Bhopal, May 11: Bhopal is famous for its lakes and hills. That is why the place is called 'City of Lakes and Hills'. The Upper Lake is considered as the best in the country. Tourists and others on official visit wonder whether they have come to a hill station. The credit for beautification of Bhopal goes to the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and other government institutions. The credit also goes to the art loving citizens of the city.

Madhya Pradesh is the heart of the country. It is the capital of the state. The heritage buildings in the city add to the beauty. The age old buildings constructed during the reign of former rulers-the Nawabs and Begams-are being maintained. These buildings are now in the form of heritage hotels and government offices. A city is known for its special attractive beauty. The MP Tourism Development Corporation and its subsidiary institutions along with other state government departments are always active in maintaining and improving the beauty of the city to attract more tourists.

The main attraction for tourists in the city is places like the Upper Lake, the Boat Club on the banks of Upper Lake, Van Vihar and among heritages, Manav Sangrahalaya, Moti Masjid, Islam Nagar, Fun City, Hanuman Tekri and several naturally beautiful places in and around the city.

In the periphery of Bhopal there are historical places like Sanchi, Bhojpur, the caves of Bhimbetka, Vidisha etc which are attracting more and more tourists every year. Pachmarhi is a well known tourist place. Nearby is the world famous Kanha National Park.

Today, Bhopal is on the World Tourist Map.

Bhopal is also famous for its creative art centre, Bharat Bhavan. Artists from different countries of the world have come and participated in the programmes conducted there.

During the summer the number of tourists coming to Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh has been increasing. In view of increasing number of tourists, the MP Tourism Development Corporation has been taking care of special facilities to them. At the state capital itself, the corporation has introduced one bus, Bhopal Darshan for the benefit of the tourists. The bus will go to all important landmarks in the city. Moreover, the corporation has been organising Bhopal Carnival, which has been liked by the local citizens and the tourists. The Bhopal Today Team

has interacted with some art lovers and others to know more about their view on Bhopal.

Balmukund Namdev, Chief General Manager, MP Tourism Development Corporation says that the corporation is always planning to create new ways and means for providing more facilities to the tourists. On May 24 we will be introducing new schemes, including mobile exhibition, to the tourists. The scheme will be introduced at Jabalpur, Gwalior and Bhopal. I think Bhopal is the centre point for tourists. The tourists can easily reach the city.

Bhopal city is very beautiful. The corporation is satisfied with the success of Bhopal Carnival held lst month, he added.

Hamid Ullah Khan 'Mamu', art director and dramatist, says 'Bhopal has a special attraction for tourists. For the art lovers and the tourists, Bhopal is specially attractive. People are also attracted to Bhopal because of its natural beauty. People here are peace loving and art- loving. They like arts and artists and praise their work. 'I would like to say that Bhopal is the best place to live'.

Bharti Shubhare, student is basically from Jhansi. I would like to say that Bhopal is the best place to live even though I belong to Jhansi. The lakes and the natural beauty makes it more attractive. Whenever we get holiday, we go to the Lake View for enjoying. There is no other place in the country where tourism and arts shake hands to each other.

Mohit, student of MANIT is an outsider to Bhopal. 'I was told that Bhopal is called as city of lakes and hills. When I came here I found the nickname as very true. In future, I may buy or construct a house in Bhopal, he said.

Preeti, artist of Bharat Bhavan had come to Bhopal to do something good. 'Seeing Bhopal was a new experience to me. The progress of arts here is well known to the world. I am very happy that I am living here. Watching the lakes gives me mental peace and rest. The lakes are beautiful as well as it gives new ideas to the artists. I am learning lithostone painting at Bharat Bhavan now. I will never forget the experience I received while working at Bharat Bhavan and the days I spent in Bhopal'.