ERA FOUND AT SAMSAGARH - JAIN TEMPLE, BHOPAL

Samasgarh, situated around 20 kms away from Bhopal near Ratibad, is believed to be discovered by a Jain Saint (Muni). It is said that the place was once renowned for an old Jain Temple. Now at Samasgarh, one can found ruins of one dozen Parmar era temples containing symbols of Shiva temple and Vishnu temple, hundreds of idols of Jain tirthankaras, remnants of the Jain temple etc. Two old water ponds are also located near Samasgarh.  This place was discovered 70 years ago by a jain Muni. 

Samasgarh was known for old Jain temple but will now known for Statues and ruins of Parmar era temple which had been recently found there.  It is first time that so many remains of Parmar Era have been found near capital. Inspite of the media hype they still lie unprotected and unmarked.  If one has to go to the site one has to depend on the local people who only know that some statues which were recently in newspaper have been found in their village. 

 

Ruins one dozen temples have been located, in which symbols of Shiva temples, Vishnu temples and other temples could be identified at the location near the old Jain temple.  The ruins suggest that these temples would be of the Parmara-era that may have been destroyed by some reason.  Historians believe that areas around the State capital were ruled by the Parmara King Bhoj and these ruins would definitely have been under his protection. Apart from Hindu, temples, ruins of Jain temples could also be easily identified.  There are two old water ponds/ well near the site.

THE NAWAB'S OF BHOPAL

The Nawabs of Bhopal were the Muslim rulers of the princely state of Bhopal, now part of the modern state of Madhya Pradesh, in India. The last Nawab was Hamidullah Khan, who acceded his state to India in 1947. The Nawabs of Bhopal ruled the princely state – Bhopal before the Indian independence. During the medieval period and during the British rule in India, the Nawabs were the supreme authority of Bhopal.

 

Contrary to the popular notion, the most illustrious Bhopal Nawabs were women. According to historical findings, the first among the Nawabs of Bhopal was “Nawab Dost Muhammed Khan” - the man who rebuilt the city founded by Raja Bhoj.

 

The female Nawabs were also known as the Begums, their official title being Nawab Begum of Bhopal. The terms “Begum of Bhopal” may in theory also refer to the wives of male Nawabs of Bhopal; however, in practice such ladies are only rarely referred to by that title. The era of female Nawabs started with Begum Nawab Qudsia Begum. Born in 1801, she married Nawab Nazar Mohammed Khan in the year 1817. Qudsia Begum took the 'scepter' in her hand when her husband was killed in 1819. She proved herself as an able ruler and at the same time groomed her daughter Sikander. Nawab Sikander Jahan Begum succeeded Qudsia and kept the good work intact. She was a woman with strong will power. She was generous and kind hearted. Nawab Shah Jahan Begum was the next ruler. She was an intellectual woman and did not hesitate to protest against British highhandedness.

• Nawabs Rules in Bhopal

S. No.	Name of the Bhopal Nawabs	Ruled Time
1.	Nawab Dost Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1723-1728
2.	Nawab Sultan Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1728-1742.
3.	Nawab Faiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1742-1777
4.	Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1777-1807
5.	Nawab Ghaus Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1807-1826
6.	Nawab Muiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1826-1837.
7.	Nawab Jahangir Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1837-1844.
8.	Al-Haj Nawab Sir Hafiz Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1926-1947

• Nawab’s Begum Rules in Bhopal

S. No.	Name of the Bhopal Nawab’s Begum	Ruled Time
1.	Qudsia Begum, Regent of Bhopal	Ruled from 1819-1837
2.	Nawab Sikandar Begum	Ruled from 1860-1868
3.	Begum Sultan Shah Jehan	Ruled from 1844-1860 and 1868-1901
4.	Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan	Ruled from 1901-1926
5.	Begum Sajida Sultan	Ruled from 1961-1995

 

BUDDHIST MONUMENTS AT SANCHI

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989), Madhya Pradesh

On a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, the site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist center in India until the 12th century A.D.

Open from sunrise to sunset

Entrance Fee:

Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs. 10 per head.

Others: US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head

(children up to 15 years free)

TAJ MAHAL, BHOPAL

Taj Mahal (Palace) of Bhopal was built by Shah Jahan Begum in (1868 – 1901) the daughter of Nawab Jehangir Mohammad Khan and Sikandar Jahan Begum of Bhopal. Taj Mahal is situated near the famous Taj ul Masajid of Bhopal.

Shah Jehan Begum wanted the same glory for herself as Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. So, she named this palace the ‘Taj Mahal’. Its construction was started in 1871 and was completed in thirteen years in 1874 for a cost of Three million Rupees. Interestingly, in 1949, this palace served as a shelter to thousands of riot victims and migrants of India Pakistan partition from Sindh and Punjab for many years.

The palace has 120 rooms and eight large halls. The large entrance of this six storied building and the main lobby are huge and spacious in order to accommodated horse driven carriages inside the palace. The ‘Sawan Bhado’ pavilion in the main courtyard of the palace is an attempted remake of a similar pavilion in the Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir. Here, artificial nozzles with underground water supply were mounted inside walls for spraying cold water in hot summer afternoons.

RAJ BHAVAN, BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

Raj Bhavan (Hindi for Government House) is the official residence of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the capital city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The present governor of Madhya Pradesh is Rameshwar Thakur. 

 "RAJ BHAVAN"

     "GATE OF RAJ BHAVAN"

                                                     WAY TO RAJ BHAVAN

      RAJ BHAVAN ENTRANCE

 

                                              OFFICE CHAMBER OF H.E. THE

                                                               GOVERNOR

      RAJ BHAVAN RESIDENCE

                                                RAJ BHAVAN PRESIDENT SUITE

    RAJ BHAVAN DURBAR HALL

Website- http://rajbhavanmp.ind.in

Contact Number- +91- 755- 4080204

Address- Post Office RAJ BHAWAN (SUB OFFICE), BHOPAL- 462003, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA.

SANCHI STUPA @ BHOPAL

Sanchi is a small town on the outskirts of Bhopal, situated around 46 km from the capital city. The town comes under the district of Vidisha.  It is more of a village than a town. Sanchi is a religious place with historical and archaeological significance. Sanchi is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The place is related to Buddhism but not directly to the life of Buddha. It is more related to Ashoka than to Buddha. Ashoka built the first Stupa and put up many pillars here. The crown of famous Ashoka pillars, with four lions standing back to back, has been adopted as the national emblem of India.

Although the city is world known for these Buddhist sites, Sanchi does not have great significance or consequence in Buddhist history, though it is now considered as a pilgrimage town due to the monasteries that are present here. Emperor Ashoka came here and married the daughter of a local merchant. Sanchi thus became his center and he carried out the construction of many buildings. The Ashoka Pillar and the Great Sanchi stupa are the most exquisite works of that time. The Stupas were the earliest forms of Buddhist architecture that were the inspiration for many other buildings.

Along with the historical buildings, don't forget to visit the archaeological museum. It showcases the renowned image of four lions that once sat atop the Ashoka Pillar. Although a visit to the town is comfortable throughout the year, the best time is between the months of October and March. Hotel accommodations are available in plenty.

Jataka Tales

Jataka tales as do Aesop's fables teach generosity and self-abnegation based on previous lives of the Buddha as Bodhisattvas. As a Bodhisattva he took births as man, animal or bird. It is believed that the Buddha accumulated virtue by good deeds he did as Bodhisattvas and had attained merit for achieving nirvana in his last birth when he was born as the prince Siddhartha.

·         Six-tusked Elephant Jataka

·         The Great Monkey Jataka

·         The Vessantra Jataka

·         The Sama Jataka