By: David H.
Submitted: 2011-11-14 23:29:53 | Word Count: 517
Madhya Pradesh 'The Heart of India' is one of the largest states in the country. The state is literally located right in the middle of the country and formerly referred as Gondwana. Because of its excellent geographical settings and strategic location, it attracted several rulers such as Guptas, Patiharas and Chandelas.
The state of Madhya Pradesh comprises forty eight districts that are grouped into eight divisions such as Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Ujjain, Sagar and Chambal. Out of these, Bhopal is the capital city of the state and home to several industries of electrical goods, jewelry and chemicals. It is the second largest city of the state after Indore and it also serves as the administrative headquarter.
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The city of Bhopal was established by King Bhoj with a capital. Initially, the city was known as 'Bhojpal' as most of the construction work around the city was done the King Bhoj.The city of Bhopal had been struck by the world's worst industrial catastrophe. The disaster took place on December 2, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant. This happed due to the leakage of methyl isocyanate gas (MIC) along with several other toxic gases from the plant. The immediate deaths calculated were around three thousand and it is estimated that around twenty five thousand people died since then.
The city of Bhopal is one of the most visited and sought after tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh. The city is very popular among the tourists wandering from historical artifacts to the most contemporary structures. Some of the must visit places of the city includes Taj-ul Masjid, the Moti Masjid, Shukat Mahal, the Laxmi Narayan Temple and many more to add to the list. Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the most popular temples of the city and it is also called as Birla Temple as it was built by Birla, the leading business family of the country. The temple was constructed in order to pay regards to Goddess Lakshmi along with the preserver of the world known as Narayan. The temple also contains the magnificent idols of a reclining Shiva with his wife Parvati.
One can also visit the Birla Museum located just in close proximity with the temple. This museum houses a range of sculptures from several cities of the state such as Raisen, Sehore, Shahdole, Mandsaur etc. It also exhibits a range of sculptures and items that dated back to the twelfth century. Taj-ul-Masjid is considered as one of the most impressive and elegant buildings of the city. This is one of the largest mosques in India and it literally means 'The Crown of Mosques'. The mosque consists of a main hallway with marvelous pillars, excellent marble flooring and grand courtyard. The Quibla Hall is carved with around eleven recessed arches. This landmark is considered as the most significant landmark of Bhopal.
The city also offers some of the most prominent historical and religious sites, wildlife sanctuaries and many more to enchant the visitors. The city is also known as the cultural center of India as it mesmerizes the guests with its charm and culture.
