Bhopal: The City of Lakes – Everything You Need to Know
Bhopal, the city of lakes!! One of the underrated gems of the country, Bhopal may not be a place that comes to mind first when thinking of travel; but the solace and serenity you will find here amidst delightfully beautiful backdrops will undoubtedly charm you and make it a special trip for years to come. Bhopal City, popularly known as the “City of Lakes” is the capital of Madhya Pradesh, which is situated at the heart (central part) of India. The ‘Nawabi’ city abounds in a variety of beautiful and interesting places ranging from national parks to zip-lining spots and has recently also captured the attention of several filmmakers, with many popular Hindi shows and movies being shot here. The city is divided into two areas, ‘Old Bhopal‘ and ‘New Bhopal‘ with the New Bhopal City being a hotspot for many tourists. So, let’s take a tour of one of the greenest cities in India, Bhopal. How to Reach Bhopal? By Air By Rail By Road Places to visit in Bhopal Van Vihar Kerwa Dam Jehan Numa Palace Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum Taj-ul-Masjid Birla Mandir FAQs Final Words Bhopal: The City of Lakes How to reach Bhopal? By Air: Bhopal has direct connectivity with the major cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, and Hyderabad, with several flights available around the year. From the eastern and southern parts of India, you can get connecting flights via these cities to Bhopal. By Rail: The ‘Old Bhopal’ and ‘Bhopal Habibganj’ stations are regarded as World-Class Stations with well-maintained amenities, and have connectivity with most cities in India. Trains like the ‘Shatabdi Express’ and ‘Bhopal Express’ have a wide reach and are very convenient and reliable modes of transportation. By Road: Bhopal is linked to several cities via road. The roads are well maintained with multiple rest stops along the way. There are many highways like MP SH 18 which connects Bhopal to Ahmedabad, there is NH46 which connects Gwalior, Bhopal, Guna, and terminates in Betul. Bhopal is connected to many 2 and 3 tiers cities through state bus services, like Indore(190km), Ujjain(189km), and Nagpur(354km). You can easily take a bus from Bhopal to Indore, Shirdi, and various other cities. Now that we have talked about how to get there, let’s look at the activities you can indulge in when visiting the regal city of Bhopal! Plan a Bhopal Experience Places to Visit in Bhopal Bhopal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The city is home to a number of historical and religious sites, as well as a number of natural attractions. Here are some of the best places to visit in Bhopal: 1. Van Vihar A profound National park and Zoo in central India and is definitely a place to ‘vihar’ that is, to visit. Van Vihan National Park consists of various spots like the rescue center, zoological gardens, conservation breeding centers, and of course, the national park. The zoo houses a diverse variety of fauna ranging from the tiger, hyena, sloth bear, and leopard, as well as the fear-inducing reptilian display including pythons and many more scaled creatures. A park is set right next to the famous Upper Lake, also known as the ‘Bada Talab‘ of Bhopal. You can also engage in various events like bird-watching camps, photography competitions for various categories, and wildlife week celebrations. The wildlife celebrations begin on 1st October to spread awareness around the conservation of wildlife. Van Vihar is a beautiful spot with lush green trees, swampland and even boasts of a cycling track. Tourists and locals alike often rent bicycles to enjoy a tranquil ride amidst the forests and alongside the beautiful lake shimmering in the light of the rising sun while the whole city sleeps. Van Vihar is open throughout the year and the timings are 6 am to 7 pm from Saturday to Thursday (closed on Fridays). You can take a cab to reach this attraction. Also, you can do Van Vihar online booking now. Van Vihar National Park 2. Kerwa Dam Kerwa Dam is known for its scenic beauty and is a hotspot for tourists who want to try out zip-lining and other adventure sports conducted here. You can see different hues of green in the rich gardens, relish street food at the Kerwa restaurant, and children can have a great time at the swings near the garden. There is also a good spot in the garden for people to view the entire dam backed by the breathtaking sight of rich greenery. You can book your spot for zip lining at a booth near the dam and enjoy a splendid experience. Camping at the Kerwa Dam is another major attraction, the Serenity Camp nearby offers an exciting camping experience including fun ice-breaking sessions and sports like cricket, and water volleyball. There are bonfire nights filled with fun and frolic, and you can also enjoy your own company and indulge in stargazing in the serene night sky lit up like diamonds, away from the hustle-bustle of the city. Kerwa Dam is open on all days from 8 am to 6 pm. The best time to visit is during the rainy season when the dam is gushing with water and its gates are opened. You can either hire a taxi or take a rental car and enjoy a lovely drive along with the fields. Travel Experiences Kerwa Dam 3. Jehan Numa Palace Jehan Numa Palace is one of Bhopal’s finest hotels with a legacy of over 100 years. It beautifully replicates the old ‘Nawabi’ style of Bhopal. Bhopal has inculcated the Mughlai touch in its cuisine and is extremely famous for its Mughlai dishes, the most famous of them being the ‘Bhopali Gosht Korma Mughlai’. Y You can relish this appetizing dish at the Jehan Numa Palace which will definitely
Famous Food in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 9 Must-Try
Andaman & Nicobar Islands is home to a wide variety of amazing food. The islands are known for many things, one of which is their food. The food here is as special as the beauty of Andaman. Being an Island seafood is a major attraction here. The seafood in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is greatly influenced by the different cultures that came in touch with this region. Their food and cuisine are as different and diverse as the island. The local people in Andaman prefer spicy and tasty food and it is also a major reason for the tourist influx. In this blog post, we have covered some of the famous foods in Andaman & Nicobar islands that you will surely don’t wanna miss. Furthermore, we will cover 7 of the best restaurants in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for your convenience. Use the below list of dishes to navigate directly to them: Amritsari Kulcha Fish Curry Chili Fish Curry Macher Jhol Chicken Tikka Masala Coconut Prawn Curry Barbeque Grilled Lobsters Rice Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 9 Famous Foods (Dishes) Andaman & Nicobar Islands are famous for their unique cuisine. However, most people don’t know about the food here in this part of the world. If you are visiting Andaman & Nicobar Islands, then it is important to try these dishes. Here are 9 must-try dishes that have a special taste and flavor. 01. Amritsari Kulcha Image Source: Amritsari Kulcha Restaurant Amritsari Kulcha is a bread filled with vegetables that makes a yummy and tasty meal for the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is made from wheat flour and has a slight tang to it which makes it very flavourful. The ingredients in this bread are the vegetables that are used in the preparation of this bread. These vegetables are baby spinach, carrots, green peas, jalapeno, cilantro, oregano, and some chives. Baby spinach is a type of leaf which is mostly found in gardens and has a mild flavor. This spinach is the main ingredient in this bread. Amritsari Kulcha is the favorite bread of the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. There are different types of Amritsari Kulcha which are made by adding different ingredients to this bread. It is a famous veg food in Andaman and Nicobar islands. When in Andaman you should definitely try this! 02. Fish Curry Image Source: Unsplash Being in a sea of fish, seafood is the most preferred food item in Andaman. The different seafood preparation is a must-try. The tasty fresh fish curry is absolutely mouth-watering. It will be your favorite food in Andaman and Nicobar islands. You can opt for the favorite fish of your choice. This is applicable for any preparation. Fish Curry in Andaman and Nicobar islands is a traditional and popular dish. It is made with the fresh fish of Andaman and Nicobar islands like dalmatian and brill. The dish is served with rice, onion, and tomato curry. Fish curry is a dish that is made with a lot of fish. It is a lot of work for the fish curry chefs because the curry is made with a lot of spices and ingredients. They have to clean the spices and ingredients to make sure the dish is tasty and delicious. The fish curry chefs are very skilled in the kitchen because they are able to make the dish without using a lot of ingredients. Fish curry is a very healthy dish because it is made with a lot of fish. Fish curry is served with rice and onion. 03. Chili Fish Curry Image Source: Unsplash Chili Fish Curry is a dish that is made by frying a mixture of fish and chili paste and then adding tomatoes, coconut milk, and a dash of sugar. It is a popular dish in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and a must-try if you are in the mood for Indian food. This recipe is a little spicier than your usual curry. If you are not a spice lover, you can easily modify the recipe and make it a little bit spicier. In order to make this dish spicier and more flavorful, I used some of my favorite spices: cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. These spices add a lot of flavor to the dish and make it taste more authentic. This is as same as Fish Curry but a little more spicy version of it. Even if you are a spice lover or not this is a must-try. 04. Macher Jhol Image Source: Kitchen of Debjani As the name suggests it is a curry of Bengali origin. It is basically a fish curry that is loved by many due to its rare taste and different flavor. Macher Jhol is traditional spicy fish curry and is a popular dish in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. s in the form of a very spicy stew or gravy that is served with rice. Macher Jhol is liberally seasoned with turmeric, garlic, onions, and grated ginger, but uses a tomato-based gravy that does not contain any onions. The dish is typically made with a variety of fish, such as mackerel, sardines, or tuna, though it may be made with shrimp, lobster, or other shellfish. The fish is often fried in butter or oil, before being simmered in a tomato-based sauce. The sauce is made with a mix of onion, ginger-garlic, salt, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, chili powder, and other spices. The dish is normally eaten with a squeeze of lime and eaten with the hands. 05. Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular dish originating in the Indian subcontinent. It is a mild and spicy chicken dish with a tomato and cream sauce topped with whole cumin seeds, garam masala, and dried fenugreek leaves. It
