see also
Bharat Bhavan
Bharat Bhavan is a multi-arts complex without parallel in Bhopal, India housing a museum of the arts, an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theater, indoor and outdoor auditoria, rehearsal room, and libraries of Indian poetry, classical and folk musicproviding interactive proximity to the verbal, the visual and the performing arts. It is a place for contemporary articulation, exploration, reflection and innovation. Located near the picturesque bada talaab of Bhopal, Bharat Bhavan is a centre for innovative creativity, pursuit of classics and tradition and wide participation in a new cultural upsurge. It is an independent trust created by the Legislature of the State of Madhya Pradesh[1]. The architect of Bharat Bhavan, Charles Correa[2], says:
This art centre is located on a particularly beautiful site - a gently sloping plateau overlooking the Upper Lake and the historic city of Bhopal across the water[1]
Bharat Bhavan consists of the following units:
* Roopankar (Museum of fine arts) - Roopankar has been established with a view to set up a historic collection of urban, folk and tribal art and is the only museum of arts in India housing both contemporary urban and folk and tribal art. The museum has contemporary urban, folk and art of aboriginals, a ceramic workshop, litho workshop and facilities for stone craft and metal casting.
* Rangmandal (A repertory) - Rangmandal is a professional repertory to create a sustained theatre movement that becomes a way of life rather than spasmodic activity. Numerous plays and stage shows are held here. Rangmandal has at its disposal an indoor theatre called Antrang and an outdoor theatre called Bahirang. It also has a rich library and play museum.
* Vagarth (A centre of Indian poetry) - Vagarth has a library of more than 7,000 books of poetry in 14 Indian languages and recordings and video-cassettes of major poets. This centre provides an excellent platform to the writers for interaction through lecture, recitation, translation and publication.
* Anhad (A library of classical and folk music) - Anhad work of documenting both classical and folk music and organises musical concerts.
* Ashram - A residence for guest artists
Bhoj Wetland
The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal, the capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The two lakes are the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake, which lie to the west of the city center. The Upper Lake has an area of 31 km², and drains a catchment or watershed of 361 km². The watershed of the Upper Lake is mostly rural, with some urbanized areas around its eastern end. The lower lake has an area of 1.29 km². Its catchment is 9.6 km² and is mostly urbanized; the Lower Lake also receives subsurface seepage from the Upper Lake.
The Upper Lake was created by King Bhoj (1005-1055), ruler of Malwa. He established Bhopal (also named after him) to secure the eastern frontier of his kingdom. The lake was created by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River. The Kolans was formerly a tributary of the Halali River; with the creation of the Upper Lake and a diversion channel, the upper reach of the Kolans River and the Upper Lake now drain into the Kaliasote River. Bhadbhada dam was constructed in 1965 at the southeast corner of the Upper Lake; it now controls the outflow to the Kaliasote river.
The Lower Lake was created in 1794 by Nawab Chhote Khan, Minister of Nawab Hayath Mohammad Khan, to beautify the city. It is also contained behind an earthen dam, and drains into the Halali River via the lower reach of the Kolans River, presently known as the Patra Drain. Both the Kaliasote and Halali Rivers are tributaries of the Betwa River.
The lakes are home to a diverse flora and fauna, including many waterbirds. They have been designated a wetland of international importance under the international Ramsar Convention.
