Bhopal

Bhopal is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. The city was the capital of the former royal family of Bhopal kingdom.Bhopal is known as the City of Lakes for its various natural and artificial lakes and is also one of the greenest cities in India.

Bhopal is the base town to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bhibetka Rock Shelters & Caves and Sanchi Stupa.

Bhimbetka rock shelters and caves , 45 kms from Bhopal city , exhibits the existence of human life in Indian sub-continent and evidence of stone age. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, These are  “rare glimpse” into human settlement and cultural evolution from hunter-gatherers, to agriculture, and expressions of spirituality. Some of the Bhimbetka rock shelters feature prehistoric  cave paintings and the earliest are about 30,000 years old.These cave paintings show themes such as animals, early evidence of dance and hunting. Bhimbetka rock shelters and caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sanchi Stupa at Sanchi , 50 kms from Bhopal is a Buddhist complex having a Buddhist Stupa – typically containing relics of the Buddha or his followers. The Stupas of Sanchi were constructed on the orders of Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century BC to preserve and spread the Buddhist philosophy. The glorious Sanchi Stupa is believed to be the oldest stone structure in the world and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.