Places to visit nearby destination - Bhopal
Bhimbetka Caves
Known for their prehistoric paintings, the famous Bhimbetka
caves are located at about forty-six kilometres south of
Bhopal. The caves, surrounded by the northern fringe of
the Vindhyan ranges, are believed to have provided shelter
to the primitive man. The caves or the rock shelters belonging
to the Neolithic age number more than 600. Inside most of
these caves are the paintings that depict, in vivid panoramic
detail, the life of the pre-historic cave dwellers. The
oldest paintings are believed to be up to 12,000 years old.
The caves lying in the rocky terrain of dense forest and
craggy cliffs have become an invaluable chronicle in the
history of man.
Bhojpur
 The ancient city of Bhojpur lies twenty-eight kilometres
southeast of Bhopal. The city is famous for the immense
Bhojeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also referred
to as the Somnath of the east, this impressive temple overlooks
a vast, now dried-up lake. One of the features of the temple
is a massive lingam which is about 2.3 metres high and 5.3
metres in circumference. The temple was never completed
and the earthen ramp used to raise it to dome-level still
stands. The temple even today remains one of the best examples
of temple architecture of the 11th-13th centuries.
Pachmarhi
Set in the Satpura Hills at a height of 1,067 metres above
sea level, the hill station of Pachmarhi is located about
195 km from Bhopal. Legend has it that it is in the forests
of Pachmarhi that Pandavas spent some part of their exile.
The serene surroundings, tranquil forest glades, groves
of wild bamboo and jamun, dense sal forests and delicate
bamboo thickets make Pachmarhi an ideal retreat for those
on look out for a change from urban chaos. Pachmarhi is
also an archaeological treasure house. The cave shelters
in the Mahadeo Hills, containing rock paintings believed
to have been made during AD 500-800, are the prime attractions
here.
Sanchi
 Located about 46 km northeast of Bhopal,
the town of Sanchi is famous for the Buddhist works of art
dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD. The
ancient stupas, monasteries, temples, and pillars form a
major source of attraction here. Of these, the most famous
is the Sanchi Stupa 1, originally built by the Mauryan Emperor
Ashoka.
Udaygiri
Five kilometres from Vidisha are located
the Udaygiri Caves, cut into a sandstone hill. The caves
date from AD 320 to 606. An inscription in one of these
caves states that it was produced during the reign of Chandragupta
II (AD 382-401). Of the 20 Gupta caves, two are Jain and
18 Hindu. One can have a look at an image of Vishnu in his
boar incarnation in the Cave 5. On the top of the hill are
the ruins of the 6th-century Gupta temple. |
