Places to Visit in Indore

Indore is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and Madhya Pradesh’s largest. When a friend booked tickets on one of the flights to Indore, I joined her to visit the city and learn more about it.  Having read quite a bit about the city’s history, I was eager to experience first-hand what the city was all about. Here’s a list of places you could visit on your trip to Indore.

The Lal Bagh Palace stands as a testament to the time of the Holkar dynasty which ruled Indore. Construction of the palatial building began in 1886 and was completed in 1921. The palace is set across 28 hectares and the complex once housed rose gardens, which were considered one of the best in the country.

The Lal Bagh Palace, Indore  (Photo Courtesy: http://www.journeymart.com)

Rajwada is an old palace built by the Holkar dynasty over 200 years ago, and is a great example of the fusion between Maratha and Mughal architecture. The palace complex has a temple, which is dedicated to the family deity of the royalty. There is a garden and a new palace within the complex.

Rajwada, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://www.panoramio.com)

If you love history, there is the Central Museum, which is home to a great collection of sculptures gathered from 11th and 12th century temples in ruins. The museum is closed on Mondays, so make a note of it when you are planning your itinerary. The Mahatma Gandhi Hall is one more spot you may want to visit in Indore. The place was earlier known as King Edward Hall and has a clock tower. The building is home to a temple, library and a children’s park.

Central Museum, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://www.indorerocks.com)

Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://tourist-attraction-indiaa.blogspot.in)

Temple hopping

When you are in Indore, you can’t miss the Bada Ganpati, and literally so, because the idol of the Lord is a towering 25 feet high, constructed with a mix of materials such as brick, limestone, jaggery etc all collected from other sacred places such as Kashi, Dwarka, Ayodhya and Mathura. The Bada Ganapati is said to have been built back in the 19th century.

Bada Ganpati, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://mindbrewblog.wordpress.com)

If you like visiting temples, there are a couple of others such as the Annapurna temple, which is said to have been inspired by the Madurai Meenakshi Temple and the Khajrana, which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Close by is another place of worship, the Dargah of Nahar Sayed, which is also a very important pilgrim centre.

Annapurna temple, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://www.indore-hotels.com)

Kanch Mandir, Indore (Photo Courtesy: http://www.idjo.org)

Close to Rajwada is the famed Jain Temple called Kanch Mandir, which has beautiful coloured class decorating the walls, pillars, and ceilings. There are chandeliers that enhance the look further. The temple has several murals which depict scenes pertaining to Jainism.

If you are planning to book yourself on one of those Indore flights, make sure you have enough time for shopping before booking the return tickets. There are many markets in the city were you can pick up leather toys, Maheswari and Chanderi sarees, and local handicrafts. Also, when it comes to places to eat, visit the streets of Sarafa where there are several eat-out places serving all kinds of Indian snacks.