If you want to experience the genteel, cultured lifestyle of days gone by, explore this city steeped in Nawabi traditions. Bhopal is a mix of the old and new along with its mosques and monuments, it also has some wonderful museums set up in the present day, which showcase tribal art, archaeology, modern art and architecture.

 Highlights:

• Old City (Chowk) -this fascinating maze of alleys has old houses and shops from the days of the nawabs and begums. You can buy the famous Bhopali beadwork bags, caps, tussar silk, silver jewellery, spices and ittar in the markets here. At the centre is the famous Jami Masjid built by Begum Qudsia, while another famous mosque close-by is the Moti Masjid.
• Taj-ul-Masjid -this mosque is impressive due to its sheer size it has a large courtyard and tank and an enormous pillared prayer hall.
• Bharat Bhavan -one of India's most famous centres of art, this complex has a tribal art gallery with fascinating collections of Bastar art, as well as a modern art gallery. Regular events and exhibitions are also held here round the year.
• Archaeological Museum -This has an impressive collection of Jain and Buddhist sculpture dating from 200 BC to the 12th century AD.
• Bhopal Lake and Zoo -The larger of the two beautiful lakes in Bhopal is a pleasant place to go for walks and picnics. On its shores is the Van Vihar or open zoo where you can see animals such as white tigers, lions, leopards and bears kept in open enclosures. A good time to visit is around 4 pm, which is their feeding time.
• Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya -This is the Museum of Mankind spread over the grounds surrounding the upper or larger lake. It has exhibits of tribal houses, costumes, jewellery, kitchenware, instruments and tools.

Around Bhopal

Bhimbhetka Cave Paintings -Around 40km from Bhopal is the site of the ancient cave paintings dating from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic period (8000-5000BC)  you can see some well-preserved and vivid paintings of human stick figures depicting scenes from daily life, hunting scenes, animals such as cattle, deer, bison and rhinos, all connecting you with the first seeds of human civilization flourishing in the heart of India.