BHOPAL CHOWK BAZAR

A visit to the Chowk (Bazaar), in the heart of the Old City, can be a wonderful way to gain insight into the daily lives of Bhopal's warm, friendly citizens. This is a fascinating area for a photographer or a life documentation to spend endless hours – the very heart of Bhopal. Bursting with old mosques and residences (Havelis) that hark back to olden times, teeming with shops that are a collector’s heaven, the Chowk is mesmeric in its offerings. 

Its ramshackle streets are lined with old havelis and atmospheric stalls; it's impossible not to get involved in the village vibe, where shopping, hard-core haggling, and gossiping occupy one's time. Shop around for embroidered velvet cushions, tussar silk, silver jewelry. You will be overwhelmed by the traditional Bhopali art and craft worked purses of velvet and the like! Not a place to miss at any cost – it is soul itself. It’s a must to visit this old city market and walk around the narrow lanes to see how the old city functions and also to get some great bargains on the special arts of Bhopal like the intricate bead work and the hand embroidery that Bhopal is known for.

BANDHAVGARH FORT

Bandhavgarh Fort is one of the oldest forts in Madhya Pradesh India. Considered to be more than 2500 years. One-hour trek up to the fort is worth the effort. The charm of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored. There are about 32 hills and hillocks of Vindhyachal ranges in Bandhavgarh. Among them highest one is about 811mtr high. At this safe height, on a plateau of 4 sq. km. you find the fort, made in 10th century, on the top, called Bandhavgarh.

Bandhavgarh fort is 164 kms away from Jabalpur and you can easily take the local bus to reach the national park. Katni is the nearest station at a distance of 120 kms and this railway junction connects every corner of the country with the national park.

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhawgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here. 

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the finest national park in the India and has the distinction of harboring the highest concentration of tigers per unit area of forest. The Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over on area of 448 sq km with a cross area of 105 sq km. At the center of the park is the bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys, These valleys end in small, swampy meadows locally known as “bohera”. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. Since then many steps have been taken to retain.

Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt national habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area. These includes gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger.

BHOJESHWAR TEMPLE BHOJPUR

Bhojpur is a town of historical and religious importance in Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh, India. Founded by the legendary Parmar King of Dhar, Raja Bhoj (1010-1053), and named after him, Bhojpur, 28 km from Bhopal, is renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva temple and Cyclopean dam.

The temple which has earned the nomenclature of the Somnath of the east, is known as the Bhojeshwar Temple. 

The temple was never completed and the earthen ramp used to raise it to dome-level still stands. Had it been completed, it would have had very few rivals. As it is, even with the ravages of time, it remains one of the best examples of temple architecture of the 11th - 13th centuries.

Bhojpur is famous for the incomplete Bhojeshwar temple, which is dedicated to Shiva. The temple houses the largest Shiva lingam in India, which is 5.5 m (18 ft) tall and 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in circumference and is crafted out a single rock.

UDAYAGIRI CAVES

Udayagiri, in Madhya Pradesh, is a hitherto unspoilt tourist attraction in the locales of Madhya Pradesh. This place is famous for its rock-cut caverns and voluminous carved out sanctuaries in the hills of sandstone located in the Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh. The word Udayagiri, means the 'Hills of Sunrise'. Indeed, they are built in such a manner so as to welcome the first rays of the rising sun. Udayagiri caves are located approximately four kilometers from the town of Vidisha and about thirteen kilometers from Sanchi, which boasts of a stupendous Stupa, or Buddhist shrine. 

 It is estimated that these caverns were carved during 4th to 5th century A.D. At that time, the monarch of India was Chandragupta II. Thus, this can also be called another marvelous specimen of Gupta art. The grand entrance, the motifs and the intricacy and finesse of the artwork makes one wonder about the zenith of excellence reached by the artisans of this bygone era.

The caves have several statues of Lord Vishnu, one of the gods of the divine trinity of the Hindu faith. There's a statue of Lord Vishnu as the Varaha Avatar (or the Boar Incarnation) and also one of the reclining Lord Vishnu. 

To sum up, Udayagiri is a treat for tourists with an eye for architecture and sculpture and bears testimony of the grandeur of the Gupta era that augments the enjoyment factor of the excursions form Bhopal. 

 

BHOPALI PAAN @ BHOPAL

Betel leaf or Paan, as it is known in India, is an integral part of Indian culture and society. It is believed that the practice of chewing Paan originated in South East Asian Islands. The preparation of the Betel leaf or Paan acquired different forms and methods in India and besides the Banarasi Paan, it was the Bhopali Paan that conquered the heart of people. The Betel leaf or the Paan over time became very popular in the Indian Sub Continent. Noorjahan, the mother of the Mughal Emperor Shah jahan is said to have popularized the habit of chewing Betel leaf.

Bhopali Paan is an integral part of the Culture of Bhopal and a Bhopali Paan shop can be found at every nook and corner of the city of Bhopal. The preparation of Bhopali Paan is quite different from the Paans found in other parts of India. The Bhopali Paan is topped with various kinds of toppings which include chuna, kattha and supari. There are different varieties of Bhopali Paan and one can even get an order made Bhopali Paan. The people of Bhopal consider Paan making as a form of Art and therefore it is a part of their culture and heritage which has been passed down from one generation to the other. 

Bhopali Paan is a part of the tradition of the place and therefore everything related to it is very traditional which has been continuing for ages. The Beetel leaves are wrapped in a moist red cloth which is called 'Shaal baaf' and is kept in a metal casket called Paan- daan. The Paan Daan has several other compartments in which the other fillings of the Paan are stored. The Betel leaf or the Paan is said to be the most popular natural mouth refresher. Besides having refreshment value, Bhopali Paan also has digestive value and is often offered to guests after a hearty meal.

IJTIMA

The three-day religious congregation of Ijtima is considered among the most important events and festivals celebrated in Bhopal. This event is held every year and is accompanied by a gorgeous fair. Previously it was celebrated in the premises of the Taj- ul- Masjid but very recently the venue of this congregation has been shifted to Ghasipura, a place near the city of Bhopal.

Muslim pilgrims from various corners of India gather in Bhopal on this occasion. This event of Bhopal is probably the second largest gathering of the Muslim community in the world that does not have any political affiliation. However, Hajj is the biggest one.

During these three days a gorgeous fair is also held near the venue. The local people participate in it with much exuberance. It is said that in the earlier days, during the colonial rule in India, the fair that accompanied Ijtima of Bhopal was popular among the locals because of the clothes that were sold there. The foreign delegates used to bring many clothes along with them and sell them here at very low prices. After the advent of the media and increasing availability of good quality clothing materials in India the hype that surrounded the trade of the discarded clothes of the foreigners gradually disappeared.

Ijtima held in Bhopal is considered to be one of the largest religious congregations in the world. It carries some of the greatest spiritual messages, not only for the Muslims but also for the non- Muslims around the world.

U S PIZZA BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

US Pizza 1^st started in Bangalore in 1995 and now in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; U.S Pizza offers the most delicious pizzas in all possible local flavors. In the last 15 years, it has established more than 76 outlets in 29 cities across the country.

CONTACT DETAILS-

Phone- +91- 755- 3017017

Website- http://www.uspizza.in

Address- E- 5/7, Surya Tower, Opp. Habibganj Police Station, Bittan Market, Bhopal- 462016, Madhya Pradesh, India.

BLOOD BANKS IN BHOPAL

Red Cross Blood Bank Phone: +91- 755- 755-2556707, 2526108, 2526100 Address: Indian Red Cross Society, Choraha Park, Near JAY Prakash Hospital, Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal- 462016, Madhya Pradesh, India. Bhopal Blood Bank Phone: +91- 755- 4242131, 2538891, 3295143 Address: 4 Fatehgarh, Opp Old GATE Of Hamidia Hospital, Hamidia Road, Bhopal- 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India. Bhopal Blood Bank Phone: +91- 755- 2579621 Address: 5/635, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal- 462003, Madhya Pradesh, India. Bhopal Medical Centre Phone: +91- 755- 2765629, 2553403, 2577365, 2573990 Address: 202/203, B/H Jyoti Cinema Zone I, M P Nagar, Bhopal – 462011, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Hamidia Hospital Phone: +91- 755- 755-2540222, 2540051 Address: Saradar Manzil, Royal Market Road, Hamidia Road, Bhopal- 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India.

G M C Blood Bank Phone: +91- 755- 755-2739303 Address: Royal Market, Bhopal- 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Dr Maiti Bhopal Path Lab & New Bhopal Blood Bank Phone: +91- 755- 755-4242131, 4276663, 2426281, 4241213, 3206332 Address: E4/149, Market No 10, Arera Colony, Bhopal- 462016, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Arpan Blood Bank
Phone: +91- 755- 755-2574940, 4090142

Address: 131/6 Kiran Complex Zone II, Near Pragati Petrol Pump NearSargam Talkies, M P Nagar, Bhopal- 462011, Madhya Pradesh, India.