Bhopāl pronunciation (help·info) (Hindi: भोपाल, Urdu: بھوپال, IPA: [bʰoːpɑːl]) is a city in central India. It is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Bhopal District and Bhopal Division. Historically, Bhopal was also the name of a Muslim princely state in central India (See Bhopal (princely state)).

History

Bhopal is said to have been founded by the Parmara King Bhoj (1000–1055), who had his capital at Dhar. The city was originally known as Bhojpal named after Bhoj and the dam ('pal') that he is said to have constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal. During British Raj, Bhopal was ruled by Nawabs and Begums. See (Bhopal (princely state)).

After independence

Bhopal was one of the last princely states to sign the 'Instrument of Accession' 1947. Though India achieved Independence in August 1947, the ruler of Bhopal acceded to the Indian government only on May 1, 1949. Sindhi refugees from Pakistan were accommodated in Bairagarh, a western suburb of Bhopal. According to the States Reorganization Act in 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh, and Bhopal was declared as its capital. The population of the city rose rapidly. Bhopal disaster The Bhopal disaster: On December 3, 1984, a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal leaked 40 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas, which killed more than 3,000 people outright and injured anywhere from 150,000 to 600,000 others. Another 12,000 deaths have officially been ascribed to the disaster's effects, although campaign groups put the figure much higher. (See Bhopal disaster.)

Law and government

Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Currently, the mayor of the city is Indian National Congress' Sunil Sood

Geography

Bhopal is a hilly (elevation 498m) but hot area, located on the Malwa plateau, and the land rises towards the Vindhya Range to the south. The summers are hot and the winters cold. It rains moderately during the rainy season. The municipality covers 286 square kilometres. It has two very beautiful lakes, collectively known as the Bhoj Wetland. These lakes are the Upper Lake (built by King Bhoj) and the Lower Lake. The catch ment area of the Upper Lake is 361 km² while that of the Lower Lake is 9.6 km². The Upper Lak e drains into the Kolans River. The major hills in Bhopal comprise of Idgah hills and Shyamala hills in the northern region and Arera hills in the central region. It is well connected to the rest of the country by rail, air and road links.

Lakes

• Upper lake (bada talaab)
• Lower lake (chota talaab)

The lower lake is also known as 'Chhota Talaab'. Chhota in Hindi means Small. Many people confuse that the name Chhota Talaab is because the lake smaller in comparison to the upper lake. But it is not so. The name 'Chhota' in actuall is the name of a man called 'Nawab Chhote Khan' who built this lake in late 16th century.

• Sahapura lake
• Demographics

The population consists of 56% Hind us and 38% Muslims, with the rest of the population including Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and, Buddhists. However, the demographics of Bhopal district are slightly different with 69% Hindus and 24% Muslims. The Old City of Bhopal is a predominantly Muslim area, but New Bhopal is a demographically cosmopolitan area. The chief languages are Hindi, Urdu and English, but there are a substantial number of Marathi speakers as well. In the princely state of Bhopal, Persian was the court language until nineteenth century. The slang of Hindi spoken in Bhopal is termed as Bhopali Bakar and is the subject of comedy in Bollywood movies.

• Population: 1.7 million
• Total waste generation: 600 ton/d ay
• Waste generation per capita: 0.43 kg/person per day

Major parks

Bhopal has many public parks. Some of the major parks are: Kamla Nehru Children's Park (BHEL Park), Chinar Park (famous for its Bougainvillea varieties and animal statues), Ekant Park, Mayur Park, The Rose Garden (Gulab Udyan), Kilol Park, Nandan Kanan etc.

Neighborhoods

Bhopal is divided into two parts: the Old City and the New Bhopal (these are not the official names). The Old City (often referred to in Bhopal as just "City") is the city built and developed by the Begums of Bhopal. It consists of residential areas like Barah Mahal, Shah Jahanabad, Shim la Hill, Fateh Garh, Koh-e Fiza, Talaya, Ibrahimpura, Lakherapura, Ginori, Chowk, Peer Gate, Noor Mahal, Jahangirabad, Budhwara, Imami Gate, Karbala, and Idgah Hills. New Bhopal was developed after Bhopal became the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It has modern residential localities like 1250 Quarters, Malviya Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Tatya Tope Nagar (T.T. Nagar), Arera Colony (which is the second largest colony in Asia, coming only next to Kankarbagh Colony, Bihar[citation needed]), Shahpura, Ayodhya Nagar, Ka sturba Nagar, Gautam Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Saket Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Barkheda, Piplani, Sonagiri and the commercial township called Maharana Pratap Nagar (commonly known as M.P.Nagar).

Major industries and products

The major industries in the city are electrical goods, cotton, chemicals (see Bhopal Disaster) and Jewellery. Old Bhopal( also known as the "CITY")is also known for its very famous zardosi work, which is a kind of embroidery done on bridal dresses, sherwani's, and purses. Another famous handicraft of Bhopal is 'Batua', a small string purse, usually used with Indian traditional dresses.Easily available either in city, or in Government owned Handicraft showrooms(eg.Mrignaynee in TT Nagar, New Market), at reasonable prices. BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited), the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India, has a unit in Bhopal. Number of other reputed companies like VA TECH HYDRO, Eicher, P&G and HEG have their manufacturing units in industrial area near Bhopal.

Sites of interest

Taj-ul-Masaajid It is one of the largest mosques in Asia, built by Shahjehan Begum around a courtyard with a large tank in the centre and with an imposing double storeyed gate-way with 4 recessed archways and 9 imposing cusped multifoiled openings in the main prayer hall. (The name is Masaajid and not masjid because 'masaajid' is plural of mosques and it literally means Crown Among Mosques) The Quibla wall in the prayer hall is carved with 11 recessed arches, while the mimber is made of black basalt. The structure is enlivened by the limpid expanse of water in the tank outside the northern wall. The monumentality of this structure was much greater originally when it faced the towering bastions of the Fatehgarh Fort. A thr ee-day Ijtima congregation was held here annually draws people from all over the world b ut ha s recently been shifted outside the City. Bhopal has over 400 mosques. Interestingly, Taj-ul-Masaajid, perhaps the biggest mosque in India, faces the smallest mosque in the country that lies just on the other side of the road in the same area. The Dhai Seedhi Masjid (2-1/2 stairs mosque) was built in early 18th century when a rampart was converted into mosque. Dhai Seedi ki Masjid While Taj-ul-Masaajid boasts of being the largest mosque in Asia (spread areawise), this mosque Dhai-seedi-ki-masjid is known as Asia's smallest. It literally means "a mosque with two and a half steps". This is right across the road from Taj-ul-Masaajid and currently located within the campus of Gandhi Medical College, which is built on top of an old fort, and the mosque is in one of the watchtowers.

It is also supposed to be the oldest mosque initially bu ilt as a makeshift mosque during the construction of the fort. Kheoni Sanctuary Est. 1955 a beautiful wild life sanctuary just 125 k.m from Bhopal and 45 k.m from Astha, Bhopal-Indore road. For tour this sanctuary contact, R.K.Saxena, Supdt. Kheoni Sanctuary, Kannod. Phone- 07273-222542. Islam Nagar It ha s the ruins of the old city built by Dost Mohd. Khan. Purana Kila Situated in the Kamala Nehru Park, it is a part of the 300-year old fort of Queen Kamalapati. Jama Masjid A mosque built by Qudsia Begum in 1837. Gold spikes crown the minarets of this beautiful mosque. Moti Masjid A mosque based on the Jama Masjid of Delhi built by Sikander Begum in 1860. Shaukat Mahal A strange mixture of Indo-Islamic and European styles of architecture. It was designed by a Fr enchman, 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. Gohar Mahal It is situated behind Shaukat Mahal on the banks of the Upper Lake was built by Qudsia Begum. It is magnificent expression of th e fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Sadar Manzil It was built as a hall to be used by the Begums for public audience. Now it is used as the head-office of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Bharat Bhavan It is the main cultural center of the city and of the most important cultural centers of India. It was designed by the famous architect Charles Correa. It has an art gallery that exhibits works of famous painters and sculptors. It has an open-air amphitheatre facing the Upper Lake and two other theatres and a tribal museum. The night-view from the amphitheatre set on the backdrop of the old city and the lake is magnificent. Van Vihar National Park It is a national park situated beside the Upper Lake. It has a museum too. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya It me ans The Museum of Man. It is spread over 200 acres (0.8 km²) of undulating land on the Shamla Hills on the Upper Lake front. The museum is spread on a hilltop and showcases the various hutments that tribals of across India use for shelter. Each hutment is a showcase of the culture of the region to which it belongs. Utensils, domestic articles, weapons and sometimes clothing specific to that region in displayed in the hutment to give a snapshot of the lifest yle. It's an endeavour to preserve the rural housing architecture with its own specific style an d nuance so that it may not get lost as the use of cement and concrete penetrate rural India. Government Archaeological Museum Lakshmi Narayan Temple (or Birla Mandir It is a temple devoted to Lord Vishnu and his consort Laxmi. It is situated to the south of the Lower Lake. Birla Museum Bhimbetka It has pre-historic rock art and is a World Heritage Site. Sanchi Situated at a small distance from the city of Bhopal, Sanchi houses some ancient Buddhist structures built by Emperor Ashoka. Bhojpur A small village situated some 40 km from Bhopal with a huge rock temple of lord Shiva, (the shivling in the temple is biggest in asia) and having betwa river flowing down the valley. The temple has now come under the management of archeologi cal survey of India. Mahavi r Giri A famous Jain temple built situated on a scenic hi ll earlier known as Manua Bhan ki tekri and now known as Mahavir Giri. The temple has idols of Lord Mahavir, Lord Rishabh and Gautam Swami.



Night beauty of Roshanpura chouraha (New Market)

ISRO Bhopal

Hospitals

Colleges

Victoria College Of Education
72/10 Madhuban Farm House Rajharsh Colony, Nayapura, Kolar Road, Bhopal- 462042
Phone: 0755-2560157


Vidhya Niketan College Of Physical Education
E 7/308, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-4284985


Vivekananda Vidyapeeth
Sector C, Piplani, Bhel, Bhopal- 462021
Phone: 0755 -4260449

Shri Sathya Sai Arts & Commerce College
Kasturba Nagar, Bhel, Bhopal- 462021
Phone: 0755-2586308, 2581119


Shri Ravishankar College Of Pharmacy
Bypass Road, Near Bhopal Memorial Hospital Bhanpura Square, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2737171, 2737172

Sect College Of Professional Education
Scope Complex, National Highway 12, Near Misrod, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2499457


Sardar Ajeet Singh Memorial Girls College
1 Ashoka Garden, Raisen Road, Raisen, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-4226300, 2581706, 4061100

Sam College Of Engineering & Technology
Raisen Road, Adampur Chawni, Raisen, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2852700, 2852720

Saifia Arts Commerce & Law College
7/4, Palace Road, Ahamadabad Palace, Ahmedabad Palace Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2531684, 2542079, 2545590


S Ajeet Singh Memorial Girls College
1 Ashoka Garden, Raisen Road, Raisen, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2581706, 2581900

Royal Crescent Group Of Colleges
231 3rd Flr Chinar Bldg, Zone II Above Arya Bhawan Bhd Sargam Cinema, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2405853
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1

Rkdf College Of Pharmacy
202 Ganga Jamuna Cplx, Zone 1, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-4273723, 4270996, 4280990

Rai Foundation Colleges
Plot 56/1, Bhadbhada Road, Near Depot Chauraha, Shamala Hills, Bhopal- 462013
Phone: 0755-2773099
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Punjab Technical University
Plot 7 Kwality Business Centre 2nd Floor, Zone 2, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-4285195, 4285196



Pragyan College Of Nursing
1st Floor Akansha Bldg, Opp Nav Bharat Press, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-4273737


Marjorie Milner College
Gurunanak Bhavan Z 9, Vijay Stambh Zone 1, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-4266785, 4208061
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1

Madan Maharaj College
Opp Subhash Nagar Railway Crosing, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2762668, 2711250


M L B Girls Degree College
79, Zone 2, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2574490


Lakshmi Narain College Of Technology- Kalchuri Ngr
Raisen RoadKelwa Opp Habibganj Rly Stn Kalchuri Nagar, Raisen, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-3092577, 2852792, 2852641, 2852642
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Kopal College- Bhadbhada Bridge
Barkhedi Kalan, Neelbad Road, Near Bhadbhada Bridge, Bhadbhada Road, Bhopal- 462003
Phone: 0755-2696707, 2696767

Jyotiba Phoole College Of Education
C/19/20 Heros School Campus, Raisen RoadBhel, Indrapuri, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-4232585, 4202650, 2775365
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Johri Professional College
C/61, Indrapuri, Bhel, Bhopal- 462021
Phone: 0755 -2758620, 6456481

Jawaharlal Nehru P G College
56/C Civillines, Shymala Hills, Bhopal- 462013
Phone: 0755-2660940, 2660949, 2661064


Jai Narain College Of Technology & Science
31 Shamla Hills, New Chouksey Nagar Lambakheda, Berasia Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2660930, 2854703, 2854705, 2854640, 2854701, 2854702
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1

Jai Hind Defence College
By Pass Road, Ayodhya Nagar, Bhopal- 462041
Phone: 0755-4243042


Jai Hind College
Near Jahangirabad Bus Stop, Jahangirabad, Bhopal- 462008
Phone: 0755-2764601


Icfai National College
E-6/61 76, Near 11 No Bus Stop Sai Board Square, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-4278300, 4537388
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical College
New Bypass Road, Near New Jail, Karond, Bhopal- 462038
Phone: 0755-2742170, 2730283

Gurukul College Of Education
11/12 Mandakini Housing Society, Kolar Road, Bhopal- 462042
Phone: 0755-3098513

Govt Benazir Science & Commerce College
Near Gopal Ghar Benazir Ground, Bhopal
Phone: 0755-2542834


Government Ramanand Sanskrit College
Lalghati, Bhopal- 462032
Phone: 0755-2748850


Government Homeopathic Medical College
240, Zone 2, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2713922


Government Gitanjali Pg Girls College
Berasia Road Near Pgbt College, Berasia Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-27333166, 2735266
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Government Girls P G College
Sarojini Naidu Govt Girls P G College, Bhopal
Phone: 0755-4281236

Government Girls Nutan College
E1/180, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2469466


Government Girls College- Shivaji Nagar
Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2552560


Government Girls College
Department Of MCA, Berasia Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2733266


Government Engineering College- Shahpura
B 145 Bda Colony, Shahpura Arora Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2426751


Government Engineering College Gandhi Nagar
Bye Pass Road, Gandhinagar, Bhopal- 462036
Phone: 0755 -2713004


Government Arts College
Zone 1, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2555326
Contact Now:

Geetanjali Girls College
Pgbt Campus Pgbt College, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2735266


Gandhi National College
D1, Danish Nagar Near Barkatullah University, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2417026, 2418063
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Gandhi Medical College- Royal Market
Royal Market, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2540590

Gandhi Medical College
Sultania Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2540589, 2540042, 2540407

G H Raisoni National College
Jinkushal Complex, Mathpurena, Bhopal
Phone: 0755-3091952


Dickie Memorial College
D 46 Sainath Nagar, Kolar Road, Kolar Road, Bhopal- 462042
Phone: 0755-2794044


College Of Engineering
Barkatullah University, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2788101, 2788102, 2788103, 2782471

College Of Education Pgbt College
Pgbt College, Berasia Road, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2735228

Co Ordinator Centre BPL Engineering College
1 Gandhi Nagar, Gandhinagar, Bhopal- 462036
Phone: 0755-2742004


City College Of Education
252 Ashoka Garden, Raisen RoadNear Silver Inn Hotel, Raisen, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-4000662, 4000660


Christ College
St Pauls Campus, Anand Nagar, Raisen, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2681090, 2750538

Chitransh A D P G College
E 7/2, Chitragupt Nagar Near Bus Stop No 11, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-4293482, 4294482
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


Central Bank Officers Training College
51, Bhd Government Press Arera Hill, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2553794

Cambridge Girls College
Idgah Hill, Idgah Hills, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2542221


Bhopal College Physical Education
Deepdi, Bhojpur Road, Bhopal- 462026
Phone: Mobile: 9827011951, 9425377083, 9425179602

Bhoj College
B/1, Akash Nagar Kotara, Sultanbad, Bhopal- 462003
Phone: 0755-2770801, 2773984


Bansal College Of Pharmacy
107 Deendayal Parisar, Anand Nagar Near 7 No Bus Stop Hathai Kheda Kokta, Peergate, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2685833, 2423736

Association Of Private Dental & Medical College Mp
D MAT House E-2/51, Opp Habibganj Railway Station, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-3201141, 3256198, 2460047
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1

All Saints College Of Science & Commerce
Airport Road Nh/12, Idgah Hills, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2645644, 2645644, 2643746, 4256190
Contact Now: E-Mail - 1


All Centers Education College
Gandhinagar, Bhopal- 462036
Phone: 0755-2646853
Contact Now:

Bonnie Foi College
Opp. Bijili Colony, Govindpura And By Pass Road, Narela, Sankari, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2587877, 2284884, 2284111

Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Of Studies And Engineering
158, Maharana Pratap Nagar, Zone-II, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2576692

Lakshmi Narain College of Technology
14 KM. Mark, Kalchuri Nagar, Raisen Road, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2284141, 2284142, 2284143, 2284144


Barkautullah University
Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2581227


Career College
Govindpural, Bhel, Bhopal- 462023
Phone: 0755-2586042

Dr. Rajendra Prasad College of Technology
47, Shamala Hills, Near Lake View Road, Bhopal- 462013
Phone: 0755-2284281


Government Engineering College
Plot No 9-10 M P Nagar Bhopal- 462011
Phone: 0755-2553875


Govt. S.V. Polytechnic
Polytechnic Square , Bhopal- 462013
Phone: 0755-2540402


Govt. Women's Polytechnic
6 No. Stop, Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2552784


Institute of Hotel Management
Near Post Office, Ravi Shankar Nagar, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2564397


Mahatma Gandhi College
Bhopal Naka, Sehore, Bhopal- 466001
Phone: 0755-2581572

Maulana Azad College of Technology
Mact Campus, Bhopal- 462007
Phone: 0755-2557800, 2557316, 2557317, 2557327, 2557328

Website: www.manit.ac.in/


Moti Lal Vighyan Mahavidhyalaya
Near Governor House, Bhopal
Phone: 0755-2551460


Rajeev Gandhi College
E-8, Trilanga Colony, Shahpura, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2593118



Rak College
Sehore, Rak Campus, Bhopal- 466001
Phone: 0755-257154


Ram Manohar Lohiya College
62, MLA Qtrs, Jawahar Chowk, Bhopal- 462003
Phone: 0755-2230131


Saifia College Arts
Commerce and Law, Ahmedabad Palace, Koh-E-Fiza, Bhopal- 462001
Phone: 0755-2542079

Sarojini Naidu Govt. Girls P.G. (Autonomous) College
Shivaji Nagar, 6 No. Bus Stop, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2552560

Scope College (AISECT)
E2, Shankar Nagar, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016
Phone: 0755-2567333


Soft-Line Computer College
Z-30, Civil Line, Near Polytechnic College, Shamill Hills, Bhopal- 462013
Phone: 0755-2558323

Eminent personalities associated with Bhopal

• Shankar Dayal Sharma, former President of India and former Professor at the Harvard Law School.
• Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan), famous actress and wife of actor Amitabh Bachchan
• Javed Akhtar, Bollywood song writer and poet; also part of Salim-Javed scriptwrite of the Sholay fame
• J Swaminathan, eminent artist; closely associated with the founding of Bharat Bhavan.
• M.N. Buch: Retired IAS Officer settled in Bhopal. Well known for his forthright views of many issues.
• Aslam Sher Khan: Member of the World Cup winning Indian Hockey team in 1975 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Also became a Member of Parliament.
• Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (aka Tiger Pataudi), India's youngest captain in Test Cricket. His association with Bhopal is through his mother's family.
• Shaharyar Khan: Former Pakistani Foreign Secretary. Belongs to the Bhopal Royal family. Is presently the President of Pakistan's Cricket Control Board.
• Abdul Qadeer Khan: Migrated to Pakistan after his schooling. Father of the Pakistani Atom Bomb. Has bought himself negative attention by selling nuclear secrets to many countries.
• Raza Murad, Bollywood actor.
• Miss Iris C. Auer (Member of British Empire) 1904-1998 Dedicated her life for the growth of education in Bhopal.