The lake city of Bhopal with day trips to the Sanchi stupas, Bhimbetka rock shelters and Bhojpur.
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Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh, known as the City of Lakes, with an old walled quarter of mosques and bazaars and a newer town by the Upper Lake. Within about 50 km lie two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Buddhist stupas of Sanchi and the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka. It suits history lovers, families and anyone who wants an easy, well-connected heritage trip.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
The Great Stupa at SanchiTaj-ul-Masajid, BhopalGreat Stupa of Sanchi and its gatewayDomes and minarets of Taj-ul-Masajid
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to March
The most comfortable time, with winter highs of about 27°C and lows of about 8°C. November to February is the peak season.
April to June
Hot and dry, with highs of about 44°C. Midday sightseeing at open sites like Sanchi is tiring; go early in the morning.
July to September
Monsoon months. The lakes fill up and the countryside turns green, and tourism sources describe this as a good time too.
Sights and activities
1
Sanchi Stupa complex
A hilltop group of Buddhist monuments begun under Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, with the Great Stupa, its carved gateways, smaller stupas, an Ashoka pillar, a Gupta-period temple and monastery ruins. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989.
Distance
About 46 km north-east of Bhopal
Entry
Rs 30 for Indian and SAARC citizens, Rs 500 for foreigners
Timings
Daytime hours; sources give 6:30 am to 6:30 pm or 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Sandstone rock shelters inside Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary with prehistoric paintings of hunting, dancing and rituals. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.
Distance
About 45 km south of Bhopal
Entry
Rs 10 to Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 100 to Rs 200 for foreigners (sources differ); parking Rs 20 for a car
A large red sandstone mosque with three white domes and two tall minarets, begun in the 19th century and completed in 1985. One of the largest mosques in India.
Distance
Old city, about 4 km from Bhopal Junction
Entry
Free
Timings
6 am to 8 pm; non-Muslims are not allowed inside on Fridays
A large anthropology museum on about 200 acres of Shyamla Hills, with indoor galleries and open-air displays of tribal homes and painted rock shelters.
Distance
Shyamla Hills, about 9 km from Bhopal Junction
Entry
Rs 50 per person, Rs 25 for students
Timings
11 am to 6:30 pm (Mar-Aug), 10 am to 5:30 pm (Sep-Feb); closed Mondays and national holidays
State and private buses link Bhopal with Indore (about 190 km, about 4 hours) and other cities. Regular buses run from Bhopal to Sanchi (about 46 km) and Raisen.
By train
Bhopal Junction (BPL) is in the city, and Rani Kamlapati station is the second main stop; both have trains from most parts of India, including the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat from New Delhi. Sanchi has its own small station.
By air
Raja Bhoj Airport (BHO), about 13 to 15 km from central Bhopal and about 55 km from Sanchi, with flights from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Bhopal, either near the Upper Lake and Shyamla Hills or close to Bhopal Junction or Rani Kamlapati station, and do Sanchi and Bhimbetka as day trips.
Getting around
Auto-rickshaws are the handiest way around Bhopal; agree the fare first. An auto from the airport to the city costs about Rs 250 to Rs 400.
App cabs and prepaid taxis from the airport to MP Nagar cost about Rs 450 to Rs 700 and take 35 to 50 minutes.
BCLL city buses run on set routes; the airport bus costs about Rs 30 to Rs 60.
For Sanchi, take a bus from Bhopal or a local train to Sanchi station; for Bhimbetka and Bhojpur, a hired taxi for the day is the practical choice.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Three-star hotels, including the state-run MPT Lake View Residency
₹2,000 to ₹4,000
Luxury
Five-star and heritage hotels such as Jehan Numa Palace and Courtyard by Marriott
₹5,500 to ₹10,000
Food
Bhopal is known for its Nawabi food. The old city around the bazaars has tea shops and breakfast joints, and the lakeside has restaurants. A simple meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about Rs 230, and a mid-range meal for two about Rs 900. Sanchi has only a few basic eateries.
Try these
Nawabi and Mughlai dishes (rich meat curries and kebabs of the old city)
Sulemani chai (a local tea served in old-city tea shops)
Bhopali paan
Vegetarian food is expected to be easy to find in a large city, but check for Jain meals in advance.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,400
₹450
₹200 per person
Mid-range
₹3,000
₹900
₹2,500 per vehicle
Luxury
₹8,000
₹2,000
₹3,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permits are needed. Foreign visitors pay higher entry fees at Sanchi, Udayagiri and Bhimbetka.
Safety
By day
The main sights are busy and well visited in daytime.
At night
Use app cabs or agreed-fare autos after dark.
Solo women
Usual city precautions apply.
Roads
Roads to Sanchi, Bhojpur and Bhimbetka are paved highways and well used by buses and taxis.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are easy to find in town.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town.
Medical
Bhopal has the main hospitals; Sanchi has chemists, doctors and ambulance services.
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