"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf. " ~ Tagore

The capital, of the State of Madhya Pradesh, was founded by Raja Bhoja in the 11th century. The city and it's surroundings are a good example of the co-existence of the old and the new. Bhopal is the base from which you visit Bhimbetka, Sanchi & Ujjain than for what the city itself can offer the tourist.

The picturesque lakes, Jama Masjid, Taj-ul-Masjid, Birla Mandir and Archaeological Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple, a museum of modern, urban and rural arts situated on Lake View road are some of the main tourist spots within Bhopal.

The Sanchi Stupa 48 kms from Bhopal is a world heritage monument and one of the world's most important Buddhist pilgrim centres. The construction of the stupa began during the rule of Emperor Ashoka. The 4 gateways of the stupa are exquisitely carved and recount the life of Gautam Buddha. 8 kms away at Vidisha is the famous Besnagar monolithic pillar dating back to 90 BC which states that the pillar was raised by Heliodorus - the Greek Ambassador in the court of Takshashila (Taxila). Heliodorus refers to himself as the worshipper of Vishnu.

Bhimbetka is world famous for the large number of cave paintings dating back from the old Stone Age to medieval times. These natural pigment paintings depicting the vibrant social life of our ancestors are breathtakingly life-like.

Information: Courtesy Government of India