Islam Nagar
Distance : 11km from Bhopal
¤ The Attraction of The Palace
A stone’s throw away from Bhopal lies Islam Nagar, built by the
Afghan, Dost Mohammad Khan who ruled over Bhopal between 1708 and
1726. It was a period of great turmoil at the Imperial Court in Delhi,
following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707.
Many of the noblemen (Dost Mohammad among them) fled the chaos in
search of greener pastures. On reaching Bhopal, Dost met the Gond
queen, Kamalapati, who sought his help after the murder of her
husband. As romance between the two blossomed, Dost Mohammad decided
to build a love nest in Islam Nagar for the two of them.
The Islam Nagar palace is a luxurious one, and lovely gardens
surround both the palace and the pavilion nearby. The latter is a
mixture of both Hindu and Islamic art and has columns richly decorated
with floral motifs.
¤ Other Attractiions
Two other monuments in Islam Nagar worth visiting are the Chaman
Mahal and the Rani Mahal. The Chaman Mahal has been aptly named, as
chaman means garden in Hindi, and the palace is surrounded on all
sides by beautifully manicured lawns. The palace also houses a hamam
or bath where the royalty of Bhopal frolicked on many a hot summer
day. Right next to it lies the double-storeyed Rani Mahal, the living
quarters of the queens and other royal ladies who accompanied their
menfolk when they came to this retreat for a vacation.
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