Bhopal

Known as the City of Lakes, Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh and is located in the central part of the Indian Subcontinent. The original name of Bhopal was Bhojpal, after the name of the King Bhoj of Paramara dynasty, who founded and ruled that region for a number of years as well as the dam or "pal" constructed during this period.

However, some people believe that the name was derived from the name of King Bhupal. The modern city of Bhopal was founded by an afghan soldier named Dost Mohammad who left Delhi after the death of Aurangzeb and after several battles, won the place from the queen of Gond. Bhopal remained under Islamic influence after him, especially during the reign of Nizams, before it was conquered by the Marathas in the 18th century. When it came under the British Empire, it was ruled by the Muslim women or begums. That gave the city many things like waterworks, postal system, railways and municipality. As India got its independence in 1947, Bhopal merged with the Indian Union and became a part of Madhya Pradesh as well as, eventually, its capital. During 2002, almost 5.30 crore domestic tourists and around 2.75 lakh international tourists visited the city.

History
Bhopal was founded by the King Bhoja of Paramara dynasty. The city was modernized by an Afghan soldier, Dost Mohammed Khan, a subordinate of the Mughals. In 1724, Nizam ul Malik, another Mughal nobleman invaded the city and with him, Bhopal came under the rule of the Nizams. Within a few years, the Nizams were defeated by the Marathas, who were defeated by the British in the Anglo-Maratha war. As Bhopal became one of the princely states, four female rulers were given the charge and they ruled for around 100 years through successive generations. Later Bhopal was taken over by the Indian government in the year 1949 and with the state reorganization act, the city came under the jurisdiction of Madhya Pradesh.

Popular Tourist Places in Bhopal
Bhopal is home to some of popular tourist attractions; Bada Talab is known to be one of the largest man-made lakes in India, while Taj-ul-Masajid is not only the largest mosque in India but is also listed amongst the largest in Asia. The Indira GandhiRashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), one of the popular museums in Bhopal that documents the lives of over 450 of India's Adivasi Tribes and is one of a kind in the country.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism

Madhya Pradesh Tourism got its name because of its geographical position, being located in the centre of India. However, it's tagline 'The Heart of Incredible India' has more to do with the fact that it houses facets of the whole of India into this state. From the historical monuments to modern amenities, culture, food and people- this state gives a taste of entire India packed within its geographical boundaries.

Madhya Pradesh is one of the few states that is surrounded by other states on all its sides. It lies in the plain regions of the country and occupies one of the oldest parts of the Indian Subcontinent which was once the land of the Gonds called the Gondwana. Every twelve years the grand fair of Kumbh Mela is organised here. Madhya Pradesh has some spectacular historical places in its region, of which a temple made of glass in Indore is quite famous. Ujjain, a sacred city for the Hindus, is a renowned place in the world as it is one of 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Madhya Pradesh is particularly famous for its Khajuraho temples which exhibit the erotic sculptures depicting the ancient India Kama Sutra text. The great Sanchi Stupa constructed during King Ashoka's reign is situated here in Bhopal. The Bandhavgarh National Park which houses the Barasingha and the Tigers reserve is also located here.