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.
