[ Bhopal photo ]
Bhopal
Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a city of lakes with a rich layering of Hindu and Muslim heritage. The 7th-century Udayagiri caves, the vast 16th-century Jama Masjid, and the Bhimbetka rock shelters — home to paintings up to 30,000 years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are the essentials. Van Vihar national park within the city adds a green pause.