Bhopal

Bhopal is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Bhopal district and Bhopal division. Located in central India on the Malwa plateau, the city is known for its natural and artificial lakes, and is often referred to as the "City of Lakes". Bhopal is one of the greenest cities in India and serves as a major administrative, educational, and cultural centre of the state.

Background

Tradition associates the founding of Bhopal with the 11th-century Paramara king Raja Bhoj, after whom the city and the Upper Lake (Bhojtal) are believed to be named. The modern city was founded in the early 18th century by Dost Mohammad Khan, an Afghan soldier in the Mughal army, who established the princely state of Bhopal around 1723.

For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Bhopal was distinguished as a princely state ruled by a succession of female rulers, the Begums of Bhopal, including Qudsia Begum, Sikandar Begum, Shah Jahan Begum and Sultan Jahan Begum. Their reigns are credited with significant urban development, the building of mosques such as the Taj-ul-Masajid and Jama Masjid, and reforms in education and public works. After India's independence, the state of Bhopal acceded to the Indian Union in 1949 and later became part of the reorganised state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956, with Bhopal designated as its capital.

Geography

Bhopal lies on uneven terrain marked by hills and a series of lakes. The Upper Lake (Bhojtal) and the Lower Lake together form the Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar site of international importance. The Vindhya range lies to the south, and the city has a tropical savanna climate with hot summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and cool winters.

Timeline

• 11th century: Traditional association with Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty.
• c. 1723: Foundation of the modern city by Dost Mohammad Khan.
• 1819–1926: Period of rule by the Begums of Bhopal.
• 1949: Bhopal State accedes to the Indian Union.
• 1956: Bhopal becomes the capital of the newly formed state of Madhya Pradesh.
• 1984: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy at the Union Carbide pesticide plant, one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

Administration and civic structure

Civic administration is carried out by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. The city houses the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (state legislative assembly), the Mantralaya (state secretariat) at Vallabh Bhavan, and the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal is represented in the Lok Sabha by the Bhopal parliamentary constituency.

Economy

Bhopal's economy is anchored by government and public administration, alongside manufacturing, education, and services. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) operates a major heavy-electrical equipment plant at Piplani, which historically transformed the local industrial landscape. The city also hosts small and medium enterprises, electronics units, and a growing IT presence at the Bhopal IT Park at Badwai.

Education and research

Bhopal is an established centre for higher education and research. Notable institutions include:

• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal
• Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT)