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Upper Lake, Holi Festival of Colors & Birla Temple in Bhopal, India

Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - Birla Temple

Birla Temple.

I’m really excited to interview Shantanu and Bhawna Balchandani of Penny Calling Penny about Bhopal, India. Shantanu and Bhawna’s tips for the best things to do in Bhopal are excellent because Shantanu moved here 24 years ago for his father’s job, while Bhawna was born in Bhopal. They love the “city of lakes” for its serenity, greenery and peace.

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Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - Upper Lake

Upper Lake.

Bhopal, India

We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out District Bhopal, the local visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.

If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.

Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - Tribal Museum

Tribal Museum.

Getting around Bhopal

The local airport is Raja Bhoj Airport (BHO), which is a 25-minute drive to Bhopal. Use our Expedia tool below to find flight, hotel, and rental car options.

Shantanu and Bhawna say that you shouldn’t rent a car when visiting Bhopal. He jokes that the drivers believe that stoplights and traffic signals are merely suggestions. The best option is to use Uber and Ola (Apple, Google) to get around or hire a guide that will drive you everywhere.

However, if you must rent a car during your trip, visit Avis, Budget, or Hertz for the best rental car offers. And, if you do, parking is fairly good at most places.

While there is public transportation in Bhopal, Shantanu recommends that visitors avoid it. It is good for locals but not for the typical American tourist.

Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - Thali from Bapu Ki Kutiya

Thali from Bapu Ki Kutiya.

Places we talked about on the Bhopal, India podcast

Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Shantanu and Bhawna Balchandani about Bhopal, India. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.

  • Red dots = best places to eat in Bhopal, India
  • Green dots = best things to do in Bhopal, India
  • Yellow dots = best places to stay in Bhopal, India

Who are Shantanu and Bhawna Balchandani?

Namaste! I am Shantanu. A Chef by passion, An Engineer by education and an Affiliate Marketer by profession. I have been traveling all around India and, recently, the world, mainly on the work front. When not working, I can be caught shooting zombies on my PS5 or cooking for my family. Gossiping with my mother and my wife is one of my guilty pleasures as well. Founder of Dime In Time Media LLC, a Lead Generation company in the US. I have also recently launched a blog called India to States, which aims at helping Indians make intelligent decisions before moving to the U.S.A., be it for their education or their job.

Heya! My name is Bhawna Shantanu Balchandani, and I am the Chief Executive Officer of Dime In Time Media LLC, a lead generation company. Additionally, I am the Founder of Penny Calling Penny, a blogging website catering to personal finance in the United States. I believe in the motto ‘Work Is Worship’ and hold a sincere conviction that our present actions shape our future. I have a passion for traveling! While I’ve explored countless destinations through books, I now aspire to explore the world physically, alongside tackling my ever-growing to-be-read list. For me, books aren’t merely an escape; I embrace my reality and utilize literature as a tool for learning and growth. So, if you ever hear someone say, ‘Bhawna is always lost in her own world,’ you now know exactly what I’m up to! 😛 When I am not working or reading, you will find me meditating on the beauty of nature in solitude. I also LOVE to be spoiled. This company and my life both exist only because I have a husband like Shantanu.

Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu and Bhawna with Chihuly

Shantanu and Bhawna with a Chihuly glass sculpture.

Here are a few articles from their blog:

You can connect with Shantanu and Bhawna on their website and on social media, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

We Travel There - Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - podcast one sheet

Click here to download our one-page guide of Shantanu and Bhawna’s tips for Bhopal.

Big thanks to today’s podcast partner – Bluffworks

This episode is brought to you, in part, by Bluffworks. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it’s essential to have clothes that make me look good AND feel great. I wear Bluffworks jeans, slacks, dress shirts, and blazers because they’re wrinkle-free and are designed for the modern traveler. And if they get dirty, a quick spin in the washing machine will make them as good as new.

Go to WeTravelThere.com/bluffworks and use the promo code from the image below to save 10% off your order. There are many styles to fit your needs so you can stay wrinkle-free when you travel.

Best things to do in Bhopal India - Shantanu Balchandani - Holi Festival of Colors

Holi Festival of Colors.

Stay tuned for our next episode

Join us next time as we talk with another local expert about the best things to do, see, eat and drink in their city. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.

What’s your favorite part of Bhopal? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!

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To see which cities we’ve interviewed and scheduled, please visit WeTravelThere.com/map. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please submit an application at WeTravelThere.com/guest.

Related episodes for Bhopal

To learn more about destinations in India and other countries in Asia, check out our episodes below:

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