Bhopal

Most famous for the tragic Bhopal disaster in 1984, Bhopal’s long history and collection of historical sites mean the city should be known for more than just its tragic recent past. Founded in 10th century by the legendary Raja Bho, the city is known as the ‘City of Lakes’ due to its natural and man-made lakes. The city is considered one of the greenest in India and is just a short drive from the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi, an important place of Buddhist pilgrimage. The great emperor Ashoka, Buddhism’s most famous convert, built the first stupas at Sanchi in the 3rd century B.C., and a succession of stupas and other religious structures were added until the 12th century.