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.

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From the land of the Holkars

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.

 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.

Sitlamata Bazaar, Indore (Photo Courtesy: mygola)

Other than these historical sites, you can also visit:

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! 

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