Bhopal 
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Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, historicity and modern urban planning. It is situated on the site of a 11th century city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja Bhoja. The founder of the existing city was however an Afghan soldier of fortune, Dost Mohammed. Fleeing from Delhi in the chaotic period that followed Aurangazeb's death, Dost Mohammed encountered the beautiful Gond queen Kamalapati, who sort his aid after the murder of her consort.

A charming legend relates how the queen would recline in lotus barge, that on moonlit nights, would drift across the lake. The two lakes of Bhopal still dominate the city, and are indeed its nucleus. Bordered along their shores stand silent sentinels that testify to the growth of a city.

Bhopal today presents a multi-faceted profile; the old city with its teeming market places and fine old mosques and palaces still bears the aristocratic imprint of its former rulers, among them the succession of powerful Begums who ruled Bhopal from !819 to 1926. Equally impressive is the new city with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices.

Places to visit
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Taj-ul-Masjid
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This towering edifice is said to be the largest mosque in the country. The building of this tower was begun by Shah Jehan Begum (1868-1901) but was incomplete even at the time of her death. This great queen, Bhopal's eighth ruler, left many monuments in the city and to her goes the credit for Bhopal's postal system, railways and waterworks. After her death, lack of funds prevented the completion of the Masjid and construction was resumed only in 1971. The most striking features of the mosque are the impressive main hall with its inter-arched roof, broad facade, spacious courtyard and smooth marble floors. A three-day Ijtima congregation held here annually, draws people from all over the country.

Jama Masjid
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Built in 1837, by Kudsia Begum, this is a beautiful mosque with gold spikes crowning the minarets. It is said that centuries earlier, a queen of King Upayadita Paramara (1059-80 AD), grandson of Raja Bhoja, founded a temple here known as Sabha Mandala in 1184 A. D.

Moti Masjid
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Architecturally akin to Delhi's Jama Masjid, this imposing mosque was built in 1860 by Sikander Jehan, daughter of Kudsia Begum.

Shaukat Mahal and Sadar Manzil
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Situated at the entrance to the chowk area in the heart of the walled city, Shaukat Mahal is an architectural curiosity. Its mixture of styles in occidental idioms sets it apart from the predominantly Islamic architecture of the area. It was designed by a Frenchman, said to be a descendant of an offshoot of the Bourbon kings of France. Post-renaissance and Gothic styles are combined to charming effect here. Nearby is the elegant, once-opulent Sadar Manzil, Hall of Public Audience of the former rulers of Bhopal.

