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{{short description|Metropolis and state capital in Madhya Pradesh, India}}
{{About|the city in Madhya Pradesh, India|}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Bhopal
| official_name            = 
| nickname                 = ''The City of Lakes''
| named_for                = [[Bhoja|Raja Bhoja]]
| settlement_type          = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 260
| image_style              = 
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2
| image1 = Deewali New market.jpg {{!}} New Market Bhopal on the eve of Deewali 2016
| caption1 = [[New Market, Bhopal|New Market]]
| image2 = 1_of_the_rock_shelter_caves_at_Bhimbetka,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg|[[Bhimbetka rock shelters]]
| caption2 = [[Bhimbetka rock shelters|Bhimbetka Rock Shelters]] 
| image3 = Stupa 1, Sanchi 02.jpg {{!}} The Great Stupa of Sanchi in December 2013
| caption3 = [[Sanchi Stupa]]
| image4 = Upper Lake, Bhopal, M.P.jpg
| caption4 = [[Upper Lake, Bhopal|Upper Lake]]
| image5 = Mantralaya, Vallabh Bhavan, Bhopal.jpg {{!}} The Matralaya building known as Vallabh Bhavan in January 2015
| caption5 = Vallabh Bhawan (MP's [[Secretariat (administrative office)|Secretariat]])
| image6 = Van Vihar - Bhopal.jpg {{!}} A deer in the Van Vihar National Park in October 2013
| caption6 = [[Van Vihar National Park]]
| image7 = Bhopal Junction new building 01.jpg
| caption7 = [[Bhopal Junction railway station|Bhopal Junction Railway Station]]
}}
| image_caption            =
| pushpin_map              = India Madhya Pradesh#India
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|23|15|35.6|N|77|24|45.4|E|display=inline,title}}[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Bhopal&params=23_15_35.6_N_77_24_45.4_E_type:city(1798218)_region:IN-MP]
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[District]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_type5        = Ward
| subdivision_name1        = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Bhopal district|Bhopal]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Bhopal division|Bhopal Division]]
| subdivision_name5        = 85 wards<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/city-information/history.html |website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation |access-date=13 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
| governing_body           = [[Bhopal Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_party             = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Malti Rai
| area_footnotes           = <ref name='BMC'>{{cite web|title=BMC|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/city-information/about-bhopal.html|access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref><ref name='BMC Plan'>{{cite web|title=BMC Plan|url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/smart-infra/madhya-pradesh-bifurcation-of-bhopal-municipal-corporation-not-a-cakewalk-say-experts/71590171|access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=census>{{cite web|title=District Census Handbook – Bhopal|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2327_PART_B_DCHB_BHOPAL.pdf|website=Census of India|access-date=22 September 2015|page=35|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807042945/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2327_PART_B_DCHB_BHOPAL.pdf|archive-date=7 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 463
| area_metro_km2           = 648.24
| area_metro_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=Bhopal Metro City|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/department/health-and-environment.html}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 518.73
| population_total         = 1798218
| population_as_of         = 2011
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=census/>
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_metro         = 1917051
| population_metro_footnotes = <br/>(Bhopal + Arera Colony  + Berasia urban areas)
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_rank          =20th
| population_blank1_title  = Metro rank
| population_blank1        = [[List of million-plus agglomerations in India|18th]]
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Gross domestic product|GDP Nominal]]
| blank_info_sec1          = $5.35&nbsp;billion<ref name="MadyaPradesh_gdp">{{Cite web |title=District Domestic Product Per Capita |url=https://des.mp.gov.in/en-us/Publication |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1          = [[Gross domestic product|Percapita]]
| blank1_info_sec1          = $2,087 or ₹1.47 lakh<ref name="MadyaPradesh_gdp"/>
| blank2_name_sec1          = [[Gross domestic product|GDP Nominal]] ([[Bhopal district|Bhopal District]])
| blank2_info_sec1          = Rs. 44,175 crores (2020-21)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Records |first1=Official |title=Estimates of District Domestic Product Madhya Pradesh |url=http://des.mp.gov.in/Portals/0/ESTIMATES_DISTRICT_DOMESTIC_PRODUCTS_MP_2020-2021.pdf |website=Department of Planning, Economics & Statistics, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Madhya Pradesh |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref>
| population_demonym       = Bhopali
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1              = +5:30
| postal_code_type         = [[Postal Index Number|Pincode]]
| postal_code              = 462001 to 462050
| area_code                = 0755
| area_code_type           = [[Communications in India|Telephone]]
| registration_plate       = MP-04
| blank2_name_sec2         = [[Official language]]
| blank2_info_sec2         = [[Hindi]]
| blank3_name_sec2         = Literacy Rate (2011)
| blank3_info_sec2         = 80.37%<ref>{{cite web |title=Madhya Pradesh Literacy Rate 2021 |url=https://www.indiacensus.net/states/madhya-pradesh/literacy |website=www.indiacensus.net |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| blank4_name_sec2         = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank4_info_sec2         = {{convert|1123.1|mm|in}}
| blank5_name_sec2         = Avg. high temperature
| blank5_info_sec2         = {{convert|31.7|°C|°F}}
| blank6_name_sec2         = Avg. low temperature
| blank6_info_sec2         = {{convert|18.6|°C|°F}}
| blank7_name_sec2         = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2016)
| blank7_info_sec2         = 0.77 ({{colour|green|High}})<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dif.mp.gov.in/mphdr%5CHDITable_E_1995.pdf |title=The Madhya Pradesh Human Development Index |date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320140548/http://www.dif.mp.gov.in/mphdr%5CHDITable_E_1995.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>
| website                  = 
{{URL|bhopal.nic.in}}
{{URL|https://bhopal.city}}
{{URL|smartbhopal.city}}
| footnotes                = 
| leader_title3            = [[Member of Parliament]]
| leader_name3             = [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] (2019 – present)
}}

'''Bhopal''' ({{IPAc-en|b|oʊ|ˈ|p|ɑː|l}}; {{IPA-hi|bʱoːpaːl|lang|Bhopal.ogg}}) is the [[capital (political)|capital]] city of the [[Indian state]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and the administrative headquarters of both [[Bhopal district]] and [[Bhopal division]].<ref name="BritannicaEducational2010">{{cite book|author=Educational Britannica Educational|title=The Geography of India: Sacred and Historic Places|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xPUvqtdfjyAC&pg=PA174|access-date=15 April 2012|date=1 July 2010|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-61530-202-4|pages=174–|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523040334/http://books.google.com/books?id=xPUvqtdfjyAC&pg=PA174|archive-date=23 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Limaye 2014 pp. 446–448">{{cite book | last=Limaye | first=P. | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | chapter=Bhopal Accident: Release of MIC | publisher=Elsevier | year=2014 | doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-386454-3.00252-9 | pages=446–448| isbn=9780123864550 | quote=Bhopal, the capital city of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, is the site that witnessed probably the world's worst industrial calamity.}}</ref> It is known as the ''City of Lakes'',<ref>{{cite book |title=The Geography of India: Sacred and Historic Places |date=2010 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc |isbn=978-1-61530-142-3 |page=174 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mjr0X-8jrLAC&q=bhopal+lakes |access-date=11 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> due to presence of various natural and artificial lakes. It is also one of the greenest cities in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://green.in.msn.com/greenliving/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3490719&page=7 |title=MSN's 8 green cities of India – 7 – Bhopal |publisher=MSN India |date=28 January 2010 |access-date=26 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228002937/http://green.in.msn.com/greenliving/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3490719&page=7 |archive-date=28 December 2009 }}</ref> It is the [[List of cities in India by population#1 to 50|16th largest city]] in India and 131st<ref name="Estimated Population of Bhopal urban area in 2009, Bhopal 131th largest city in world in 2009/">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm|title=The world's largest cities|publisher=City Mayors|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828095658/http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm |archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> in the world. After the formation of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal was part of the Sehore district. It was bifurcated in 1972 and a new district, Bhopal, was formed. Flourishing around 1707, the city was the capital of the former [[Bhopal State]], a [[princely state]] of the British ruled by the [[Nawabs of Bhopal]] until India's independence in 1947.

Bhopal has a strong economic base with numerous large and medium industries operating in and around the city. Bhopal is considered as one of the important financial and economic destinations in Madhya Pradesh's two strong wealth pillars, the other being [[Indore]]. Bhopal's GDP(nominal) was estimated at [[Indian National Rupee|INR]] 44,175 crores (2020–21) by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Madhya Pradesh.
A [[Classification of Indian cities|Y-class city]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Re-classification/Upgradation of Cities/Towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Central Government Employees|url=https://www.finmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/21-07-2015_0.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Finance – Government of India|access-date=14 June 2018|date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118061832/http://www.finmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/21-07-2015_0.pdf|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Bhopal houses various educational and research institutions and installations of national importance, including [[ISRO]]'s [[INSAT Master Control Facility|Master Control Facility]],<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.isro.org/newsletters/spaceindia/oct2004jun2005/Chapter2.htm
| title = ISRO Master Control Facility
| access-date = 27 March 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153945/http://www.isro.org/newsletters/spaceindia/oct2004jun2005/Chapter2.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 September 2007 }}</ref> [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited|BHEL]] and [[Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute|AMPRI]]. Bhopal is home to a large number of [[List of Institutes of National Importance|institutes of National Importance]] in India, namely, [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal|IISER]], [[Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal|MANIT]], [[School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal|SPA]], [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal|AIIMS]], [[National Law Institute University|NLIU]], [[Indian Institute of Management|IIFM]], [[National Institute of Fashion Technology|NIFT]], [[National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh|NIDMP]] and [[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhopal|IIIT]] (currently functioning from a temporary campus inside [[Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology|MANIT]]).

Bhopal city also has [[Regional Science Centre, Bhopal]], one of the constituent units of the [[National Council of Science Museums]] (NCSM).

The city attracted international attention in December 1984 after the [[Bhopal disaster]], when a [[Union Carbide]] pesticide manufacturing plant (now owned by [[Dow Chemical Company]]) leaked a mixture of deadly gases composed mainly of [[methyl isocyanate]], leading to the worst industrial disaster in history.<ref name="the atlantic article">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Allan |title=Bhopal: The World's Worst Industrial Disaster, 30 Years Later |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/12/bhopal-the-worlds-worst-industrial-disaster-30-years-later/100864/ |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=2 December 2014 |quotation=Estimates of the death toll vary from as few as 3,800 to as many as 16,000, but government figures now refer to an estimate of 15,000 killed over the years.}}</ref> The Bhopal disaster continues to be a part of the socio-political debate and a logistical challenge for the people of Bhopal.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Government-braces-for-disposal-of-Carbide-waste-at-Pithampur/articleshow/35422050.cms Government braces for disposal of Carbide waste at Pithampur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526140723/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Government-braces-for-disposal-of-Carbide-waste-at-Pithampur/articleshow/35422050.cms |date=26 May 2014 }} The Times of India, 21 May 2014</ref>

Bhopal was selected as one of the first twenty Indian cities (the first phase) to be developed as a [[Smart City Bhopal|smart city]] the [[Smart Cities Mission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/why-only-98-cities-instead-of-100-announced-all-questions-answered-about-smart-cities-project-2410576.html|title=Why only 98 cities instead of 100 announced: All questions answered about smart cities project|date=28 August 2015|access-date=25 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119003746/http://www.firstpost.com/business/why-only-98-cities-instead-of-100-announced-all-questions-answered-about-smart-cities-project-2410576.html|archive-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Bhopal was also rated as the cleanest state capital city in India for three consecutive years, 2017, 2018 and 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ayub |first1=Jamal |title=Swachh Survekshan 2019: Indore cleanest city, Bhopal cleanest capital {{!}} Bhopal News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/swachh-survekshan-2019-indore-cleanest-city-bhopal-cleanest-capital/articleshow/68283117.cms |access-date=21 January 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=6 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Etymology==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2023}}
Bhopal is named after the legendary ancient king [[Bhoja|Raja Bhoja]], with 'Bho' possibly originating from his name. Additionally, 'Pal' signifies 'dam' or 'reservoir,' reflecting the city's abundance of lakes. Therefore, Bhopal's etymology suggests it may mean 'City of Raja Bhoja' or 'City of Lakes,' owing to its historical association with the king and its numerous water bodies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Bhopal |work=District Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India |url=https://bhopal.nic.in/en/history/ |access-date=21 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Early history ===
[[File:Statue of Raja Bhoja 01.jpg|thumb|  Bhopal was founded by and named after 11th-century [[Malwa]] king [[Bhoja]]]]
According to folklore, Bhopal was founded in the 11th century by the [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] king [[Bhoja]], who ruled from his capital at [[Dhar]]. This theory states that Bhopal was originally known as Bhojpal after a dam (''pal'') constructed by the king's minister.<ref name=census/> An alternative theory says that the city is named after another king called Bhupala (or Bhupal).<ref>{{cite book | title = Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records | author = Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya | publisher = [[Motilal Banarsidass]] | year = 1977 | isbn = 978-0-8426-9091-1 | page = 275 }}</ref><ref>[http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-BHO-cpi-joins-campaign-against-naming-bhopal-as-bhojpal-1939473.html CPI joins campaign against naming Bhopal as Bhojpal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123014730/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-BHO-cpi-joins-campaign-against-naming-bhopal-as-bhojpal-1939473.html |date=23 November 2011 }}. Daily Bhaskar,16 March 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Ashfaq Ali |title=Bhopal, Past and Present |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=owMMAQAAIAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Jai Bharat |page=xxix |access-date=19 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223154011/https://books.google.com/books?id=owMMAQAAIAAJ |archive-date=23 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> According to yet another version, Raja Bhoj suffered from leprosy. His physician advised him to build a lake with water from 365 rivers and take daily bath in it. When such a lake was built, it was called ''Bhoj Tal'' [or Bhoj's lake]. Gradually people started calling the city ''Bhojpal'', and finally Bhopal.<ref name="Salam_2022">{{cite news |author=Ziya Us Salam |date= 12 September 2022 |title= Of a female knight and the Begums of Bhopal |url= https://www.thehindu.com/books/of-a-female-knight-and-the-begums-of-bhopal/article65882458.ece|work= The Hindu |location= India |access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref>

In the early 17th century, Bhopal was a small village in the [[Gondi people|Gond]] kingdom. The modern Bhopal city was established by [[Dost Mohammad Khan, Nawab of Bhopal|Dost Mohammad Khan]] (1660-1726) died at the age of 66,<ref name="bhopal.nic.in">{{cite web | url=https://bhopal.nic.in/en/history/ | title=History of Bhopal &#124; District Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh &#124; India }}</ref> a [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] soldier in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Waterhouse albums: central Indian provinces | author = John Falconer, James Waterhouse | publisher = Mapin | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-81-89995-30-0 }}</ref> After the death of the emperor [[Aurangzeb]], Khan started providing mercenary services to local chieftains in the politically unstable [[Malwa]] region. In 1709, he took on the lease of [[Berasia]] estate and later annexed several territories in the region to establish the [[Bhopal State]].{{sfn|Khan|2000|p=11}} Khan received the territory of Bhopal from the Gond queen Kamlapati in lieu of payment for mercenary services and usurped her kingdom after her death.<ref name="KamlaMittal_1990">{{cite book | title = History of Bhopal State | author = Kamla Mittal | publisher = Munshiram Manoharlal | year = 1990 | oclc = 551527788 | page = 2 }}</ref> In the 1720s, he built the Fatehgarh fort in the village, which developed into the city of Bhopal over the next few decades.

=== Begum rule ===
Bhopal became a [[princely state]] after signing a treaty (During the reign of Nazar Mohammed Khan 1816–1819) <ref name="bhopal.nic.in"/> with the [[British East India Company]] in 1818.{{sfn|Khan|2000|p=68}} Between 1819 and 1926, the state was ruled by four women, [[Begum of Bhopal|Begums]] – unique in the royalty of those days – under British suzerainty. [[Qudsia Begum of Bhopal|Qudsia Begum]] was the first woman ruler (between 1819 and 1837), who was succeeded by her granddaughter, [[Sultan Shah Jahan, Begum of Bhopal|Shah Jehan]]. Between the years 1844–1860, when Shah Jehan was a child, her mother [[Sikandar Begum|Sikandar]] (only daughter of Qudsia) ruled as regent. Curiously during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|1857 revolt]], Sikandar supported the British, for which she was rewarded by proclaiming her as king in 1858. To give her further honour, she was given a 19-gun salute and the Grand Cross of the Star of India. The latter made her equivalent to a British person, who had been granted a knighthood. Thus she became, at that time, the only female knight in the entire British Empire besides Queen Victoria. Among the relatively minor rewards, a territory was restored to her, that she had earlier lost to a neighbouring prince.<ref name="Salam_2022"/>

Sikandar ruled until 1868, when Shah Jehan succeeded her and was Begum until 1901. In 1901, Shah Jehan's daughter [[Kaikhusrau Jahan, Begum of Bhopal|Kaikhusrau Jahan]] became Begum, ruled until 1926, and was the last of the female line of succession. In 1926, she abdicated in favour of her son, [[Hamidullah Khan]], who ruled until 1947, and was the last of the sovereign [[Nawab]]s. The rule of Begums gave the city its waterworks, railways, a postal system, and a municipality constituted in 1907.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/history.htm |title=BMC History |access-date=12 June 2007 |date=15 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412043526/http://bhopalmunicipal.com/history.htm |archive-date=12 April 2007 }}</ref>

=== Post independence ===
[[Bhopal State]] was the second-largest Muslim-ruled princely state: the first being [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]]. After the [[independence of India]] in 1947, the last Nawab expressed his wish to retain Bhopal as a separate unit. Agitations against the Nawab broke out in December 1948, leading to the arrest of prominent leaders including [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]. Later, the political detainees were released, and the Nawab signed the agreement for Bhopal's merger with the Union of India on 30 April 1949.<ref name="SRBakshi_OPRalhan_2007">{{cite book | title = Madhya Pradesh Through the Ages | author = S.R. Bakshi and O.P. Ralhan | publisher = Sarup & Sons | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-81-7625-806-7 | page = 360 }}</ref> The [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Bhopal state]] was taken over by the Union Government of India on 1 June 1949.

=== Bhopal gas tragedy ===
{{Main|Bhopal disaster}}
In early December 1984, a [[Union Carbide]] pesticide plant in Bhopal leaked around 32 tons of toxic gases, including [[methyl isocyanate]] (MIC) gas which led to [[List of industrial disasters|the worst industrial disaster in the world to date]].

The official death toll was initially recorded as around 4,000. A Madhya Pradesh government report stated 3,787 deaths,<ref name="rehabilitation1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mp.gov.in/bgtrrdmp/relief.htm |title=Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Bhopal. Immediate Relief Provided by the State Government |publisher=[[Government of Madhya Pradesh]] |access-date=28 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518020821/http://www.mp.gov.in/bgtrrdmp/relief.htm |archive-date=18 May 2012 |quotation=Immediate Relief Provided by the State Government: Compensation paid to family members of deceased victims (3787 deaths) at Rs. 10,000 per person: Rs.3.78 Crores }}</ref> while other estimates state the fatalities were significantly higher (15,000)<ref name="the atlantic article"/> from the accident and the medical complications caused by the accident in the weeks and years that followed. The higher estimates have been challenged by Union Carbide, however, medical staff in the city were not able to adequately record data due to the massive influx of patients. The impact of the disaster continues to this day in terms of psychological and neurological disabilities, blindness, skin, vision, breathing, and birth disorders.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1945229,00.html |title=Victims of Bhopal Mark Anniversary |author=Altaf Qadri |date=3 December 2009 |magazine=Time |url-status=dead |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-date=9 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609082241/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1945229%2C00.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/bhopal-the-victims-are-still-being-born-1830516.html| title = Bhopal: The victims are still being born| work = [[The Independent]]| date = 29 November 2009| first = Nina| last = Lakhani| access-date = 30 November 2009| location = London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091203010047/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/bhopal-the-victims-are-still-being-born-1830516.html| archive-date= 3 December 2009 | url-status= live |quotation=Around 8,000 people are now believed to have died within the first 72 hours. ... Another 15,000 are estimated to have died as a result of the gas exposure since then, often from painful and horrific damage to their lungs, heart, brain and other organs, according to Amnesty International.}}</ref><ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8392206.stm | title = Bhopal marks 25 years since gas leak devastation| work = BBC News| date = 3 December 2009| access-date = 26 April 2010
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100607190104/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8392206.stm| archive-date= 7 June 2010 | url-status= live |quotation=Initial deaths (3–6 December): more than 3,000 - official toll. Unofficial initial toll: 7,000-8,000. Total deaths to date: over 15,000.}}</ref> Lawyers, academics and journalists have described the disaster as an [[ecocide]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2022 |title=Industrial disasters from Bhopal to present day: why the proposal to make 'ecocide' an international offence is persuasive – The Leaflet |url=https://theleaflet.in/industrial-disasters-from-bhopal-to-present-day-why-the-proposal-to-make-ecocide-an-international-offence-is-persuasive/ |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=theleaflet.in |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perinchery |first=Aathira |date=26 February 2022 |title=We're Killing the Environment, and There's a Word for It – Ecocide – The Wire Science |url=https://science.thewire.in/environment/explained-ecocide-international-crime-climate-change/ |access-date=21 June 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pereira |first=Ricardo |date=1 June 2020 |title=After the ICC Office of the Prosecutor's 2016 Policy Paper on Case Selection and Prioritisation: Towards an International Crime of Ecocide? |journal=Criminal Law Forum |language=en |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=179–224 |doi=10.1007/s10609-020-09393-y |s2cid=254428084 |issn=1572-9850|doi-access=free }}</ref>

The soil and ground water near the factory site have been contaminated by the toxic wastes.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk" /><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover.asp?foldername=20091215&filename=news&sid=22&sec_id=9| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100418131307/http://downtoearth.org.in/cover.asp?foldername=20091215&filename=news&sid=22&sec_id=9| archive-date = 18 April 2010| title = Subterranean Leak}}</ref> The Bhopal disaster continues to be the part of the socio-political debate; the clean-up of environmental contamination and rehabilitation of those affected continues to challenge the people of Bhopal.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com" />

The centre is seeking a direction to [[Union Carbide]] and other firms for {{INR}}78.44&nbsp;billion additional amount over and above the earlier settlement amount of US$470&nbsp;million in 1989 for paying compensation to the gas tragedy victims.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bhopal-gas-tragedy-sc-to-hear-centres-plea-for-additional-rs-7844-cr-fund-to-compensate-victims/amp_articleshow/73667264.cms |title = Bhopal gas tragedy: SC to hear Centre's plea for additional Rs 7,844 crore fund to compensate victims |date = 27 January 2020 |publisher = [[The Economic Times]] }}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Boats in Upper Lake, Bhopal.JPG|left|thumb|Boats in Bhojtal]]
Bhopal has an average elevation of 500&nbsp;metres (1401&nbsp;ft) and is located in the central part of India, just north of the upper limit of the [[Vindhya]] mountain ranges. Located on the [[Malwa]] plateau, it is higher than the north Indian plains and the land rises towards the [[Vindhya Range]] to the south. The city has uneven elevation and has small hills within its boundaries. The prominent hills in Bhopal are the Idgah, Arera and Shyamala hills in the northern region, together with the Katara hills in the southern region. There are 17 lakes and 5 reservoirs biggest of them are [[Bhojtal|upper lake]] and [[Lower Lake, Bhopal|lower lake]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://buddymantra.com/the-city-of-lakesbhopal/ | title=The City of Lakes:bhopal | date=5 July 2018 }}</ref> The Upper Lake has a surface area of 36&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and catchment area of 361&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> while the Lower Lake has a surface area of 1.29&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and catchment area of 9.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/evaluation/oda_loan/post/2007/pdf/project32_full.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130123214/http://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/evaluation/oda_loan/post/2007/pdf/project32_full.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2013 |url-status=live|title=Lake Bhopal Conservation and Management Project}}</ref> Recently, Bhopal Municipal Corporation came with a resolution to involve local citizens in cleaning, conserving and maintaining the lakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-in-2020-bmc-resolves-to-work-on-parks-conservation-of-lakes-public-participation|title=Bhopal: In 2020 BMC resolves to work on parks, conservation of lakes & public participation|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref> Bhopal city is divided into two parts where one part which is near the VIP and lake is Old Bhopal (north) and the other, New Bhopal (south), where malls are mainly situated. List of pin codes from Bhopal is 462001 to 462050 which comes under Bhopal postal division (Bhopal Region).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://webconte.com/pin_code/madhya_pradesh/bhopal|title=List of Pin Code Bhopal City, Madhya Pradesh Government}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{climate chart
| Bhopal
| 9.4|24.4|12.9
| 11.4|28.3|7.8
| 17.1|33.6|7.2
| 21.8|38.3|4.5
| 25.5|40.7|8.0
| 25.3|37.0|114.0
| 23.1|30.6|355.8
| 22.4|28.8|388.4
| 21.4|30.5|195.8
| 18.4|32.0|26.2
| 12.1|29.0|13.7
| 9.9|25.3|12.4
| float=right
| clear=right
}}

Bhopal has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Cwa), with cool, dry winters, a hot summer and a humid monsoon season. Summers start in late March and go on until mid-June, the average temperature being around 30&nbsp;°C (86&nbsp;°F), with the peak of summer in May, when the highs regularly exceed 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F) Extreme high in May was 46.7&nbsp;°C on 19 May 2016 and in June it was 45.9&nbsp;°C on 7 June 2019. The monsoon starts in late June and ends in late September. These months see about 40&nbsp;inches (1020&nbsp;mm) of precipitation, frequent thunderstorms and flooding. The average temperature is around 25&nbsp;°C (77&nbsp;°F) and the humidity is quite high. Temperatures rise again up to early November when winter starts, which lasts up to early March. Winters in Bhopal are cool, and not very much comfortable like summers, with average daily temperatures around 16&nbsp;°C (61&nbsp;°F). The winter peaks in January when temperatures may drop close to freezing on some nights. Lowest temperature ever recorded was 0.3&nbsp;°C. Total annual rainfall is about 1146&nbsp;mm (46&nbsp;inches).
{{Weather box
|location = Bhopal ([[Bairagarh, Berasia|Bairaghar]]) 1991–2020, extremes 1949–present
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 33.0
| Feb record high C = 37.6
| Mar record high C = 40.7
| Apr record high C = 44.4
| May record high C = 46.7
| Jun record high C = 45.6
| Jul record high C = 41.2
| Aug record high C = 35.6
| Sep record high C = 37.4
| Oct record high C = 39.6
| Nov record high C = 35.3
| Dec record high C = 32.8
| year record high C = 46.0
| Jan high C = 24.9
| Feb high C = 28.4
| Mar high C = 33.9
| Apr high C = 38.7
| May high C = 41.1
| Jun high C = 37.4
| Jul high C = 30.9
| Aug high C = 28.9
| Sep high C = 31.3
| Oct high C = 32.7
| Nov high C = 29.9
| Dec high C = 26.7
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 17.6
|Feb mean C = 21.0
|Mar mean C = 26.0
|Apr mean C = 30.8
|May mean C = 34.0
|Jun mean C = 31.0
|Jul mean C = 26.9
|Aug mean C = 25.7
|Sep mean C = 26.6
|Oct mean C = 25.8
|Nov mean C = 22.3
|Dec mean C = 18.7
| Jan low C = 10.6
| Feb low C = 13.1
| Mar low C = 17.6
| Apr low C = 22.4
| May low C = 26.6
| Jun low C = 26.0
| Jul low C = 23.8
| Aug low C = 23.0
| Sep low C = 22.2
| Oct low C = 19.1
| Nov low C = 15.0
| Dec low C = 11.2
| year low C =
| Jan record low C = 0.6
| Feb record low C = 1.7
| Mar record low C = 6.1
| Apr record low C = 12.2
| May record low C = 16.7
| Jun record low C = 19.5
| Jul record low C = 19.0
| Aug record low C = 16.8
| Sep record low C = 13.8
| Oct record low C = 11.7
| Nov record low C = 6.1
| Dec record low C = 1.0
| year record low C = 0.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 11.3
| Feb rain mm = 9.4
| Mar rain mm = 8.8
| Apr rain mm = 6.5
| May rain mm = 14.2
| Jun rain mm = 132.8
| Jul rain mm = 367.7
| Aug rain mm = 326.0
| Sep rain mm = 175.6
| Oct rain mm = 31.5
| Nov rain mm = 8.7
| Dec rain mm = 8.5
| year rain mm = 1101.0
| Jan rain days = 0.9
| Feb rain days = 0.9
| Mar rain days = 0.8
| Apr rain days = 0.6
| May rain days = 1.2
| Jun rain days = 7.3
| Jul rain days = 14.4
| Aug rain days = 13.9
| Sep rain days = 8.1
| Oct rain days = 1.8
| Nov rain days = 0.6
| Dec rain days = 0.2
| year rain days = 50.7
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 42
| Feb humidity = 33
| Mar humidity = 24
| Apr humidity = 19
| May humidity = 22
| Jun humidity = 46
| Jul humidity = 74
| Aug humidity = 79
| Sep humidity = 66
| Oct humidity = 45
| Nov humidity = 43
| Dec humidity = 43
|year humidity = 45
| Jan sun = 279.0
| Feb sun = 271.2
| Mar sun = 285.2
| Apr sun = 303.0
| May sun = 303.8
| Jun sun = 195.0
| Jul sun = 108.5
| Aug sun = 105.4
| Sep sun = 192.0
| Oct sun = 275.9
| Nov sun = 270.0
| Dec sun = 263.5
| year sun = 
| Jand sun = 9.0
| Febd sun = 9.6
| Mard sun = 9.2
| Aprd sun = 10.1
| Mayd sun = 9.8
| Jund sun = 6.5
| Juld sun = 3.5
| Augd sun = 3.4
| Sepd sun = 6.4
| Octd sun = 8.9
| Novd sun = 9.0
| Decd sun = 8.5
|yeard sun = 7.8
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]] (sun 1971–2000)<ref name="IMDnormals">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101061732/https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf |archive-date=1 January 2023 |title=Climatological Tables 1991-2020 |publisher=India Meteorological Department |access-date=1 January 2023 |page=21}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M15
| access-date = 18 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDsun>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042602/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| title = Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India
| work = Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M-3
| access-date = 18 March 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)<ref name=TCC1>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221201155746/https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=42667
| archive-date = 1 December 2022
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=42667
| title = Normals Data: Bhopal/Baipaghar - India Latitude: 23.28°N Longitude: 77.35°E Height: 522 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 December 2022}}</ref>
}}

=== List of lakes ===
[[File:Welcome to Bhopal.jpg|320px|thumb|Lighting for The City of Lakes in Bhopal]]
# [[Bhojtal]]
# [[Lower Lake (Bhopal)|Chhota Talaab]]
# Shahpura Lake
# Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan Talaab
# Munshi Hussain Khan Talaab
# Lendiya Talaab
# Sarangpani Lake
# Manit Lake
# Jawahar Baal Udhyaan Lake
# Motia Talaab
# Bordi Kalan
# Preet Nagar Lake
# Nariyalkheda Golf course Lake
# Laharpur Lake
# Mullah Sarovar

=== List of reservoirs ===
# [[Kolar Dam (Bhopal)|Kolar Dam]]
# [[Kerwa Dam]]
# [[Kaliyasot Dam]]
# [[Halali Dam]]
# [[Bhadbhada Dam]]

==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Bhopal City (2011)<ref name="icssr.org">[http://www.icssr.org/Baseline%20Survey%20of%20Bhopal%20District.pdf Baseline Survey of Bhopal District, Madhya Pradesh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903030135/http://www.icssr.org/Baseline%20Survey%20of%20Bhopal%20District.pdf |date=3 September 2013 }} Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India (2012)</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|69.20}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|26.28}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism]]|crimson|1.35}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|blue|1.12}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|gold|1.08}}
{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.6}}
|caption=Population % by religion; †<small>Includes [[Sikh]]s</small>
}}

According to the 2011 census, the population of the Bhopal city (the area under Bhopal Municipal Corporation) is 1,798,218, with 936,168 males and 862,050 females. The population of the Bhopal metropolitan area (the [[urban agglomeration]] that extends beyond Bhopal city) was 1,886,100 in 2011.<ref name="census_metro">{{cite web |url=http://censusmp.nic.in/censusmp/All-PDF/Urban-data.ppt |title=Presentation on Towns and Urban Agglomerations |work=Census of India 2011 |access-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314015213/http://censusmp.nic.in/censusmp/All-PDF/Workshop%20at%20Admn.Academy%20-%2013%20Nov.%202014/04.%20Urban-data.ppt |archive-date=14 March 2016 }}</ref> The total effective literacy rate (for population aged 7+ years) was 85.24%, with male and female literacy respectively at 89.2% and 80.1%.<ref name=census />[[File:Tourist Map of Bhopal.jpg|thumb|left|Tourist Map of Bhopal]]

==Government and politics==
Bhopal is the name of the division, as well as the district and the capital city of the district.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} Bhopal Division {{!}} India|url=https://bhopaldivisionmp.nic.in/en/history/|access-date=10 November 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116115827/https://bhopaldivisionmp.nic.in/en/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The division is headed by the commissioner and additional commissioner for the division.<ref name=":3" /> The division has five districts, of which Bhopal is one.<ref name=":3" /> Bhopal district administration is headed by the District Magistrate of Bhopal, who is the chief executive officer for the district.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Administrative Setup {{!}} District Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh {{!}} India|url=https://bhopal.nic.in/en/administrative-setup/|access-date=10 November 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>

The city is represented in the parliament by [[Bhopal (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency]], with [[Pragya Singh Thakur]] from the BJP elected in 2019. Bhopal also houses the State Legislative Assembly, or the [[Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha]], which seats 230 members of Legislative Assembly. The fourteenth (and current) Vidhan Sabha was elected in December 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha|url=http://mpvidhansabha.nic.in:80/index.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508152326/http://mpvidhansabha.nic.in/index.aspx|archive-date=8 May 2017|access-date=8 March 2007}}</ref> {{As of|March 2020}}, the party in the majority in Vidhan Sabha is [[Bhartiya Janata Party]] (BJP) with 107 seats which is led by [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]].<ref>{{cite news|date=20 March 2020|title=How the numbers stack up against Kamal Nath govt ahead of Madhya Pradesh floor test|language=en|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/how-the-numbers-stack-up-against-kamal-nath-govt-ahead-of-madhya-pradesh-floor-test-1657753-2020-03-20|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> Bhopal district elects seven seats to the Assembly, and as per delimitation in 2008,<ref>{{cite web|title=Delimitation of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies Order - 2008|url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3931-delimitation-of-parliamentary-assembly-constituencies-order-2008/ |access-date=6 November 2020}}</ref> Bhopal city is represented in 6 constituencies:<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of MLAs of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly 2018|url=https://www.elections.in/madhya-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/mlas-list.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Elections in India}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|'''State assembly constituency'''
|'''Wards'''
|'''Councillor'''
|'''Political party'''
|-
|[[Bhopal Uttar Assembly constituency|Bhopal Uttara]]
|5-18, 22
|[[Arif Aqueel]]
|Indian National Congress
|-
|[[Narela, Madhya Pradesh Assembly constituency|Narela]]
|39-42, 46, 56–58, 66
|[[Vishvas Sarang]]
|Bhartiya Janata Party
|-
|[[Bhopal Dakshin-Paschim Assembly constituency|Bhopal Dakshin-Paschim]]
|26-35, 48-49
|[[PC Sharma]]
|Indian National Congress
|-
|[[Bhopal Madhya Assembly constituency|Bhopal Madhya]]
|19-21, 23–25, 36–38, 43–45, 47–50, 50-52
|[[Arif Masood]]
|Indian National Congress
|-
|[[Govindpura Assembly constituency|Govindpura]]
|53-55, 59–63, 65
|[[Krishna Gaur]]
|Bhartiya Janata Party
|-
|[[Huzur Assembly constituency|Huzur]]
|1-4
|Rameshwar Sharma
|Bhartiya Janata Party
|}

It is also part of the larger urban agglomeration of Bhopal, with a population of 1,883,381.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Census India - UA|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027032256/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The first municipal body that governed the municipal population of the city came into being in 1907 in erstwhile Bhopal estate, and was called Majlis-e-intezamia".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bhopal Municipal Corporation {{!}} District Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh {{!}} India|url=https://bhopal.nic.in/en/public-utility/bhopal-municipal-corporation/|access-date=6 November 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The first city survey was conducted in 1916 after the enactment of Municipal act.<ref name=":0" /> Till 1956, the area under Bhopal Municipal limit was very small, after which surrounding villages were added to it.<ref name=":0" /> By 1975, the municipal limit reached 71.23 square km.<ref name=":0" /> Bhopal Municipal Council got the status of Municipal Corporation, with total of 56 wards in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/corporation/history.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en}}</ref>

===Civic administration===
[[File:Shivaji statue Bhopal.jpg|thumb|upright|Shivaji statue at Shivaji Nagar Square Bhopal]]
[[Bhopal Municipal Corporation]] (BMC) is the urban civic body which oversees the needs of Bhopal city.<ref name=":0"/> The municipal corporation follows guidelines under the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956,<ref>{{cite web |title=Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 |url=http://www.janaagraha.org/asics/report/Madhya-Pradesh-Municipal-Corporation-Act-1956.pdf |website=janaagraha.org |access-date=6 November 2020 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911112742/http://www.janaagraha.org/asics/report/Madhya-Pradesh-Municipal-Corporation-Act-1956.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as the Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1961.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1961 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/3583/1/Municipal%20Corporation%20ACT%201961.pdf |website=indiacode.nic.in |access-date=6 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Madhya Pradesh - Finance of ULB|url=http://finance.mp.gov.in/ulb5e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819153311/http://finance.mp.gov.in/ulb5e.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Kolar Municipal Corporation merged with it, after having been split from it earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Govt plans to divide Bhopal civic body into 2 corporations|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/govt-plans-to-divide-bmc-into-2-corporations/articleshow/71495151.cms|website=Times of India}}</ref> In 2019, it was announced that the corporation would be split again and a proposal was put forth to the urban administration and housing department, which was criticised by the mayor-in-council.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Thakkar|first1=Dhrumit|date=5 March 2018|title=4 years after Kolar Municipal Council merged with Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the area is witnessing a much-needed infrastructure push|url=https://www.gnsnews.co.in/4-years-after-kolar-municipal-council-merged-with-bhopal-municipal-corporation-the-area-is-witnessing-a-much-needed-infrastructure-push/|access-date=6 November 2020|website=GNS News|language=en-GB|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307205519/http://www.gnsnews.co.in/4-years-after-kolar-municipal-council-merged-with-bhopal-municipal-corporation-the-area-is-witnessing-a-much-needed-infrastructure-push/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name='BMC Plan'/> It also proposed for indirect election of the mayor.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 October 2019|first=Jamal |last=Ayub|title=Govt plans to divide Bhopal civic body into 2 corporation|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/govt-plans-to-divide-bmc-into-2-corporations/articleshow/71495151.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|work=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

The municipal corporation is spread over an area of {{Convert|463|km2|abbr=on}} and has a population of 17,95,648.<ref name='BMC'/><ref name='BMC Plan'/><ref name="census" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Census India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027022540/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The city is divided into 14 zones and 85 wards for the purpose of administration, and each ward is represented by a councillor elected for a term of five years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=zonesofbhopalmunicipalcorporation - slumsbhopal|url=https://sites.google.com/site/slumsbhopal/zonesofbhopalmunicipalcorporation|access-date=6 November 2020|website=sites.google.com|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026102314/https://sites.google.com/site/slumsbhopal/zonesofbhopalmunicipalcorporation|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhopal: Fate of 85 municipal wards to be decided today|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-fate-of-85-municipal-wards-to-be-decided-today|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> The winning party elects a council of members, who are responsible for various departments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Council|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/corporation/Council.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en}}</ref> Ward committees as well as Mohalla committees have been prescribed by the corporation act.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Municipal Corporation act 1961|url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/3583/1/Municipal%20Corporation%20ACT%201961.pdf|website=India code.nic}}</ref> In October 2016, the [[The Pioneer (India)|Pioneer]] reported the meeting of one ward committee in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BMC chairman holds ward committee meet|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/state-editions/bmc-chairman-holds-ward-committee-meet.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Pioneer|language=en}}</ref> Madhya Pradesh is one of the few states in India, which uses the Mayor-in-Council (MIC) system and hence the elected representatives of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation are also organised as MIC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.janaagraha.org/asics/report/Madhya-Pradesh-Municipal-Corporation-Act-1956.pdf|title=Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act 1956|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920174748/http://www.janaagraha.org/asics/report/Madhya-Pradesh-Municipal-Corporation-Act-1956.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are multiple municipal departments in BMC such as Health and Environment; Education, Social JusticeFood and Culture; Planning and Rehabilitation; Public Relations and Library; Fire Brigade and Transport; Power; Engineering; Revenue and Project; Accounting; JnNURM; M.P.U.S.P and General Administration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bhopalmunicipal.com/|title=Home|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

Elections held for 85 wards of Bhopal Municipal Corporation on 6 July 2022 <ref>{{Cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=2022 Madhya Pradesh local elections From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |language=english |pages=1 |work=Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mp-cabinet-approves-amendment-for-indirect-election-of-mayors/articleshow/71300568.cms |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref> As of September 2020, the reservation of wards has been decided.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bhopal: Municipal ward reservation, a litmus test for politicians|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-municipal-ward-reservation-a-litmus-test-for-politicians|access-date=6 November 2020|work=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> The present [[mayor]] of the city is Malti Rai.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kumar |first=Sharad |date=13 December 2022 |title=Bhopal Mayor |url=https://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/corporation/bhopal-mayor.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation }}</ref> In 2019, the state government changed the rules that had applied since 1988, allowing the mayor to be indirectly elected, by elected councillors.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 September 2019|first=Suchandana|last=Gupta|title=MP cabinet approves amendment for indirect election of mayors|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mp-cabinet-approves-amendment-for-indirect-election-of-mayors/articleshow/71300568.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> V.S.Choudhary Kolsani is the [[municipal commissioner]] of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telephones|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/corporation/telephone-directory.html|access-date=29 January 2020|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en}}</ref> Additional municipal commissioner is Shashwant Singh Meena.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhopal: BMC inks MoU with NTPC to turn waste into energy|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-bmc-inks-mou-with-ntpc-to-turn-waste-into-energy|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref>

The municipality receives income from tax collection, assigned revenue, rental income, fees and user charges, revenue grants, income from investment funds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhopal Municipal Financial Statement Balance Sheet 2019-2020|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Financial%20statement/Balance%20Sheet%202019-20.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123033330/http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Financial%20statement/Balance%20Sheet%202019-20.pdf |archive-date=23 November 2021 |url-status=live|website=Bhopal Municipal}}</ref> The budget for the year 2020-21 has been approved as ₹2,495 crore.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 June 2020|title=Bhopal Municipal Budget : नामांतरण नहीं कराया तो नगर निगम वसूल करेगा 10 से 15 प्रतिशत का अधिभार|url=https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/bhopal-bhopal-municipal-budget-2020-municipal-corporation-will-take-surcharge-if-transfer-of-property-not-done-5680542|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Nai Dunia|language=hi}}</ref>

=== Civic utilities ===
Bhopal Development Authority is the apex body for planning and co-ordination of development activities in the Mandhya Pradesh, which consists of Bhopal and its influence area, and was set up in 1976 under the Bhopal Development Authority Act, 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About BDA Page|url=http://www.bda.org.in/About_Us.aspx|access-date=10 November 2020|website=www.bda.org.in|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116235021/http://www.bda.org.in/About_Us.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Electricity in Bhopal is distributed by the [[Madhya Pradesh]] Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited, the central discom of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited|url=https://portal.mpcz.in/web/about-us/company-profile}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It is regulated by the state electricity board, the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB), which is located in Bhopal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madhya Pradesh: Expect electricity tariff hike sometime soon as power companies propose hike of 7%|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-expect-electricity-tariff-hike-sometime-soon-as-power-companies-propose-hike-of-7|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> Fire services are provided by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fire Brigade And Transport Department|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/department/fire-brigade-and-transport-department.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=10 August 2020|title=Bhopal municipal corporation orders fire safety review of hospitals, Covid centres|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/bmc-orders-fire-safety-review-of-hosps-covid-centres/articleshow/77452602.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|work=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

[[Bhopal Municipal Corporation]] is responsible for planning, constructing and maintaining the water supply system within the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BMA-Sambhavna-Bhopal-Water-Report|url=https://www.bhopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BMA-Sambhavna-Bhopal-Water-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211181154/http://bhopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BMA-Sambhavna-Bhopal-Water-Report.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Natural sources of water are surface water (upper lake, kolar reservoir, narmada river), with a significant portion of the population depending on ground water (tubewells, handpumps) as well as privately owned and unaccounted for dugwells and borewells.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Assessment of potability of different water sources at Bhopal city|url=http://www.ipublishing.co.in/ijesarticles/fourteen/articles/volfour/EIJES41082.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807145414/http://www.ipublishing.co.in/ijesarticles/fourteen/articles/volfour/EIJES41082.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to a study done in 2014, piped water supply in the city covers about 6% of the population;<ref name=":1" /> however, irregular and bad quality of water supply is a common complaint in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhopal: Irregular water supply leaves many colonies high and dry|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-irregular-water-supply-leaves-many-colonies-high-and-dry|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref>

The system of solid waste disposal in urban areas is governed by the municipality under the [[Municipal solid waste|Municipal Solid Wastes]] (Management and Handling) Rules 2000. These rules have been framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Water and sanitation in urban areas of Madhya Pradesh|url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xM60UIlOGRAJ:https://washmatters.wateraid.org/publications/water-and-sanitation-in-urban-areas-of-madhya-pradesh+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in%20/|access-date=6 November 2020|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com}}</ref> The city of Bhopal generates 900 tonnes of solid waste.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Parihar|first1=Rajeev Singh|last2=Ahmed|first2=Sirajuddin|last3=Baredar|first3=Prashant|last4=Sharma|first4=Anil|last5=Ravi Kiran|first5=Tatavarthy|date=27 February 2018|title=MSWM in Bhopal city: a critical analysis and a roadmap for its sustainable management|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/jmuen.17.00011|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal Engineer|volume=172|issue=2|pages=83–95|doi=10.1680/jmuen.17.00011|s2cid=135033458|issn=0965-0903}}</ref> As of 2018, only 1.5% of this waste is segregated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 August 2018|title=In 'Swachh' Bhopal, only 1.5% waste segregated|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/in-swachh-bhopal-only-1-5-waste-segregated/articleshow/65485260.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> While the municipality website states that door-to-door collection was started by BMC at each zone and ward level from 15 August 2013,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Health And Environment|url=http://www.bhopalmunicipal.com/department/health-and-environment.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Bhopal Municipal Corporation|language=en}}</ref> [[The Free Press Journal|Free Press Journal]] has reported in 2020 that the civic body has failed in the same.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Bhopal: BMC fails to ensure segregation of roadside waste|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-bmc-fails-to-ensure-segregation-of-roadside-waste|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> Bhopal has 8 transfer stations, where the garbage collected zone wise is dumped, and without any segregation, the waste is transferred to the Adampur Chhawni [[Landfill|landfill site]].<ref name=":2" /> In 2018, after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the BMC to clean dump at [[Bhanpur]], which activists claim is 80 feet high and has polluted ground water up to 500 metres below, the trenching ground was shifted to Adampur.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2017|title=Adampur to become landfill site from Dec|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/adampur-to-become-landfill-site-from-dec/articleshow/60988931.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, it was announced that India's first e-waste clinic was being set up in Bhopal. BMC along with [[Central Pollution Control Board]] came together to establish this clinic which will enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste, both residential and commercial.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=4 October 2019|title=India's first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/indias-first-e-waste-clinic-to-be-set-up-in-bhopal/article29598165.ece|access-date=29 January 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In January 2020, the clinic was inaugurated for operations. It started initially as a three-month pilot and if the pilot is successful, the clinics will be opened in other places as well.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First e-waste clinic opens in Bhopal|url=http://newsonair.com/News?title=India%26%2339%3Bs-first-e-waste-clinic-opens-in-Bhopal&id=379236}}</ref>

As of 2017, the city of Bhopal produces 310 MLD of sewage per day, of which only 50 MLD is treated in the 7 Sewage treatment plants that have a capacity of 80 MLD.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waste water treatment in Bhopal|url=https://numerical.co.in/numerons/collection/59dba544250a41f81b6ef76c|access-date=6 November 2020|website=numerical.co.in}}</ref> Most of the sewage reaches water bodies, the Upper and Lower Lake, Motia Lake, Siddique Hasan Lake, Munshi Hussain Khan Lake.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Water and sanitation in urban areas of Madhya Pradesh|url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xM60UIlOGRAJ:https://washmatters.wateraid.org/publications/water-and-sanitation-in-urban-areas-of-madhya-pradesh+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in|access-date=6 November 2020|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhopal: Lakes lose out to water pollution, poor sewer network|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-lakes-lose-out-to-water-pollution-poor-sewer-network|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> There are about 800 large drains in Bhopal.<ref name=":022">{{Cite news|date=14 May 2020|title=Bhopal: BMC begins to clean up drains ahead of monsoon|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/bhopal-bmc-begins-to-clean-up-drains-ahead-of-monsoon/articleshow/75732914.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|work=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> About 80% sewerage water mixes with storm water drains main drains include Patra, Mandi and Hataikheda, Jatkhedi.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|date=14 May 2020|title=Bhopal: BMC begins to clean up drains ahead of monsoon |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/bhopal-bmc-begins-to-clean-up-drains-ahead-of-monsoon/articleshow/75732914.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|work=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

After a gap of 25 years, the state capital's masterplan 2031 was finally released in March 2020 by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Madhya Pradesh. The previous masterplan of 1995 was valid until 2005; and Bhopal had no masterplan between 2005 and 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 March 2020|first=Jamal |last=Ayub|title=After 25-year wait, Bhopal finally gets a masterplan {{!}} Bhopal News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/after-25-year-wait-bhopal-finally-gets-a-masterplan/articleshow/74501573.cms|access-date=6 November 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Bhopal Municipal Corporation was ranked 3rd out of 21 Cities for best governance and administrative practices in India in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home – Bhopal Municipal Corporation|url=http://bhopalmunicipal.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202060148/http://bhopalmunicipal.com/|archive-date=2 December 2016|access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> It scored 3.7 on 10 compared to the national average of 3.3.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nair|first1=Ajesh|title=Annual Survey of India's City-Systems|url=http://janaagraha.org/asics/images/Annual-Survey-of-Indias-City-Systems-2014.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319003215/http://janaagraha.org/asics/images/Annual-Survey-of-Indias-City-Systems-2014.pdf|archive-date=19 March 2015|access-date=6 March 2015|publisher=Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Bharat Bhavan Bhopal.JPG|thumb|left|Bharat Bhavan Bhopal]]
[[Diwali]] is a major festival in Bhopal. Gifts and sweets are exchanged and donation are made to the poor. Diwali is celebrated by worshiping the wealth goddess ''[[Lakshmi]]''. During [[Ganesh]] puja and [[Durga Puja]] (Navratras), idols of Ganesh and Durga are established in ''jhankis'' throughout the city. People throng to offer prayers to their deities. At the end of Navratras, on the day of [[Vijayadashami]] (or ''Dussehra''), huge effigies of [[Ravana|Ravan]] are burnt in different parts of the city. Apart from jhankis, annual Durga puja is conducted in a huge way where large idols of mother goddess and pandals are installed and bhog is served. Several cultural programmes and other pujas like Kalipuja, Saraswati puja etc re also conducted.

[[Eid ul-Fitr|Eid]] is also  a major festival in Bhopal. [[Bhopal Ijtema]] is an annual Muslim world preachers congregation, is held at Eint khedi, 11&nbsp;km from Bhopal. The annual congregation near Bhopal attracts between 5,00,000 and 10,00,000 Muslims globally.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ijtema|url=http://www.siasat.com/english/news/3-day-‘aalami-tablighi-ijtima’-begin-bhopal-dec-14|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111192659/http://www.siasat.com/english/news/3-day-%E2%80%98aalami-tablighi-ijtima%E2%80%99-begin-bhopal-dec-14|archive-date=11 January 2015|access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

===Architecture===
The [[Nawabs of Bhopal]] built several structures including the [[Taj-ul-Masajid]] and [[Taj Mahal (palace)|Taj Mahal palace]] in [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]] and European styles.

[[Bharat Bhavan]] is the main cultural centre of the city, and hosts many theatre and film festivals every year.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 October 2017|title=Film Fest Ekagra Begins at Bharat Bhavan|work=Dailypioneer|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/film-fest-ekagra-begins-at-bhara-bhavan.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191459/http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/film-fest-ekagra-begins-at-bhara-bhavan.html|archive-date=9 November 2017}}</ref> It has an art gallery, an open-air amphitheatre facing the Upper Lake, two other theatres and a tribal museum. The Bharat Bhavan as well as the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly|MP Legislative Assembly]] were designed by Charles Correa.

==Economy==
[[File:BHEL Bhopal in rain.jpg|alt=BHEL Bhopal plant during monsoons.|thumb|298x298px|BHEL Bhopal plant during monsoons.]]
The economy of Bhopal is heavily industrial based with pharmaceutical, automobile, textile, and production of electrical goods mostly being prevalent. Nominal GDP of Bhopal District was ₹44,175 crores for the year 2020–21 with a per-capita GDP of ₹1,40,729 as per the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (Madhya Pradesh).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Records |first1=Official |title=Estimates of District Domestic Product Madhya Pradesh |url=http://des.mp.gov.in/Portals/0/ESTIMATES_DISTRICT_DOMESTIC_PRODUCTS_MP_2020-2021.pdf |website=Department of Planning, Economics & Statistics, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Madhya Pradesh |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> The major industries in the old city are electrical goods, medicinal, cotton, chemicals and jewellery. Other industries include cotton and flour milling, cloth weaving and painting, as well as making matches, sealing wax, and sporting equipment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bhopal industries|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9079067/Bhopal#84367.hook|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426030603/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9079067/Bhopal#84367.hook|archive-date=26 April 2008|access-date=10 April 2007}}</ref> The residents of Bhopal also engage in large retail businesses. Handicrafts, like [[zardozi]] and ''batua'' (a small string purse, usually used with Indian traditional dresses) are some of the products of the Old City.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zari and Batua|url=http://www.craftandartisans.com/zari-zardozi-tinsel-embroidery.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406171714/http://craftandartisans.com/zari-zardozi-tinsel-embroidery.html|archive-date=6 April 2007|access-date=12 April 2007}}</ref>

Bhopal is also home to the [[D B Corp Ltd.|DB Corp]], informally called the Bhaskar Group (named after its major publication ''[[Dainik Bhaskar]]''), a ₹17&nbsp;billion business conglomerate with a strong presence in media. Its head office is located in Maharana Pratap Nagar. While an IT Park, near Bhopal Airport, houses various software development companies and the city is expected to further enlarge its IT presence in near future with giants like [[WIPRO]] intending to establish software development centre in the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wipro Group to set up Software Development Centre in Bhopal |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/wipro-group-to-set-up-software-development-centre-in-bhopal |website=Free Press Journal |access-date=13 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Other Software and IT companies established in the city include Sutherland Global Services, ISoft InfoTech, Soluzione IT Services, Netlink Software Pvt Ltd., Caresoft Inc India, Osmo IT Solution Pvt Ltd., and many more.

[[Manjul Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.|Manjul Publishing House]], located in the old city, is a major publishing house made famous by the translation of the [[Harry Potter]] series of novels into [[Hindi]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Kumar Shakti Shekhar|date=10 July 2005|title=Chamber of Secrets translated into Hindi|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20050010198|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205051528/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20050010198|archive-date=5 December 2008|access-date=30 October 2015|website=NDTV|location=Bhopal}}</ref>

===Industries===
*[[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]], the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India, has a unit in Bhopal. It occupies a large area in the Eastern Part of the city and maintains a suburb named after it. A majority of the residents of the BHEL Suburb are employed by the unit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bhopal|url=http://www.bhelbhopal.com/overview.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831011035/http://www.bhelbhopal.com/overview.htm|archive-date=31 August 2012|work=bhelbhopal.com}}</ref> Govindpura Industrial Area is a huge industrial zone situated in northern limits of the city. 
*[[Mandideep]] is an [[industrial suburb]] of Bhopal. It is located to the south of the city on the [[National Highway 12 (India)|NH 12]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Association of Industries – Mandideep|url=http://www.mandideep.com/mg_intro.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228101357/http://www.mandideep.com/mg_intro.aspx|archive-date=28 February 2014|access-date=16 June 2014|work=mandideep.com}}</ref> Manufacturing units in Mandideep include HEG Limited, Procter & Gamble, Lupin Limited, Eicher Tractors, Insulators and Electricals Limited, Tafe Motors And Tractors Limited, B. S. Engineering Works, etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhopal: Mandideep industrial area reaps benefits of engaging locals |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-mandideep-industrial-area-reaps-benefits-of-engaging-locals |website=Free Press Journal |access-date=13 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
*Rapidly transforming industrial zones near Bhopal also include Bagroda AKVN,<ref>{{cite web |title=VECV commences production at Bhopal truck plant |url=https://www.constructionweekonline.in/business/16108-vecv-commences-production-at-bhopal-truck-plant |website=Construction Week Online |access-date=13 September 2021}}</ref> Tamot Plastic Park<ref>{{cite web |title=To consolidate and synergize the plastic processing industry Government is setting up Plastic Parks with state-of-the-art infrastructure: Gowda |url=https://orissadiary.com/to-consolidate-and-synergize-the-plastic-processing-industry-government-is-setting-up-plastic-parks-with-state-of-the-art-infrastructure-gowda-2/ |website=Odisha News|access-date=13 September 2021 |date=23 September 2020}}</ref> and Acharpura Industrial Area.<ref>{{cite web |title=आचारपुरा टेक्सटाइल पार्क और नर्मदा जल प्रदाय पाइप लाइन योजना का भूमिपूजन और लोकार्पण, 4 हजार लोगों को मिलेगा रोजगार |url=https://lalluram.com/cm-chouhan-inaugurated-acharpura-textile-park-and-narmada-water-supply-pipeline-scheme-4-thousand-people-would-get-employment/ |website=लल्लूराम |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=13 September 2021}}</ref> With the state government providing conducive environment for setting up of manufacturing units, the industrial zones have seen exponential demand from the investors to purchase the land which are provided at heavily subsidised prices.
*Bhopal also has in its vicinity Badiyakhedi Industrial Area ([[Sehore district|Sehore]]), Pilukhedi Industrial Area ([[Rajgarh district|Rajgarh]]), Budhni Industrial Area ([[Sehore district|Sehore]]), Jamuniya Khejda ([[Raisen district|Raisen]]) and Mohasa Babai Industrial Area ([[Hoshangabad|Narmadapuram]]). The industrial areas have attracted huge investments with companies like Welspun Corp. Ltd, Vardhaman Industries, Trident Group, Lapp India, and Inox Air Products Pvt. Ltd. already operating manufacturing plants in various industrial belts.

===Upcoming projects===
*Bhopal also has many other mega projects lined up in its vicinity. In March 2022, Madhya Pradesh government announced the development of Bagroda Industrial Area Phase-2 after observing the immense interest of investors to set up manufacturing units near Bhopal. The government has also decided to develop [[Berasia]] Industrial Area in Bhopal district, a site close to Jaipur-Bhopal Highway and Delhi-Gwalior-Bhopal Highway.<ref>{{cite news |title=budget: Fm Presents Please-all Budget With No New Taxes, No Relief In Fuel Prices |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/fm-presents-please-all-budget-with-no-new-taxes-no-relief-in-fuel-prices/articleshow/90111242.cms |date=10 March 2022 |work=The Times of India |access-date=24 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
*In the sphere of IT development, a mega skill park with a total investment of more than ₹1,500 crores is being built in the eastern portion of the city. The Global Skills Park, Bhopal is a highly touted project of the Central and the state government which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Park is expected to be fully commissioned at the end of 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global skill park should be made of international standard; CM Chouhan conducts review and inspection |url=https://indiaeducationdiary.in/global-skill-park-should-be-made-of-international-standard-cm-chouhan-conducts-review-and-inspection/ |website=India Education |access-date=24 March 2022 |date=9 January 2021}}</ref> While the IT Park near Bhopal Airport is eying investments of software companies including TCS and Wipro. IT startups of the city are already functioning in this area.
*Bhopal is set to be a crucial intermediate city under the recently announced Delhi-Nagpur industrial corridor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tomar |first1=Shruti |title=MP govt writes to Centre seeking change in industrial corridor route |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mp-govt-writes-to-centre-seeking-change-in-industrial-corridor-route-101657479211588.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102053436/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mp-govt-writes-to-centre-seeking-change-in-industrial-corridor-route-101657479211588.html |archive-date=2 January 2023 |access-date=2 January 2023 |website=HindustanTimes.com |date=11 July 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref> While a multi-modal logistics park has been proposed to take shape near Mandideep. NHAI has already prepared DPR for the upcoming ring road project between Obaidullaganj and Sehore with a cost of around ₹720 crores.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=17 February 2022 |title=New Ring Road for Bhopal |url=https://mediawala.in/new-ring-road-for-bhopal-720-caror/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102053435/https://mediawala.in/new-ring-road-for-bhopal-720-caror/ |archive-date=2 January 2023 |access-date=2 January 2023 |website=mediawala.in |publisher=Mediawala |language=hindi}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Air===
[[File:Raja Bhoj International Airport (BHO) Bhopal India.jpg|thumb|[[Raja Bhoj International Airport]]]]
The [[Raja Bhoj International Airport]] is located near the suburb of Bairagarh (formerly known as Sant Hirdaram Nagar) and is the primary airport serving the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.<ref name="Chronicle" />

There are three routes or ways to reach the airport: (1) Via Bairagad, (2) Via Panchvati, (3) Via Gandhi Nagar road (N.H 12). From within the city, VIP Road, a four-lane road takes one to the airport, which lies 15&nbsp;km to the north of the city. International flights began operations in 2010.
Air India, Spice Jet and Indigo operate domestic direct flight services. As of April 2023, Bhopal has non-stop flights to New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mopa, Agra, Prayagraj and Raipur.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/indigo-to-start-non-stop-daily-flight-between-bhopal-hyderabad-and-jabalpur-hyderabad-soon/323025 | title = IndiGo to start a non-stop daily flight between Bhopal-Hyderabad and Jabalpur-Hyderabad soon | publisher = timesnownews.com | date = 29 November 2018 | access-date = 2 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055506/https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/indigo-to-start-non-stop-daily-flight-between-bhopal-hyderabad-and-jabalpur-hyderabad-soon/323025 | archive-date = 3 December 2018 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
There are no international flights from Bhopal.<ref name="Chronicle">{{cite news |title=Central Chronicle |url=https://centralchronicle.com/posts/No-international-flight-even-after-a-decade |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=centralchronicle.com |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117111136/https://centralchronicle.com/posts/No-international-flight-even-after-a-decade |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Roads===
[[File:Kushabhau Thakre ISBT Bhopal (2).jpg|thumb|left|Kushabhau Thakre ISBT Bhopal]]
[[File:Road in Bhopal.jpg|thumb|Bhopal VIP road]]
National Highway 46 forms a ring-road around Bhopal which connects it to [[Jabalpur]] in the East (via NH 45) and Jaipur to the North west. NH 146, a branch of [[NH 46]], connects the city to [[Sagar, Madhya Pradesh|Sagar]] and [[Kanpur]] in the North . State Highway 18 connects the city with [[Indore]] (with [[Sehore]] and [[Dewas]] on the way). State Highway 23 connects the city to [[Guna, India|Guna]] and [[Berasia]] in the north.

An [[Inter State Bus Terminals|interstate bus terminus]] was inaugurated in 2011, the [[Kushabhau Thakre Inter State Bus Terminal]] is located near the [[Habibganj railway station]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060110/1001027.htm | title = Interstare Bus Terminus | access-date = 16 March 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070526003803/http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060110/1001027.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 26 May 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/3018-isbt-starts-services-passengers-face-inconvenience.html | title = ISBT starts services, passengers face inconvenience | newspaper = Daily Pioneer | date = 2 September 2011 | access-date = 16 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120423181211/http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/3018-isbt-starts-services-passengers-face-inconvenience.html | archive-date = 23 April 2012 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Outside view of Rani Kamlapati Railway Station 25.jpg|thumb|left|Old (left) and new (centre) main entrance buildings of [[Habibganj railway station]] (officially Rani Kamalapati station)]]
[[File:Bhopal Junction new building 01.jpg|alt=Bhopal Junction railway station|thumb|View of [[Bhopal Junction railway station]]]]

Railways started in Bhopal in 1884 when the Bhopal–Itarsi section of [[New Delhi–Chennai main line]] was opened.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html | title=IR History: Early Days – II| work=Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899)|access-date = 22 November 2013}}</ref>

[[Bhopal Junction railway station]] was opened in 1884 and is a junction station on the [[Delhi–Chennai line]] and [[Ujjain–Bhopal section]]. A total of 234 trains halt/originate/terminate at the station daily.<ref>{{Cite web |title=238 Arrivals at Bhopal WCR/West Central Zone - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/bhopal-junction-bpl/12|website=Indian Rail Info}}</ref> Another station within Bhopal's urban limits is [[Habibganj railway station]] (Rani Kamalapati railway station) on the [[Delhi–Chennai line]]. It is India's [[List of private railway stations|first private railway station]] and also is promoted as first world-class railway station of India. A total of 108 trains halt/originate/terminate at the station daily.<ref>{{Cite web |title=108 Departures from Habibganj WCR/West Central Zone - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/departures/rani-kamalapati-habibganj-rkmp/12923|website=Indian Rail Info}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Habibganj: Here is India's first private railway station|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/infra/habibganj-here-is-india-first-private-railway-station/story/253859.html|magazine=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]]|date=7 June 2017|access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref> Other stations within urban limits are [[Sant Hirdaram Nagar railway station]], [[Misrod railway station]] and [[Nishatpura railway station]].

The divisional railway manager's office of [[Bhopal railway division]] is situated adjacent to Habibganj railway station. The division falls under [[West Central Railway zone]] of [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Central Railway |url=https://wcr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,291,1419 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=wcr.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref>

=== Urban transport ===

==== Bhopal BRTS ====
The [[Bhopal BRTS|Bus Rapid Transit System]], which opened in 2013, is run by Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL). The company has identified 4 trunk and 8 standard routes in the city on which 225 buses would be operated daily from 05:00 to 23:00. 82 bus stops are built along the 24&nbsp;km long corridor.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zeenews.com/news615069.html | title = BRTS in Bhopal to be completed by Feb 2011, says Gaur | publisher = ZeeNews.com | date = 30 March 2010 | access-date = 26 July 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100713190041/http://www.zeenews.com/news615069.html| archive-date= 13 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==== Metro Rail ====
The [[Bhoj Metro]] project is under construction for the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/infrastructure/bhopal-metro-to-be-named-after-raja-bhoj-announces-kamal-nath-1569511530540.html|title=Bhopal Metro to be named after Raja Bhoj, announces Kamal Nath|date=26 September 2019|website=Mint|language=en|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="ndtv.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/bhopal-news/bhopal-metro-to-be-bhoj-metro-after-raja-bhoj-kamal-nath-2107765|title=Bhopal Metro To Be Called "Bhoj Metro" After Indian King "Raja Bhoj": Kamal Nath|website=NDTV.com|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bhopal-indore-to-have-metro-rail-soon_100145920.html|title=Bhopal, Indore to have Metro Rail soon|work=Thaindian News|access-date=5 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305082637/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bhopal-indore-to-have-metro-rail-soon_100145920.html|archive-date=5 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{See also|List of educational institutions in Bhopal}}

=== Basic education ===
[[File:NLIUGyanmandir3.JPG|thumb|National Law Institute University]]
Bhopal has more than 550 state-sponsored schools, most of which are affiliated to the [[Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education]] (MPBSE). In addition, there are three [[Kendriya Vidyalaya]]s in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kvsangathan.nic.in/about-kvs/directories/kvs-directory?shs_term_node_tid_depth=178&field_kv_directory_tid=&field_state_directory_tid=2107|title=KVS Directory {{!}} Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan, Government of India|website=Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan {{!}} Government of India|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> The city is also served by numerous other private schools affiliated to either CBSE, [[Indian Certificate of Secondary Education|ICSE]], [[Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh|MPBSE]], [[National Institute of Open Schooling|NIOS]] and [[Cambridge International Examinations|CIE]] (Cambridge).

Schools include [[Delhi Public School, Bhopal]] (CBSE), [[The Sanskaar Valley School]] (ICSE & [[Cambridge International Examinations]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanskaarvalley.org/sanskaar-affiliations.php|title=Best ICSE School in India, Top 10 ICSE schools in India|website=sanskaarvalley.org|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326000656/https://www.sanskaarvalley.org/sanskaar-affiliations.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Campion School Bhopal|Campion School]] (CBSE), [https://sbbps.com Shree Bhavan's Bharti Public School] (CBSE) and [[St. Joseph's Convent School, Bhopal|St. Joseph's Convent]] (CBSE).

===Higher education===
[[File:IIFM arc.jpg|thumb|IIFM arc]]

The institutes and universities headquartered in the city include:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 93%"
! scope="col" width="443"|Institute
! scope="col" width="145"|Founded
|-
| [[National Law Institute University]] ||1997
|-
|[[Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research|AcSIR]] in [[Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute|CSIR AMPRI]]
|2011
|-
|[[Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal|Gandhi Medical College]]
|1955
|-
| [[Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology]] ||1960
|-
| [[National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh]] ||2019
|-
| [[Barkatullah University]] ||1970
|-
|[[Indian Institute of Forest Management]]||1982
|-
| [[Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University]] ||1991
|-
| [[Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya]] ||1998
|-
| [[Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication]] ||1990
|-
|[[National Judicial Academy (India)|National Judicial Academy]] || 1993
|-
| [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal]] ||2008
|-
| [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]] || 2008
|-
| [[School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal|School Of Planning And Architecture]] || 2008
|-
| [[VIT Bhopal University|VIT Bhopal]] || 2017
|-
| [[Technocrats Institute of Technology]], (TIT) Bhopal 
|1999
|-
| [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal|All India Institute of Medical Science]] || 2012
|-
|[[Jagran Lakecity University]]
|2013
|-
|[[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhopal|Indian Institute of Information Technology]]
|2017
|-
|[[RKDF University]]
|2012
|-
|[[Rabindranath Tagore University]]
|2010
|}

'''<big>Research Institutes</big>'''

Bhopal offer a number of Research institutes. Some are under central and some under state government, including [[Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute|CSIR AMPRI]] and [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal|IISER]].

== Sports ==
[[File:Yodhasthal (Bhopal, India) (69).jpg|thumb|Yodhasthal]]

=== Teams ===
[[Bhopal Badshahs]] is a [[field hockey|hockey]] team based in Bhopal that plays in World Series Hockey. The team is captained by Indian hockey player [[Sameer Dad]] and coached by [[Vasudevan Bhaskaran]] who was the captain of India's Olympic victory in [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]]. Badshahs defeated [[Chandigarh Comets]] in the inaugural match of [[2012 World Series Hockey]] 4–3. [[Aishbagh Stadium]] in Bhopal is the home ground of [[Bhopal Badshahs]].

=== Stadiums ===
* [[Aishbagh Stadium]] is a [[field hockey]] [[stadium]] in Bhopal.
* [[TT Nagar Stadium]] is a multi-purpose stadium is Bhopal.

== Places of interest ==

=== World Heritage Sites ===
[[File:2 elephants man riding one pre historic Bhimbetka rock cave paintings Madhya Pradesh India.jpg|thumb|Bhimbetka pre-historic rock cave painting near Bhopal include 500 sandstone caves and shelters. These are dated to range from 12,000 years ago to [[chalcolithic]] era of human history. They are a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage site.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/925 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308082739/https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=925 |date=8 March 2007 }} UNESCO</ref>]]

[[Bhimbetka rock shelters|Bhimbetka Caves]] are about 35 kilometres from Bhopal city. They have evidence of dwellings of pre-historic man during the Paleolithic era. Rock paintings in the caves are specimens of pre-historic settlements in India. There are about 600 caves, but only 12 are open for visitors. The caves are located in the midst of [[Shorea robusta|sal]] and [[teak]] forests and includes a short trail around the caves. They were discovered by Wakankar in 1957. UNESCO declared Bhimbetka Caves as a World Heritage Site in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/925|title=Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka|publisher=World Heritage Site|access-date=15 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070308082739/https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=925| archive-date= 8 March 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

[[Sanchi|Sanchi Stupas]] are located about 47 kilometres from Bhopal city. The great stupa at Sanchi is probably the most iconic stupa ever built. It was initially built by the Mauryan emperor [[Ashoka|Ashoka the Great]] in 3rd century BCE. Later additions were made during the [[Shunga|Shunga Empire]] and [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana]] periods. There are two more stupas on the Sanchi hill along with the remains of Buddhist viharas, a [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] period tem-ple, etc. The site was into use till the 15th century CE.

=== Nature ===
[[Van Vihar National Park]] is a national park in central India. It is located in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Declared as a national park in 1979, it covers an area of about 4.45 sq. kms. Although it has the status of a national park, Van Vihar is developed and managed as a modern zoological park, following the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. The animals are kept in their near natural habitat. Most of the animals are either orphaned brought from various parts of the state or those, which are exchanged from other zoos. No animal is deliberately captured from the forest.[1] Van Vihar is unique because it allows easy access to the visitors through a road passing through the park, security of animals assured from poachers by building trenches and walls, chain-link fence and by providing natural habitat to the animals.

[[Bhoj Wetland]] is a [[Ramsar site]], declared in [[2002|List of Ramsar sites in India]]. It is ideal for bird watching. Migratory birds from [[Central Asia]] winter here in huge numbers. Some threatened species like [[Sarus crane]] and [[Asian woolly-necked stork|woolly-neck]] inhabit here in good numbers. About 300 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded in the area.

[[Ratapani Tiger Reserve]] is located near the southern end of the municipal limits of Bhopal. It is home to more than 50 tigers. About 15 tigers are reported to be present in the urban area of Bhopal. Some tigers migrate about 100 kilometres westward to [[Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary]].

[[Halali Dam]] is located about 38 kilometres in the north of Bhopal. The huge backwater is home to many birds and attract many other migratory birds in winters. It is an [[Important Bird Area]] declared by [[Birdlife International]].

Apart from lakes, Bhopal also has many water reservoirs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g319726-Activities-c57-t11-Bhopal_Bhopal_District_Madhya_Pradesh.html|title=DAMS in Bhopal|access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref>(Dams) in and around the city. The Dams are [[Bhadbhada Dam]], [[Kerwa Dam]], [[Kaliyasot Dam]] and [[Kolar Dam, Madhya Pradesh|Kolar Dam]]. People of Bhopal mostly visit these places during weekends. The weather is pleasant during and post monsoon. These places are surrounded by greenery throughout the year.

===Tourist attractions===
Tourist attractions in Bhopal:<ref name="Tourist Place in Bhopal - District">{{cite web |title=Tourist Place in Bhopal - District Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh - India |url=https://bhopal.nic.in/en/tourism/ |website=bhopal.nic.in |access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>
*[[Upper Lake (Bhopal)]] 
*[[Lower Lake (Bhopal)]] 
*[[Van Vihar National Park]] and [[Bhoj Wetland|Bhoj Wetland Ramsar Site]]
*[[Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya|Museum of Man (Manav Sangrahalaya)]] 
*[[Tribal Museum Bhopal|Tribal Museum]] and [[State Museum, Bhopal|State Archaeological Museum]] 
*[[Bharat Bhavan]] 
*[[Taj-ul-Masjid]] 
*[[Taj Mahal (palace)|Taj Mahal Palace]] 
*[[Kamlapati Palace|Kamlapati Palace and Kamla Park]]
*[[Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal|Regional Museum of Natural History]] and [[Shahpura Lake, Bhopal]]
*[[Shaurya Smarak]]

Tourist attractions near Bhopal:<ref name="Tourist Place in Bhopal - District"/>
*[[Sanchi]] - [[UNESCO World Heritage site]]; located 47 kilometres north-east
*[[Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh|Bhojpur]] - 25 kilometres south-east
*[[Bhimbetka rock shelters]] - 40 kilometres south-east
*[[Raisen]] - 35 kilometres east

=== Activity centres ===
The [[Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya|Museum of Man]] in Bhopal exhibits tribal and folk houses from all corners of India.<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/museum-of-mankind-bhopal-relocates-tribal-houses-across-india/1/155488.html A House of Tribal Tradition- Bhopal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509012955/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/museum-of-mankind-bhopal-relocates-tribal-houses-across-india/1/155488.html |date=9 May 2015 }} India Today</ref>

===Shopping===
The [[New Market, Bhopal|New Market]] is a commercial area in Bhopal.<ref name="TIBusdist1">{{cite web|title=MANIT experts suggest ways to streamline New Market parking|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/MANIT-experts-suggest-ways-to-streamline-New-Market-parking/articleshow/55069878.cms|last=Sirothial|first=Ankur|publisher=Times of India|date=26 October 2016|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="FParea1">{{cite web|title=Bhopal: BMC's anti encroachment drive have little impact on New Market traders|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-bmcs-anti-encroachment-drive-have-little-impact-on-new-market-traders/1071917|last=Das|first=Kalyan|publisher=Free Press Journal|date=22 May 2017|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="FParea2">{{cite web|title=Bhopal: An alternative New Market, Nadra Bus Stand|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-an-alternative-new-market-nadra-bus-stand/979760|last=Bhowmick|first=Shilpa|publisher=Free Press Journal|date=30 November 2016|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> It is characterised by offices, new businesses and trade establishments.<ref name="Disaster1">{{cite book|title=Advocacy after Bhopal: Environmentalism, Disaster, New Global Orders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SDKmddU8LBcC&pg=PA348|page=348|last=Fortun|first=Kim|publisher=University of Chicago Press|date=4 May 2009|isbn=9780226257181|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Descript1">{{cite book|title=City Planning in India: A Study of Land Use of Bhopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUEIo4W1IegC&pg=PA94|last1= Singh|first1=Jogendra Prasad|last2=Dharmajog|first2=Anita|page=119|publisher=Mittal Publications|date=1998|isbn=9788170997054|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> Notable malls include [[DB City Mall]] in MP Nagar,<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhopal: 40 security personnel neturalize 'terrorists', free 'hostages' at city mall |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-40-security-personnel-neturalize-terrorists-free-hostages-at-city-mall |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Free Press Journal |date=24 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and Aashima Anupama Mall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhopal: Fire breaks out at Aashima Mall, no injuries |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/bhopal-fire-breaks-out-at-aashima-mall-no-injuries/articleshow/69580758.cms |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=30 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Apart from New Market, people can go for shopping at Chowk Bazar<ref>{{cite news |title=Shopping in Bhopal: think local, go local |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/shopping-in-bhopal-think-local-go-local/as57199871.cms |access-date=12 September 2021|language=en}}</ref> and Sarafa in Old City Area of Bhopal.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Upper Lake & VIP Road, Bhopal.JPG|A view of the Bhojtal
File:Taj Mahal Bhopal.jpg | Taj Mahal main entrance back side 
File:Lower Lake Bhopal.jpg|Lower Lake
File:Taj Ul Masajid, Bhopal.JPG|Taj-ul-Masajid gate
</gallery>

{{Clear}}

==Notable people==
=== Politics, civil service, science ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Shankar Dayal Sharma]] – Shankar Dayal Sharma was the ninth President of India, serving from the period of 1992 to 1997, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Bhopal from Berasia in the elections of 1952 and became Chief Minister of Bhopal State in 1952
*[[Raghuram Rajan]] – 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, 15th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India
*[[Anees Ahmed]] – Lawyer in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and United Nations International Criminal Tribunals
*[[Mohamed Barakatullah Bhopali]] – Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of India
*[[Balthazar Napoleon IV de Bourbon]] – Head of the [[Bourbons of India|House of Bourbon-Bhopal]]
*[[Munshi Hakimuddin]] - Chief Secretary at [[Bhopal state]], known for [[Sadr Diwani Adalat]]
*[[Najma Heptulla]] – Former Union Minister
*[[Kailash Chandra Joshi]] – Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
*[[Abdul Qadeer Khan]] – Pakistani nuclear physicist
*[[Paul Shrivastava]] – Professor of Management & Chief Sustainability Officer, The Pennsylvania State University
*[[Amit Sood]] –  American physician, professor and author

=== Literature ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Muskan Ahirwar]] - librarian
*[[Manzoor Ahtesham]] – writer
*[[Javed Akhtar]] – poet, screenwriter and lyricist
*[[Bashir Badr]] – poet
*[[Asad Bhopali]] – poet and lyricist
*[[Kaif Bhopali]] – poet and lyricist
*[[Manzar Bhopali]] – poet
*[[Mohsin Bhopali]] – poet and travel writer
*[[Geet Chaturvedi]] – poet, novelist and lyricist

=== Sports ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Jai Prakash Yadav (cricketer)|Jai Prakash Yadav]] - Cricket Player
* [[Fatima Bano]] - female wrestling coach
* [[Sameer Dad]] – National hockey player
* [[Bhawna Dehariya]] – First female of Madhya Pradesh summit Mount Everest
* [[Aslam Sher Khan]] – National hockey player and Member of Parliament
* [[Shahryar Khan]] – Chairman of [[Pakistan Cricket Board]]
* [[Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi]] – Former Captain of the [[India national cricket team]]
* [[Jalaluddin Rizvi]] – National hockey player and [[Arjuna Award]] winner

=== Film, television and art ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Shawar Ali]] – Actor
*[[Jaya Bachchan]] – Actress
*[[Stebin Ben]] – Singer
*[[Shakeela Bano Bhopali]] – film actress and the first women Qawwal of India
*[[Shoaib Ibrahim]] – TV actor
*[[Annu Kapoor]] – Actor, TV presenter and National Film Award winner
*[[Arshi Khan]] – Actress, model
*[[Sara Khan (actress, born 1989)|Sara Khan]] – Actress
*[[Sunil Lahri]] – Actor
*[[Munnawar Masoom]] – Qawwali singer
*[[Vipul Roy]] – Actor
*[[Eisha Singh]] – Actress
*[[Saumya Tandon]] – Television actress
*[[Divyanka Tripathi]] – Actress
*[[Rajeev Verma]] – Actor
*[[Akanksha Puri]] – Actress

== Military presence ==
Bhopal is the impartant city in the view of the Indian Armed Forces, as here various units of the military are deployed. Bhopal Cantt is known as the peace station. The Military Station Bhopal holds:

The Garrison Headquarters of the [[XXI Corps (India)|XXI Corps]].

The 3rd [[Indian Army Corps of EME]] (3 EME)

The [[Indian Air Force]] is also present in city but the unit is unknown. 


The city also holds the Units of NCC of all the 3 forces:

The 4 MP Battalion (Army Wing)

The 2 MP Air Squadron (Air Wing)

The 1 MP Naval Unit (Naval Wing)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book
  | last = Sinha
  | first = Indra
  | title = Animal's People
  | publisher = Simon & Schuster
  | year = 2007
  | isbn = 978-1-4165-7878-9
  | url-access = registration
  | url = https://archive.org/details/animalspeople00sinh
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Lapierre
  | first = Dominique
  | title = Five Past Midnight in Bhopal
  | url = https://archive.org/details/fivepastmidnight00domi
  | url-access = registration
  | publisher = Warner Books
  | year = 2002
  | isbn = 0-7432-2035-8
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Khan
  | first = Shaharyar
  | title = Begums of Bhopal, A Dynasty of Women Rulers in Raj India
  | edition = illustrated
  | publisher = I.B.Tauris
  | isbn = 978-1-86064-528-0
  | year = 2000
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Singh
  | first = J.P.
  | publisher = Mittal Publications, India
  | year = 1998
  | title = City Planning in India: A Study of Land Use of Bhopal
  | isbn = 81-7099-705-4
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Shrivastava
  | first = Paul
  | title = Bhopal: Anatomy of a Crisis.
  | publisher = Paul Chapman, London
  | year = 1987
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Howgh
  | first = William
  | publisher = Hesperides Press
  | year = 2006
  | title = A Brief History of the Bhopal Principality in Central India
  | isbn = 1-4067-1225-6
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Mittal
  | first = Kamal
  | publisher = South Asia Books
  | year = 1990
  | title = History of Bhopal State: Development of Constitution, Administration and National Awakening, 1901–1949
  | isbn = 99903-0-915-9
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = D'Silva
  | first = Themistocles
  | title = The Black Box of Bhopal
  | publisher = Trafford Publishing
  | year = 2006
  | isbn = 1-4120-8412-1
  }}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*{{Official website}}

{{City of Bhopal}}
{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}
{{Million-plus cities in India}}
{{Bhopal Division}}
{{Bhopal district}}
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[[Category:Bhopal| ]]
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