Bhopal is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and serves as the administrative headquarters for both the Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It ranks as the 16th largest city in India and the 131st largest in the world. The city was originally part of the Sehore district before being bifurcated in 1972 to form the independent Bhopal district.
Historically, the city flourished around 1707 and served as the capital of the former Bhopal State, a princely state ruled by the Nawabs of Bhopal until Indian independence in 1947. Following the accession to the Indian government, Bhopal became an Indian state on May 1, 1949. The city is notably recognized as one of the greenest cities in India and is frequently referred to as the City of Lakes because of the numerous natural and artificial lakes located near its boundary.