Political Importance

Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Bhopal District and Bhopal Division. Bhopal is an important economic, industrial, educational and political center of the State as well as Central India and houses various institutions and installations of state as well as some of national importance.

Commercial Importance

Bhopal's major commercial area is M.P. Nagar or Maharana Pratap Nagar which accommodates many business houses, hardware and software stores, banks, media and press houses, showrooms, retail stores, coaching centres as well as hotels, restaurants, eateries, shopping centers, malls and movie halls. Other large commercial centres, markets and shopping areas include markets in the Old City, New Market, Bittan Market etc. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India, has a unit in Bhopal. It occupies a large area in the Eastern Part of the city and maintains a suburb named after it. A majority of the residents of the BHEL Suburb are employed by the unit.

Natural Gifts

Bhopal is also known as the City of Lakes for its various natural as well as artificial lakes and is one of the greenest cities in India. Bhopal has an average elevation of 499 metres (1637 ft). Bhopal is located in the central part of India, and is just north of the upper limit of the Vindhya mountain ranges. Located on the Malwa plateau, it is higher than the north Indian plains and the land rises towards the Vindhya Range to the south. The city has uneven elevation and has small hills within its boundaries. The major hills in Bhopal comprise of Idgah hills and Shyamala hills in the northern region and Arera hills in the central region.