Places of
Interest in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal Travel
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 of Interest in Bhopal:
Vidisha
Vidisha or Besnagar as it is called in the pali sculptures, once the prosperous
capital of the western dominions of the Sungas, contains some remarkable antiquites
that throw light on the considerable architectural development of the period.
Situated in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, Vidisha, 10 km from Sanchi,
occupies an important place amonst the ancient cities in India. In the 6th and
5th centuries BC, it rose to become an important trade contre and a bustling
city under the Sungas, Nagas, Satvahanas and Guptas. The Emperor Ashoka was
governor of Vidisha and it finds mention in Kalidasa's immortal Meghdoor. Deserted
after the 6th century AD it came into prominence again as Bhilsa during the
medieval period (9th to 12 th centuries AD) . It later passed on to the Malwa
Sultans, the Mughals, and the Scindias.
Udaygiri Caves
13 km from Sanchi and 4 km from Vidisha are a group of rock- cut cave sanctuaries,
carved into a sandstone hill that stands, sentinel like, on the horizon. An
inscription in one of these states that it was produced during the reign of
Chandragupta II (382-401 AD ), thus dating these caves to 4-5 AD. The caves
possess all the distinctive features that gave Gupta art its unique vitality,
vigour nd richness of expression, the beautifully moulded capitals, The treatment
of the intercolomination, the design of the enterance way and the system of
continuing the architrave as a sting course round the structure.
Gyraspur
41 km north-east of Sanchi, Gyraspur was a place of considerable importance
in the medieval period. Here in the ruins called Athakhambe( Eight Pillars )
and Chaukamble ( Four Pillars) are what remains of the columned halls of two
temples belonging to the 9th and 10th centuries AD. The faceted shafts of Athakhambe
with their extreme delicacy of carving testify to the high degree of craftsmanship
during the period. Other monuments of note at Gyraspur are of the early 10th
century. Bajra Math and the Mala Devi Temple, the latter distinguished by its
carved pillars with foliated motifs, representatives of the richest post-Gupta
style.
Udaypur
90 km from Bhopal via Vidisha and Ganj Basoda. The colossal Neelkanthesh wara
temple here is an outstanding example of Parmara art and architecture of the
11th centure AD. The crowning beauty of this temple lies in its well proportioned
and gracefully designed spire or shikhar, and delicately carved medallions adorning
its sides. The fascinating spire is perhaps unrivalled in beauty in the whole
array of Indian temples.
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