Bhopal is a gem waiting to be discovered, with a fascinating history of women rulers, old bazaars, delectable cuisine and a refined culture of its own.
In the 19th century, Bhopal was a rare exception among royal states, ruled by a succession of progressive Muslim Begums, or ‘Queens’. During their reign, some remarkable buildings were built in Bhopal, such as the massive Taj-ul Masjid, said to be the largest mosque in India, or the lavish Shaukat Mahal, a fabulous fusion of Indo-Islamic, Gothic and French Bourbon styles.
