Route (2N/3D)

Bhopal – 30km/60minutes – Bhojpur – Bhopal – 58km/95 minutes – Udayagiri – Bhopal

 

Set out on these rich and varied religious trails that Bhopal has to offer and take home a sublime experience

 

Day 1: Bhopal – Bhojpur

Check in to the luxurious Noor-Us-Sabah Palace hotel in Bhopal, situated above the Upper Lake. Feast on a leisurely lunch at Bhopal Express, an unusual restaurant housed in a railway coach, before proceeding to Bhojpur. The town is best known for the 11th-century Bhojeshwar Temple, located high on a hill above the Betwa River. The road leading up to the Shiva temple is lined with stalls selling marigold flowers, coconuts, and other religious souvenirs. With colossal pillars and intricate carvings, the ancient temple is resplendent in its architecture. Devotees place offerings on the towering 22-feet high shivlinga in the temple’s sanctum. Look towards the ornate ceiling to see sculptures of gods and goddesses.

 

Pick up some locally made delish Rajgira Laddoo from a stall outside the temple as a snack for the drive back to Bhopal. Enjoy a lavish Mughlai dinner at the Noor-Us-Sabah Palace’s Za-aiqa restaurant before retiring for the night.

 

Lingam in the Bhojeshwar Temple is 7.5 feet high and is placed on three superimposed limestone blocks
Lingam in the Bhojeshwar Temple is 7.5 feet high and is placed on three superimposed limestone blocks
Abhinav Kakkar

 

Day 2: Bhopal – Udayagiri

After a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the hotel, head to Udayagiri, famous for some of the oldest Hindu cave temples in India. A cluster of 20 Gupta-era rock-cut temples is set in a weathered sandstone hill. Excavated more than 1,500 years ago, these caves date back to the reign of Chandragupta II (376-413AD). Walk the rocky path exploring the ancient inscriptions and carvings. A few caves stand out in particular: Cave 13 features a huge sculpture of a reclining Vishnu lying on a snake. Cave 5 is named the Varaha Cave features stunning, well-preserved stone carvings of Varaha – Vishnu’s boar avatar – as well as the story of how he rescued Bhudevi from the demon Hiranyaksha.

 

On the way back to Bhopal, stop for a simple lunch at the MP Tourism-run Gateway Retreat. Spend the evening in the Old City’s atmospheric Chowk Bazaar, where you can shop for beadwork bags, silver jewellery, and fabric. The peaceful Jama Masjid towers above the market, offering a slice of peace in the chaos. Take in the sunset from the mosque’s elevated courtyard before heading back to your hotel for dinner.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Bhopal

Address: VIP Road, Koh-E-Fiza, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Website: http://noorussabahpalace.com

Tel: 07554223333

Tariff: Starting from INR7,500(Doubles); inclusive of breakfast

 

Bhopal Express

Timings: Noon to 11pm

Address: Hotel Lake View Campus, Shymala Hills, Bhopal

Telephone: 0755266 0802

 

Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fees: Free

 

Udayagiri Caves

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fees: INR25 per person

 

Gateway Retreat, Sanchi

Address: Bhopal-Vidisha Highway, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh 464661

 

Jama Masjid, Bhopal

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset

Address: Chowk Bazaar Road, Ibrahimpura, Peer Gate Area, Bhopal