs at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, or the reliefs of Bharhut.

The diameter of the dome is about 14 m. It has no Harmika or Chhatra and has been cut flat on top. The excavation found a relic chamber holding four caskets for ashes made of steatite, on which the names of ten .....

At a distance of 1 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Archaeological Museum is a museum located within the historic site of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near the famous Sanchi Stupa, it is one of the must-visit places as part of the Sanchi Tour.

Also known as Sanchi Museum, the Archaeological Museum was established on the hilltop in 1919 by Sir John Marshall. Later, the Archaeological Survey of India acquired a college building at the foothill of Sanchi Stupa and got the exhibits shifted to the new building in the year 1966. The museum exhibits a large number of astonishing leftovers and artworks discovered during excavations at Sanchi itself while the rest are from its neighboring villages including Vidisha, Gulgaon, Gyaraspur, and Murelkhurd. The amazing carvings and tools made of metal showcased in the museum are around 2000 years old.

With a single floored white building, the museum comprises the main hall and four galleries besides exhibits in the verandah and a few .....

At a distance of 9 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Bijamandal is an ancient temple located in Vidisha near Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. Popularly known as Vijayamandira Temple, it is one of the must-visit places near Sanchi.

Bijamandal or Bija Mandal was an enormous temple built in the 11th century during the reign of Parmara King Naravarman. The incomplete architectural design and the foundation stones suggest that the construction remained unfinished. This soaring Brahmanical temple was dedicated to the Goddess Charchika also known as Vijaya. The temple was demolished on the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1682 and constructed a mosque called Alamgiri Masjid in the same site.

As per the legend, the great temple was 35 m high and 39 m wide. What remains on the site would just have been the base for a much larger structure full of columns and ornately-carved statues. Fascinating carvings from the temple are arranged on the grounds, awaiting classification and display .....

At a distance of 7 km from Vidisha, and 10 km from Sanchi Railway Station, Udayagiri Caves or Udaigiri Caves are a group of rock-cut caves located at Udaigiri village in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in India, and among the must include places in Sanchi Tour Packages.

Udayagiri, literally means the 'sunrise mountain', was a Buddhist and Hindu site by the 2nd century BCE. The place is also referred to as Visnupadagiri which means the hill at 'the feet of Vishnu'. The Udayagiri Caves are a group of 20 rock-cut caves near Vidisha from the early years of the 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples and iconography in India. Besides, these caves have rock-cut water tanks, and some have shrines and monuments on top.

Out of 20 caves, one is dedicated to Jainism, while others to Hinduism including Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Shaivism. The Jain Cave is notable for one of the oldest known Jaina inscriptions from 425 .....

At a distance of 8 km from Bhopal Junction, Bhopal Ropeway is located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the must-experience things to do in Bhopal.

The Bhopal Ropeway is located at Manubhan Tekri, a very famous Jain temple in the city. The temple is located at a very secluded and sacred site, and to get here you must use a special ropeway that gives you access to some really beautiful sights of the city. The ropeway used to reach the Jain Temple in Manubhan Takeri and offers a fascinating view of the city when the sunset covers the city-sky in a blanket of warm orange.

Timings: 6.30 AM - 8 PM

Entry: Rs. 50 for Person

At a distance of 7 km from Bhopal Junction, Cave Temple is a sacred Hindu shrine located in the Lalghati locality of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on top of a small hill, it is one of the popular places f pilgrimage in Bhopal, and among the prominent attractions to visit during your Bhopal Trip.

Also known as Gufa Mandir, the Cave Temple was discovered in the year 1949 by Shri Mahant Narayandas Ji Tyagi. The spacious temple complex comprises 7 natural caves hence this temple was named Cave Temple. One of these seven caves has the self-styled Shiva's Pindi, whose vision only fulfills the wishes of the devotees. The cave that holds the Shiv Lingam is supplied by natural water that never goes dry even during the summers.

Just below the cave in the temple complex, beautiful tableaux of deities like Shri Radhakrishna and Shri Ram Janaki Laxman are installed. There is an establishment of a famous temple in the courtyard by the name of old Hanuman Ji. Apart from this, the Durga .....

At a distance of 4 km from Bhopal Junction, Taj-ul-Masajid, or Taj-ul-Masjid is a 19th-century mosque located at the heart of Bhopal city in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the largest mosques in India, and among the must include places in Bhopal Trip.

Literally means 'The Crown of Mosques', the Taj-ul-Masjid is one of the largest mosques in Asia. The construction of the mosque was initiated by Nawab Shah Jahan Begum of Bhopal (1868-1901) during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and continued to be built by her daughter Sultan Jahan Begum, till her lifetime. But the mosque was incomplete due to lakh of funds. After a long lay-off, its construction began once again in 1971 and was completed by 1985. The entrance (eastern) gate was renovated grandly using ancient motifs from circa 1250 Syrian mosques by the contribution of the Emir of Kuwait to commemorate the memory of his departed wife.

A classic illustration of Mughal architecture, Taj-Ul-Masajid is sprawling .....

At a distance of 4 km from Bhopal Junction, Gohar Mahal, also spelt as Gauhar Mahal is an ancient palace located in the Peer Gate area of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Perched on the banks of the serene Upper Lake, it is one of the beautiful heritage structures in Bhopal, and among the top places to visit as part of Bhopal Packages.

Gohar Mahal was constructed in the year 1820 by the first female ruler of Bhopal, Qudsia Begum who is popularly known as Gohar Begum. This three-storied palace was the residential as well as a working place for the Begum. Maintained by Madhya Pradesh Tourism, it is one of the finest specimens of architecture and craftsmanship of the Nawabi era. Built with a perfect blend of Hindu and Mughal styles of architecture, the palace is ornamented with intricate interior carvings and beautiful decorations on the exterior.

The splendid three-storied structure has an entry from the lakeside. The surrounding of the palace is beautifully landscaped with lawns and .....

At a distance of 4 km from Bhopal Junction, Shaukat Mahal is a historical structure located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated at the entrance to the Chowk area, it is one of the most unique architectural marvels of Bhopal, and among the top places to visit in Bhopal.

Shaukat Mahal was constructed in the 1830s as a wedding gift for Sikander Jehan Begum, the first full-fledged female ruler of Bhopal. It is an integral part of the famous royal quadrangle of Bhopal around the Iqbal Maidan, earlier known as Khirniwala Maidan. Architecturally it is a bit of an oddity compared to other buildings in the heart of Bhopal, the building has many western elements combining both Post Renaissance and Gothic styles. This is due to the design being attributed to the Bourbons of Bhopal, widely considered to be descendants of renowned French kings.

Built with a mix of Indian-Islamic and European Styles, the roof of the building is adorned with a series of complicated triangular-shaped arches .....

At a distance of 5 km from Bhopal Junction, Rani Kamlapati Palace is an ancient palace located inside Kamla Park in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the bridge connecting the Upper Lake and Lower Lake, it is one of the heritage places to visit in Bhopal.

Rani Kamlapati Palace was built in 1722 by Queen Kamlapati, the widow Gond ruler of Nizam Shah, Chief of Ginnorgarh. The palace lies on the eastern side of the ancient embankment known as Bhojpal, built by the Paramara Rajput King Bhoj (AD 1010-1055) from which the present name Bhopal is derived. It has been designated as a Monument of National Importance in 1989 and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This monument was declared protected by the Government of India in 1989 and since then Archaeological Survey of India remains the custodian.

The architecture of Kamlapati Palace is an example of contemporary secular architecture of the early eighteenth century and the earliest extant example in Bhopal .....