Top 8 Places To Visit Near Bhopal

Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh has a unique and contrasting landscape surrounding it. If you research the place enough, you can find close to 100 places to visit near Bhopal! There are many temples and two Jyotirlingas near Bhopal. Many of the tourist places near Bhopal are also a perfect weekend getaway. Sanchi Stupa near Bhopal is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh. Cities like Gwalior, Ujjain, Indore and Mandu house some of the great monuments of ancient times and are the top places near Bhopal for weekends.

Top 8 places to visit near Bhopal

Below are the top 8 places to visit near Bhopal:  

• Sanchi Stupa 

Sanchi Stupa is one of the oldest stone buildings and renowned as one of the best preserved ancient stupas in India. King Ashoka built the Buddhist complex in the small village of Sanchi in the third century BC. The central hemispherical chamber that has relics of Buddha is the focal point of the structure.  was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. And if you are searching for places near Bhopal for the weekend, the road to Sanchi Stupa is picturesque and will definitely leave you spellbound. 

• Vidisha 

Just nine kilometres from Sanchi, between the Betwa and Bes rivers lies a city called Vidisha in the middle of the country. The city was a prominent trading hub between the fifth and sixth centuries BC. The old town is full with sculptures, historical landmarks, inscriptions, ruins and archaeological sites of the Gupta era. Vidisha is definitely one of the best tourist places near Bhopal just an hour away from the capital.

•  Madai 

The tranquil village of Madai, 128 km from Bhopal, is one of the most charming nearby places to visit in Bhopal. And if you can make time to visit it during the monsoon season, nothing like it! Engage in wildlife excursions, hikes, camping and boating on Denwa River. Enjoy a beautiful vista of Satpura hills from the serene hills. Watch the spectacular sunsets and be at peace with the tranquillity around you. The lush forests, a variety of fauna, backwaters, and clean air are all you need to soothe your soul. Take a stop at the Madai Tiger Reserve while you're in Madai.  

• Ujjain 

One of holiest cities for Hindus, Ujjain is the abode of Lord Shiva and one of the four cities that host the Kumbh Mela. Also, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas found in India is in Ujjain. Tourists from all over the country travel to Ujjain to experience the magic of this place.

While Ujjain is 190 km from Bhopal, the airport in Indore is just 52 kilometres away from the city. Ujjain is home to some of the top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh like Kal Bhairav Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Harsiddhi Temple, Ram Mandir Ghat and Kaliadeh Palace. 

• Satpura National Park, Hoshangabad 

Saputara Tiger Reserve or Saputara National Park is spread over an area of 524 square kilometres. The entire biosphere along with the wildlife refuges at Pachmarhi and Bori spans a mammoth 2,200 square kilometres in Madhya Pradesh. Visit the place to discover the unique ecology of central Indian highland. 

The landscape of the national park is strewn with sandstone peaks and narrow gorges. You may see wildlife like tiger, leopard, hornbills, wild dogs, black buck, Indian Bison, Malabar Giant Squirrel, crocodiles, and four horned antelope here. 

• Indore 

Visit Rajwada and the Lal Bagh Palace in Indore, 194 kilometres from Bhopal. The vibrant culture of the city has endured through ages. You have temples like the Bada Ganpati Temple and the Annapurna Temple dedicated to the goddess of food. You also have Kanch Mandir, literally a temple built of glass. Indore also houses one of the few temples dedicated to Lord Indra—the Indreshwar Mahadev Temple from which the city bears its name. While in Indore, you have to indulge in the local cuisine of imarti and poha meal. Indore is also an educational hub with both an IIT and IIM in the city.  

• Bhimbetka Rock Shelter 

Visit the famous archaeological site of Bhimbetka Rock Shelter, located 46 kilometres away from Bhopal. 750 rock shelters spread over seven hills over a distance of 10 kilometres make up this historic monument. It is one of the best caves to visit in Madhya Pradesh comprising of drawings of agricultural methods, hunter-gatherers, and indications of spirituality providing a view into the prehistoric ages. See the fascinating paintings and artwork from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods here. Bhimbetka Rock Shelter is one of the most intriguing symbols of social and cultural development in India. 

• Raisen Fort 

An ancient building in the town of Raisen, Raisen Fort is one of the best places to visit near Bhopal, 44 kilometres away. Perched atop a hill, Raisen Fort is one of the historic forts in the state. Constructed in the 11th century AD, the fort served as a significant administrative hub. While the Rajputs took control of the fort from Mandu Sultans in the fifteenth century, Shershah Suri conquered the fort from Puranmal in 1543. The fort today is guarded by the Indian Archaeological Survey.

Bhopal easily finds a place among the places to visit in Madhya Pradesh for its many tourist attractions like Van Vihar National Park, Lakshmi Narayan Temple and Bhojtal. But the many nearby places to visit in Bhopal as listed above shows that there is a lot to explore around Bhopal. Head to these amazing places near Bhopal for weekends with your family to have unlimited fun!