About 1000 years ago, in the 11th century, the legendary king Raja Bhoj of the Parmara dynasty who ruled southwest Madhya Pradesh, built the city of Bhojapal. Today it is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh and a good place to spend a thoughtful, relaxing and excursion driven vacation on your tour to Bhopal.

Bhopal, central India, is clearly demarcated into the new and old city by the Upper and Lower Lakes said to have been built under the reign of Raja Bhoj. The Upper and Lower Lakes are popular tourists attractions and offer rides on row-boats, pedal-boats, sailboats picnic and other recreational facilities.

The old city bustles with activity in its ironically laidback style about the chowk crowded with the old marketplace, railway station, a cluster of hotels and a plethora of old mosques that date back to the 1819 period when begums ruled the city. Taj-ul-Masjid, Jama Masjid and Moti Masjid are a must see mosque on your tour to Bhopal.

Taj-ul-Masjid though one of the largest and beautiful mosques in India commissioned under Shah Jahan Begum, it is still incomplete. Towering terracotta walls protect the two white domed minarets. Qudsia Begum built Jama Masjid in 1837; her daughter later built the Moti Masjid that was similar to Jama Masjid in its squat dome less minarets in 1860.

You can also visit the Lakshmi Narayan temple (Birla Mandir) that commands panoramic view of the lakes and the old city of Bhopal. There are museums such as State Archaeological Museum and Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya in the new part of Bhopal. You can visit the museums on your tour to Bhopal to gain a quicker insight into the culture of Bhopal and its people.

Van Vihar Safari Park is perfect for a day's excursion on your tour to Bhopal. A zoo by all standards, it offers shelter to tigers, lions, leopards etc. Later in the evening, you can enjoy a traditional folk art performance at Bharat Bhavan, the leading center for preservation of traditional folk art forms in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.