The capital of Madhya Pradesh state, Bhopal, is unique in numerous ways. Known as the city of lakes, Bhopal was the only city to have had female rulers, known as Begums of Bhopal, for over a century. The city found its peak during the early 18th century and is equally famed as any other city of the state like Indore, Gwalior and Ujjain.
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Home to various educational, research and industrial institutions, Bhopal comes under popular places to visit in Madhya Pradesh. From a tourism perspective, Bhopal has a lot to offer. The city is home to sublime palaces and architectural marvels. Numerous institutes of National Importance in India like AIIMS, IIIT, ISRO’s Master Control Facility among others have their bases in Bhopal.
Bhopal has also been voted the cleanest state capital of India for three years in a row between 2017 and 2019. In this article, find the top places to visit in Bhopal.
10 Places to Visit in Bhopal
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple
- Sair Sapata
- Taj-ul-Masajid
- Van Vihar National Park
- Bhojtal
- Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
- Kanha Fun City
- Shaurya Smarak Bhopal
- Raja Bhoj Statue
- Minto Hall Rooftop Restaurant
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Bhopal is popular among pilgrims and tourists alike. With Goddess Lakshmi and her husband Lord Vishnu as deities, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple comes under the top places to visit in Bhopal. Especially for devotees. The temple was built by the popular industrialists in India — the Birla family. The temple has a well-maintained garden in its vicinity.
The majestic temple has pristine marble statues of Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi. The construction of the temple was carried out by the best masons from Jaipur. Perched upon Arera hills, Lakshmi Narayan Temple provides a panoramic view of the city beneath. During monsoons, one can see the beautiful reflection of the temple on the pathway that leads to the temple.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Major Attractions: Panoramic view of the city, Marble statues of Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi, Garden
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Things to do: Worshipping, Meditation
Sair Sapata
On 29 September 2011, the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation inaugurated the tourism and entertainment complex called Sair Sapata. Spread across 24.56 acres of land the sole intention of Sair Sapata was to boost tourism in Bhopal. The cost of this lavish entertainment fun-land went up to ₹103.7 million (US$1.4 million). True to every penny spent, Sair Sapata is arguably the most popular tourist spot in Bhopal.
Tourists are certain to get confused here as Sair Sapata has a lot to offer. One can choose from a wide variety of activities that range from car dashing, boat riding, zorbing to forest hiking. Nestled on the banks of the Upper Lake, Sair Sapata also has three viewpoints if you want to find some peaceful spots. This location is equally favourite among kids and grown-ups.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Major Attractions: Suspension Bridge, Park, Boating
Ideal duration to explore: 2-4 hours
Things to do: Car dashing, Boat riding, Zorbing and Forest hiking
Taj-ul-Masajid
Literally translated to ‘Crown of Mosques’, the Taj-ul-Masajid is the largest Mosque in not just India but Asia. The construction of this holy shrine was started somewhere around the late 19th century during the reign of Bhopal’s Nawab Shahjahan Begum. The building process took nearly a century as it was halted due to a lack of funds. Eventually, this grand Mosque was completed and now stands tall as the pride of Bhopal.
Massively inspired by the Mughal style of architecture, the Taj-ul-Masajid has two 18-storied minarets with marble domes. The entrance is decorated with motifs from 13th-century Syrian mosques. Climb up the stairs at the entrance to witness the gigantic Mosque that spreads far beyond your field of vision.
Taj-ul-Masajid is the venue for Bhopal Tablighi Ijtema, an annual three-day congregation. Devotees from all over the world visit the Mosque during this period. If you are on the lookout for popular religious places in Bhopal, then Taj-ul-Masajid should be a part of your list that includes places to visit in Bhopal.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Major Attractions: Motifs from 13th-century Syrian mosques, Marble flooring
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Things to do: Worship, Meditate
Van Vihar National Park
The unique feature about Van Vihar National Park is that none of the animals here are deliberately captured from the forest. The animals of Van Vihar National Park are either brought from various parts of the state or exchanged from other zoos or are orphaned. Maintained as a modern zoological park, Van Vihar achieved the status of a national park in 1979.
The beasts roam freely in their natural habitat and are safe from poachers. Visitors can behold them from the other side of the trenches, walls or wired fences. Another significant attribute of the park is that it was formed from a depleted forest area. You can find a wide variety of reptiles, birds and animals relaxing by the serene lake. It is among the top attractions in Bhopal for wildlife enthusiasts.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 06:30 AM to 06:30 PM
Major Attractions: Wide varieties of flora and fauna
Ideal duration to explore: 2-4 hours
Things to do: Trail hiking, Wildlife spotting
Bhojtal
Known as the Upper Lake or Bada Talab until 2011, the biggest artificial lake in India was renamed Bhojtal. The renaming was done in order to honour the great king Raja Bhoj who built the lake. As per the famous folklore, Raja Bhoj built this massive lake after being advised by a saint to take bath in a tank with water from 365 tributaries to cure him of his skin disease.
This strategically built artificial lake is encompassed by Van Vihar National Park on the south. Around 40% of Bhopal residents benefit from the drinking waters of Bhojtal. Visit the south-eastern shores of the lake if you love to watch fishing. Bhojtal is a tourist magnet and attracts visitors from all parts of the country.
Boating and water sports are a few of the famous activities around here. The lake is a haven for tourists by all means. It has the famous Sair Sapata on its bank as well as the statue of Raja Bhoj. With Bhopal being the city of Lakes, Bhojtal has to be its most prized possession. Bhojtal also comes under the places to visit in Bhopal with family.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from Sunset to Sunrise
Major Attractions: Sair Sapata, Statue of Raja Bhoj
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Things to do: Evening walks, Photography, Picnicking
Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
Walk amidst the rich and deep history of the tribal population in India while visiting the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum in Bhopal. Rather than housing ordinary artefacts with superficial information, the tribal museum celebrates ways of life practised by the seven major tribes in the state. The lives of Gond, Bhil, Korku, Baiga, Sahariya, Kol and Bhariya tribes are depicted through their crafts.
The three-storey well-lit museum portrays the indigenous beings’ way of living, spiritual beliefs and much more. Inside the museum, one can find the Tribal Life Gallery with life-sized models, artefacts from the tribes’ daily lives and cultural symbols that have been passed from generation to generation.
The museum hosts performances of traditional music, dance and drama. Every Friday and Sunday. It bridges the gap between tribal groups and modern humans as the latter can learn a lot about these ingenious beings. The Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum has to be included in your places to visit in Bhopal.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 12:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Major Attractions: Game room, Traditional music, dance and drama performances
Ideal duration to explore: 2-3 hours
Things to do: Photography, Learn in-depth about indigenous tribes of India
Kanha Fun City
If you are looking for a break from seeing the historic, cultural and traditional sides of Bhopal then a visit to the Kanha Fun City is highly recommended. Visited mostly by families, Kanha Fun City houses many thrill-seeking rides. It also has a fun-filled water park. It is one of the oldest entertainment parks in Bhopal.
Kanha Fun City enjoys hosting visitors all around the year and has never lacked tourists ever since it was founded in 2000. The amusement park experiences heavy footfall during summer. Visiting Kanha Fun City is among the favourite things to do in Bhopal among the tourists flocking the city. Apart from the thrill rides, Kanha Fun City also facilitates as a venue that hosts private and corporate events.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Major Attractions: Thrill rides, Water rides
Ideal duration to explore: 2-4 hours
Things to do: Experience adventure rides, picnicking
Shaurya Smarak Bhopal
With an intention of paying homage to the war heroes of the country, the Shaurya Smarak was inaugurated in 2016 by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Shaurya Smarak is situated at the heart of Arera Hills and is stretched over 12.67 acres of land. There is a 62-feet sculpture called Shaurya Stambh representing the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force.
The never-extinguishing flame called the Smarak Jyoti which is lit in honour of martyrs is a famous attraction. A red sculpture next to the Shaurya Smarak appears to be a ‘Namaskar’ from one angle and a ‘Drop of Blood’ from the other. Do not forget to visit the underground museum that displays portraits of war heroes among the others.
You can also find models of various submarines, aircraft and warships in the exhibition. Shaurya Smarak is famous for educational visits and is a popular tourist spot in Bhopal. Another famous attraction here is the museum that facilitates visitors to experience the cold of Siachen Glacier — the world’s highest battleground and military station.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 12:00 PM to 07:00 PM
Major Attractions: Smarak Jyoti, Shaurya Stambh, models of submarines, aircraft and warships, museum.
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Things to do: Experience the cold of Siachen Glacier, learn more about the martyrs and India’s military
Raja Bhoj Statue
One cannot miss the imposing Raja Bhoj Statue while visiting the Bhojtal of the Upper Lake. The 32-feet high statue of the Parmar King Raja Bhoj was erected at the banks of Bhojtal to commemorate one of the most renowned Hindu kings in the history of the country. Considered as the founder of Bhopal, Raja Bhoj is revered as a noble leader. Thus, the statue was built on the 1000th anniversary of the king’s rule over Bhopal.
Purely built from gun and bell metal, this mammoth statue can be seen from a distance. The evening is the best time to visit the statue as one can also witness the red ball of fire setting into the turquoise waters of the lake. With its historic importance and serene vibe, Raja Bhoj Statue falls among one of the beautiful places in Bhopal.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday for 24 hours
Major Attractions: Bhojtal
Ideal duration to explore: 15 minutes – 30 minutes
Minto Hall Rooftop Restaurant
After a lengthy and tiring trip of walking around Bhopal, you can end your day by relishing the famous dishes of Bhopal at Minto Hall Rooftop Restaurant. Dotted by marvellous architecture all around the city of Bhopal, the Minto Hall is no different. This royal looking heritage building is now a resort hotel.
If you have a thing for dining with a view then Minto Hall Rooftop Restaurant is just the right place for you. Filling your tummy and soul with scrumptious food from this restaurant is just what you deserve after a tiring day. The Rooftop Restaurant is a famous family destination but is also visited by couples for its romantic ambience.
Enjoy all sorts of cuisines at this restaurant while having a view of the entire city right in front of your eyes. Minto Hall Rooftop Restaurant is famous for Mughlai dishes along with traditional Bhopal dishes. It is one of the must-visit places in Bhopal if you are a foodie.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Major Attractions: Traditional Bhopal and Mughlai cuisine
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Things to do: Dine with a view
Bhopal is one of the popular cities in Central India and experiences visitors from all over the country. Travellers visiting the other major cities in Madhya Pradesh like Indore and Gwalior are likely to visit Bhopal as well.
FAQ
What is famous in Bhopal?
Bhopal upholds ancient India’s culture and tradition. The city is home to countless palaces, temples and historic monuments. Along with that, Bhopal is renowned for its traditional street food. Visit Bhopal to learn more about the city’s deep-rooted history and also that of its noble rulers.
Is Bhopal worth visiting?
Yes, Bhopal is worth visiting. Bhopal is one of the greenest and cleanest cities in India. The capital of Madhya Pradesh also grabbed the cleanest capital award three times in a row in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Furthermore, the city is home to beautiful lakes, gardens and architectural marvels.
Is Bhopal a beautiful place?
Yes. Dotted with greenery and high-and-low landscapes, Bhopal is one of the beautiful cities in Central India.
What type of place is Bhopal?
Known as the ‘City of Lakes, Bhopal is a perfect amalgamation of the historic and modern blend. Bhopal has numerous historically, traditionally and religiously significant places. The city also comes under the Indian Government’s smart city plan.