Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh in India, as well as the administrative center for both the Bhopal district and the Bhopal Division.It is renowned as the City of Lakes because of the numerous natural and artificial lakes that surround the city. In addition, it is among India’s greenest cities.It is the 16th largest city in India and the 131st in the world. After Madhya Pradesh was formed, Bhopal became part of the Sehore district. It was divided in 1972, and a new district, Bhopal, was established. Founded in 1707, the city served as the capital of the erstwhile Bhopal State, a British princely state ruled by the Nawabs of Bhopal until India gained independence in 1947.