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Bhojpur

Founded by the legendary Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj ( 1010-'53 ), and named after him, Bhojpur, 28 km from Bhopal, is renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam.
The temple,  which  has  earned  the nomenclature of the Somnath of the East, is know as the Bhojeswar Temple.

In plan a simple square, with an exterior dimensions of 66 feet, it is devoid of the re-entrant angles usual in such buildings. The richly carved dome, though incomplete, has a magnificent, soaring strength of line and is supported by four pillars. These, like the dome, have been convinced on a massive scale, yet retain a remarkable elegance because of their tapering form. Divided into three sections, the lowest is an octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section.

 

Richly carved above, the doorway is plain below, throwing into sharp relief the two exquisitely sculpted figures that stand on either side. On the other three sides of the structure are balconies, each supported by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars. The lingam in the sanctum rise to an awe-inspiring height of 7.5 feet with a circumference of 17.8 feet. Set upon a massive platform 21.5 feet square, and composed of three superimposed limestone blocks, the architectural harmony of  lingam and platform creates a superb synthesis of solidity and lightness.

     
 

Also incomplete, and with a similar stone-raising ramp, is a Jain shrine that stands close to the Bhojeshwar temple. Three figures of the tirthankaras are contained within, one being a colossal statue of Mahavira 20 feet high, and the other two of Parsvanath. Rectangular in plan, this temple probably belongs to the same period as the Bhojeshwar.

 
     
 

West of Bhojpur once lay a vast lake, but nothing remains except the ruins of the magnificent old dams by which its waters were contained. The site was chosen with great skill, as a natural wall of hills enclosed the whole area except for two gaps, 100 yards and 500 yards in width respectively. These were closed by gigantic earthern dams, faced on both sides with enormous blocks of sandstone, many being 4 feet long, 3 feet broad and 2.5 feet thick, set without mortar. The smaller dam is 44 feet high and 300 feet thick at the base, the larger dam 24 feet high with a flat top 100 feet broad. These embankments held up an expanse of water of about 250 square miles. This great work is ascribed to Raja Bhoj, but it may possibly be of an earlier date.

 
     
 

The lake was destroyed by Hoshang Shah of Malwa ( 1405-34 ), who cut through the lesser dam, and thus, either intentionally or in a fit of destructive passion, added an enormous area of  the dam, and the lake took three years to empty, while its bed was not habitable for thirty years afterwards. The climate of Malwa is said to have been considerably altered by the removal of this vast sheet of water.

 
 

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Route Map

How to go

By Road

Both Bhojpur and Bhimbetka are connected by bus with Bhopal.
Bhopal is also the most convenient base for visiting Sanchi.

By Rail

Bhopal, on the Delhi-Madras and Delhi-Mumbai mainline is the most convenient rail-head.

By Air

Bhopal ( 28 km from Bhojpur, and 40 km from Bhimbetka ) is the nearest airport. It is connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and Gwalior.

Where to Stay

Hotel Palash (MPT), Hotel Panchanan
( MPT ),
Ashok Lake View
( MPT/ITDC ), Jehan Numa Palace, Imperial Sabre,
The Residency, Amer Palace,
Hotel Nisarga,
Hotel Ramsons International,
Hotel Mayur,
Hotel Raj Tilak, Youth Hostel.

Best Season

July to March