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| BHOPAL - the city of lakes |
History
of Bhopal |
| Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a
fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, old historic city,
and modern urban planning. It is situated on the 11th
century city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja (king) Bhoja but
the present city was established by an Afghan soldier,
Dost Mohammed (1707-1740). Fleeing from Delhi in the
chaotic period that followed Aurangzeb's death, Dost
Mohammed encountered the beautiful queen Kamalapati, who
sought his aid after the murder of her consort. A charming legend relates how the queen would recline in a lotus barge that, on moonlights, 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 the city. Bhopal today presents a multi-faceted profile; the old city with its marketplaces 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 1819 to 1926. Equally impressive is the new city with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. |
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