Planning a weekend gateaway from Bhopal will never be a problem as there are a number of destinations around the capital city, which are unique in their own ways. Choose from the various cities given below and plan accordingly.
Indore
The biggest city in Madhya Pradesh, Indore is around 190 km from Bhopal and will take you around 4 hours to reach there. Once ruled by the Holkar dynasty, this place today has many historical sites, including the ever-popular Rajwada (Holkar Palace) and the Lal Bagh Palace, among others.
Apart from historical tourist destinations, this place has many also has temples and other religious places of worship. A visit to the Khajrana Ganesh Temple is a must for all Lord Ganesh devotees. If you are interested in knowing more about the history and culture of the place, visit the Central Museum. And before you head back to Bhopal, make sure you have a taste of the spicy chaats and namkeens of Indore. To know more about this city, you can visit our Indore Travel Guide page.
Ujjain
Famous for its oranges, Nagpur is around 350 km from Bhopal. A visit to this city will never be completed with a trip to the partly-in-ruins but enchanting fort of Gavilgad, which stands tall at a height of 370 feet above sea level. Dhamma Chakra is an important stupa in the history of the country as it is where many Dalits were addressed by BR Ambedkar to convert to Buddhism. Apart from its historical importance, this stupa, made of marble and granite, is popular for its architectural splendour.
Nagpur also has many serene lakes and gardens coloured with pretty flowers, making it popular place for all lovers of nature. Make sure you visit the Musical Garden before you head back to Bhopal. If you want to know more about Nagpur, visit our Nagpur Travel Guide page.
Sanchi
Sanchi is one of those places in the country which evokes a sense of spirituality and divinity. An important place for Buddhism and its history, Sanchi is famous for its stupas, pillars and monasteries, among others. Most of these structures were constructed between 3rd century BCE and 12th century CE.
Located at a distance of 46 km from Bhopal, this historical place is home to the oldest stone structure in India, the Great Stupa of Sanchi. At a distance of 3km from Sanchi is the Udaigiri Caves. Explore this mysterious looking cave and be ready to know more about the history of the region. And, if visiting this cave is making you eager to learn more about the history of Sanchi, a visit to the Sanchi Archaeological Museum will definitely ease your curiosity. To know more about this place, visit our Sanchi Travel Guide page.
Bhimbetka
Travelling to this place from Bhopal will take you hardly one hour as it is at a distance of only 45 km from the capital city. One of the most famous tourist destinations of this charming town is the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this place will impress all those who are interested in history. This structure, which is around 10 km long and 3 km wide, has around 700 shelters with rock paintings on it. This prehistoric site house more than 400 rock paintings, some coloured with vegetable dye. From images of animals to plants and gods, these paintings form a very important part of the history of the country. To know more about this place, visit our Bhimbetka Travel Guide page.
Make sure you take your camera along with you as beauty of all the above destinations will surely take your breath away.