Bhopal

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh combines the panoramic splendor, historicity and novel urban conception. It is situated on the site of an 11th Century City, Bhojpal, founded by Raja Bhoj. This is the state's largest and fastest growing city and an upbeat cultural centre these days, whose museums, galleries and the 19th century Islamic architecture, provide ample incentive to break any long journey across central India. They still bear the aristocratic imprint of its former rulers. Bhopal today presents a multi-faceted profile that includes the old city with its market places and the fine old mosques and palaces. Equally impressive is the new city with its green, wonderfully laid out parks and gardens, spacious avenues and streamlined modern structures.

Geographical Location
Bhopal is a hilly area, located on the Malwa plateau, has an area of 284.9 sq. km and the land rises towards the Vindhya Range to the south. The altitude of this city is 523 meters above sea level. The municipality covers 286 sq. km. It has two very beautiful lakes, these are the Upper Lake (built by King Bhoj) and the Lower Lake. The catchment area of the Upper Lake is 361 sq. km while that of the Lower Lake is 9.6sq. km. The Upper Lake drains into the Kolans River.

The districts of Guna bound Bhopal district to the north, Vidisha to the northeast, Raisen to the east and southeast, Sehore to the southwest and west, and Raigarh to the northwest. The city is situated in the northwestern part of Madhya Pradesh, close to the MP-Rajasthan border. It is 46 km from Sanchi, 186 km from Indore and 195 km from Pachmarhi.

The city of Bhopal lies in the southern part of the district, and the majority of the population resides within Bhopal municipality. The town of Berasia lies in the northern part of the district.

History
The Parmar King Bhoj (-1000-1055) founded Bhopal, who had his capital at Dhar. The city was originally known as Bhojpal named after Bhoj and the dam ('pal') that he is said to have constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal.

Bhopal was one of the last princely states to sign the 'Instrument of Accession' 1947. Though India achieved Independence in August 1947, the ruler of Bhopal acceded to the Indian government only on May 1, 1949. Sindhi refugees from Pakistan were accommodated in Bairagarh, a western suburb of Bhopal.

According to the States Reorganization Act in 1956, Bhopal State was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh, and Bhopal was declared as its capital. The population of the city rose rapidly.

In December 1984, a cloud of methyl isocyanate was accidentally released from the factory of Union Carbide, a multinational company (now taken over by Dow Chemicals). The cloud covered half of the city and killed 3000 people immediately, 15,000 later and left 50000 with permanent disabilities.

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