Bhopal's Lost Forests Are Making Summers Hotter and Longer

Bhopal’s summers have grown longer and harsher over time. The change is linked to the steady loss of green cover in the region. In the past, the city’s climate was milder, with more predictable monsoons and cooler temperatures due to dense forests. Thousands of years ago, Bhopal’s landscape was covered in forests, keeping the air cooler. Pollen records show that monsoon patterns were once more stable, without the extreme fluctuations seen today. Residents adapted their lives to the sun, structuring daily routines around sunrise and sunset.

Ancient homes in Bhopal were designed to beat the heat. Thick masonry walls and high-mass materials stored coolness, while angan (central courtyards) provided natural ventilation. Jali, or latticework, filtered sunlight while allowing breezes to pass through. Windows were covered with khus (vetiver grass) mats or thick jute ropes to lower indoor temperatures. For over 7,000 years, terracotta pitchers, or matkas, have been used to store and cool water. These traditional methods helped people stay comfortable even in the hottest months. But as green spaces disappeared, the city’s climate shifted, leading to the extended, intense summers experienced now.

The loss of forests has transformed Bhopal’s weather, making summers longer and more extreme. Traditional cooling techniques, once effective, now face greater challenges due to rising temperatures. The city’s past offers lessons in adapting to heat, but modern changes demand new solutions.