Indore is the largest city of Madhya Pradesh and also the
commercial capital of the state. Since the sixteenth century, Indore has been
an important trading hub between Delhi and the Deccan due to its strategic
geographic location. One of the cities that came under the Maratha Empire,
during the British Raj, this was a nineteen gun (twenty one locally) salute
princely state. It was ruled by the Maratha Holkar dynasty at the time with a
British resident stationed there as well, until it was acceded to the Union of
India. It is well known that Indore was also a participant in the revolt of
1857, which is more commonly known as India’s first war of independence.
Other than these historical sites, you can also visit:
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| Rajwada , the royal grandeur of Indore (Photo Courtesy: hindustantimes) |
The Holkars were one of the three dominant Maratha powers,
the others being the Peshwas and the Scindias. The Marathas had major holdings
on central India. The Holkar dynasty’s rule ended only when the former Prime
Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, abolished state pension of all ex-ruler
families.
Even today, remnants of the Holkar rule can be seen in
Indore. Some of the common tourist spots are closely tied in with this piece of
history. A place like the Lal Bagh Palace was built in European style, complete
with a statue of Queen Victoria in the garden, but it is a remnant of the
Holkar dynasty. You can also see the royal Chhatris or cenotaphs of the Holkar
clan can be found at Krishnapura Chhatri.
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| Sitlamata Bazaar, Indore (Photo Courtesy: mygola) |
1. Rajwada: Looking at this temple, you will be able to
imagine the royal grandeur of Indore. It was built in 1766 by Muslim artisans
during the Mughal rule.
2. Central Museum or Indore Museum: See an interesting
collection of relics from history.
3. Indore’s bazaars: Sitlamata bazaar, Khajuri bazaar and
cloth market are some of the old school bazaars that are a must visit.
While direct Indore flights may not be available, you can fly
into the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport, which is 8 km from Indore
city. This is definitely a city you should explore!
