Introduction
Located in the Malwa region, Indore is the largest city of Madhya Pradesh. It was the power centre of the Holkar dynasty from 1733 AD to 1948 AD, after which this princely state acceded to the Union of India. Indore has been transformed into a modern and technologically advanced city while preserving its old cultural heritage. Identified as the cleanest “Smart City” in India, it is also a major Business hub and is also termed “Mini Mumbai”. It is well connected to other parts of India by road, rail, and air.
History
When the Peshwas took control of the Maratha empire and began ruling, they established a confederacy within it. Baji Rao I gave administrative and military autonomy to a few military chiefs. With central control in his hand and ruling from Pune, he gave partial autonomy to Scindia of Gwalior, Holkar of Indore, Gaikwad of Baroda, and Bhonsle of Nagpur.
Malhar Rao Holkar, a Maratha general, established the Holkar dynasty in Indore, and his successors ruled for about 200 years till accession to India.
Our Travel & Stay
On the last leg of our travel to places in the Malwa region in October 2025, we arrived at Indore from Maheshwar via Mandav. For a 100-km 3-hour journey, we took an extra 4 hours for an en route visit to the historical places of Mandav. We checked into a budget hotel in Indore’s central area. Hotel charges for a double room can vary from INR 1500 to INR 10,000 per night, but a very good double room in budget hotels can be booked for INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 per night.
Places To See in Indore
Indore has both a rich cultural heritage and modern living. There are several temples, memorials, palaces, museums, parks, and gardens to visit. We spent about 4 days there due to the pre-scheduled date of the return journey, though 2 days are sufficient from a tourist point of view.
The historical importance of the city is clearly visible in the palaces, museums, and memorials. The marketplaces, malls, eateries, parks, and gardens display the modern lifestyle. Religious practices are marked by temples, mosques, and churches. Several of these are worth visiting.
(1) Rajwada Palace: It is the main palace, where the Holkar royal family stay. A part of it has been converted into a museum.
(2) Lalbagh Palace: It is another palace of the royal family, converted to a museum.
(3) Central Museum: A government museum with a very good collection of items.
(4) Gandhi Hall: Constructed in 1904, and an example of Indo-Gothic architecture. It is used for cultural events and exhibitions.
(5) Chhatri Bagh: Cremation ground of the royal family, which houses several magnificent memorials (Chhatris) of royal family members. In addition, a few other memorials of royal family members exist at different locations in the city.
(6) Pitreshwar Hanuman Temple: A beautiful temple on a hillock dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The complex has a large golden Hanuman Statue, a garden, and a few other small temples for other Hindu deities.
(7) Gomatgiri Digambar Jain Temple: Beautiful Jain temple dedicated to Gomateshwar. A 21 ft. statue of Gomateshwar is located there.
(8) Shri Ranjit Hanuman Temple: Old temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
(9) Maa Vaishno Devi Dham: Located in Guru Nanak colony, it is a beautiful cave-design temple.
(10) Khajrana Ganesh Temple: Temple with “Siddh” 3-eyed Ganesh idol. Constructed by Ahilya Bai Holkar.
In addition, other beautiful temples, viz. Harsiddhi Mata Temple, Bijasan Mata Temple, Annapurna Temple, Bada Ganapati temple etc. can be visited.
Shopping:
There are several malls like Phoenix Citadel Mall, Treasure Island Mall, C21 Mall, Malhar Mega Mall, etc., to have pleasant shopping and to pass leisure evening. Sarafa Bazar, near Rajwada Palace, is a jewellery market that turns into a night street food market in the evening till late at night. Chappan Dukan (56 Shops) is an affordable, hygienic street food location in the New Palasia area of Indore.
Last Words:
Indore, identified as the cleanest city in India, is a business hub. Its history dates to the accession by the Holkar dynasty in the 18th century AD. The harmony between old heritage and modern living is clearly visible here. Well-connected to several places in India, this city is worth visiting.
Kishor Kumar Mishra
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