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
10 Offbeat Things to try in Kolkata
Once the capital city of India, Kolkata brings an overload of emotions to every visitor. The malls and celebrations are the essences of the city of joy. But beyond the popular culture of the Science city and Victoria Memorial, lies the undiscovered rawness of the city. This guide to 10 unique things to try in Kolkata will help you to experience the beauty of the city to its fullest. 1. Take a Boat Ride at Babu Ghat Sunset at Babu Ghat Built during the British Raj, the Babu Ghat gives a magnificent view of the river Ganga. The professional masseurs near the ghat have been providing relaxation to visitors for 200 years. There are numerous wooden boat rides and ferry stations near Babu Ghat. Unlike the popular Princep Ghat, the bonus here is that there is no line for the boat ride. If you’re taking a boat ride, you can ask the rower to take you near the Howrah Bridge. The view of the sunset from here is truly majestic. Ticket price: Rs. 400 – 600 2. Capture the Beauty of Craftsmanship at Kumortuli Idol Designing at Kumortuli Durga Puja is the heartthrob of Kolkata. But even if you visit the city at some other time of the year, you can experience the emotions of Bengal’s biggest festival. The potter’s colony, known as Kumortuli, is the epitome of unrefined art. The craftsmen here cast an enchantment on clay and hay to shape beautiful idols throughout the year. The potters settled around 300 years ago, and to date bless the city with their ancestral profession. An annual art festival called Rang Matir Panchali takes place in April, featuring installations, idol-making displays, paintings, photographs, wall graffiti, and street art. 3. Take a Tram Ride Tram Ride in Kolkata Established in 1873, the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) is Asia’s oldest tram network. It’s also the only operating tram network in India. CTC has been an integral part of India’s history for decades. It has also been featured in numerous movies. This cheap and underrated experience can be quite enriching. If you want more to the ride, you can opt for the Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour which starts and ends at the Esplanade Tram Depot. The tour includes local food (snacks), and Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour Momento. It covers various heritage places of historical significance in Kolkata, like Mother Teresa’s House, Shaheed Minar, and South Park Street Cemetery. Riding a tram in Kolkata is truly a surreal experience. It bears a charm that bounds every visitor to shoot. Timings: 6.30 A.M. to 9.30 P.M. Duration: 6 hours 4. Get Spooked at South Park Street Cemetery Tombs at South Park Street Cemetery Over 250 years old, this abandoned cemetery is listed as one of the haunted places in India. It houses over 1900 graves, mostly of children and young adults who died of tropical diseases. It’s the first non-church Christian cemetery and houses the graves of many notable people like the second son of Charles Dickens and William Jones. After a few decades since it was established, the graveyard was closed as it was flooding with dead bodies. According to some, everyone in the Dennison family died within a week of each other from unknown causes. It is said that the tomb bleeds and oozes blood in monsoons, thus getting the nickname of the ‘bleeding tomb’. Though there is no physical evidence of this place being possessed by ghosts, people have fainted and felt dizzy in many instances. Apart from the spook it offers, one can visit this place for its architectural variety. From Roman tombs to pineapple cores, every tomb is designed uniquely. Visitors can take a guide at the entrance for free. Timings: 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Ticket price: Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 50 for foreigners 5. Pay a visit to the Black Hole of Kolkata Monument Plaque at the Black Hole If you’re into dark tourism, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the Black Hole of Kolkata. Fort William, which was originally controlled by the British, was taken over by the Nawab of Bengal. The prisoners of war were locked up in the dark and dingy dungeons of the fort, where many died of exhaustion and suffocation. Later, a memorial was made in the St. John’s Church graveyard to pay respect to the deceased. You can visit the remains of the Old Fort William and take a walk to the new building. 6. Go for a food walk Sweets in Kolkata Bengalis have always been known for their food, thus, local food makes is an integral part of traveling in Kolkata. A proper food walk in Kolkata will satiate all your taste buds from sweet to spicy. Start with a breakfast at the Chinatown of Tiretti Bazar. A cacophony of colors, this place offers a variety of delicious sea foods. After that, head to Park Street to get a taste of the spicy street foods of Kolkata. Do try out the specialties of Bengal- Rasgullas and Misti Doi. If you’re visiting the city in winter, do try out the unique range of sweets called “pithas”. Have biriyani near Indian Museum at just Rs.50. Finally, you can take a yellow taxi ride to the prince ghat and enjoy masala chai while watching a beautiful sunset over the Ganga. 7. Visit the 250-year-old Great Banyan Tree The Great Banyan Tree Located in Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, the Great Banyan Tree has been mentioned in books dating around the 19th century. Though its main trunk had decayed and was removed in 1925, there are several remaining branches canopying around the garden. This miraculous tree still survives and manages to grow. It occupies a huge
