Bharat Bhavan
Bharat Bhawan Road, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462013
Despite its governmental-sounding name (literally “India house”), Bhopal’s Bharat Bhavan is a multi-arts center designed by Indian architect and urban planner Charles Correa in 1982. It includes an art gallery of Indian painting and sculpture, art workshops, performance spaces, libraries of poetry and classical and folk music, a bookshop, and a museum of tribal and folk art.
The basics
Located beside Bhopal’s Upper Lake, the Bharat Bhavan complex is an artfully designed series of terraces and courtyards built into a hill. Visitors can either follow a path down to the terraces and lake or the courtyards, where most cultural attractions are situated.
Fans of modern architecture will simply enjoy wandering around and resting in the many tranquil spaces. Still, you can also delve deeper into the world of Indian arts and crafts in the various exhibition spaces or catch a cultural performance in the open-air theater or indoor auditorium. Travelers often visit independently, although some guided tours of Bhopal include a stop at Bharat Bhavan.
Things to know before you go
The center has a minimal entry fee, so make sure you have some small change. Entry is free on Fridays.
Travelers wanting to attend a concert or performance should check the schedule in the center’s foyer a couple of days before the intended visit, as the schedule is not always released very far in advance.
A small onsite canteen serves typical North Indian snacks, meals, and drinks.
How to get there
Bharat Bhavan is located near the center of Bhopal, beside the eastern shore of Upper Lake. Travelers in Bhopal can easily catch a taxi or autorickshaw to Bharat Bhavan. Bhopal is equidistant between Delhi and Mumbai—around 490 miles (788 kilometers).
When to get there
Bharat Bhavan is open to visitors in the afternoons and evenings. Between November and January, it opens slightly earlier in the afternoon and closes earlier in the evening, while between February and October, the opening and closing hours shift somewhat later. It’s closed on Mondays and central government holidays (as opposed to all Madhya Pradesh state holidays).
See more of Charles Correa’s work
Bhopal’s Bharat Bhavan is a fine example of Charles Correa’s architecture, and travelers to India wanting to see more have many options throughout the country. Also in Bhopal, Correa designed the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, while other landmark buildings around India include the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in Ahmedabad, the Leela Kovalam Hotel in Kerala, the National Crafts Museum in Delhi, and the Jawahar Arts Centre in Jaipur.
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