Indore travel is a must visit part of the Madhya Pradesh tour. Presenting a charming blend of historicity and modernness, the city of Indore is one of the most popular tourism destinations of the state. Much of the glorious history of Indore owes to Malhar Rao Holkar – the founder of the Holkar dynasty. The city rose to great heights under the Holkar Kings.
HOW TO REACH
By Air:-
The tourists may travel to the city of Indore by air. The airport of the city is situated a few kilometers away from the center of the city. The air routes connect the city of Indore to the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bhopal.
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport Indore is the airport situated in the city. Jet airways and Indian Airlines are the two airlines cater to the needs of air traffic in the city of Indore. The Indian Airlines flies regular flights to the city of Mumbai, Delhi, Bhopal, Gwalior and Chennai. Regular flights depart for the cities of Mumbai and Bhopal. The Jet Airways flies flights only to the city of Delhi and Mumbai. Sahara Airlines also provides cheap flights to the cities of Bangalore, Mumbai and Bhopal.
By Train:-
It is most convenient to travel to the city of Indore by train. Several trains run along the broad gauge and the meter gauge tracks connecting the city of Indore to the rest of the country. Traveling by train to the city of Indore is less time consuming and easily affordable.
By Road:-
The tourists may travel to the city of Indore by road. The city is well connected by a network of roads to some of the major cities of the country. Buses ply regularly on the routes to Indore from the neighboring cities.
WHAT TO SEE
Rajwada:-
The Rajwada, built by the Holkars of the Maratha Empire in 1766, is a seven-storeyed palace situated near the Khajuri Bazaar. Both the Maratha and the Mughal styles of architecture are visible. The structure contains two parts; the first one is located at the heart of the city, whereas the second one is located in the old part of the city.
Chattri Bagh:-
Chhatris, meaning umbrellas or canopies, symbolize pride. They have a dome-like structure and were a common architectural motif in palaces, funerary sites and forts of India. For example, the Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra contain many such chhatris.
According to historical records, chhatris have their origin in the Hindu and Mughal architecture. In Indore, the chhatris were constructed in the remembrance of the Holkar rulers.The region of Indore has many noteworthy chhatris such as Krishnapura Chhatri and Bolia Maharaj Ki Chhatri.
Kanch Mandir:-
The Kanch Mandir, also famous as the Seth Hukamchand Temple, is a pilgrim center for the Jains, built using mirrors and glass. The temple is located on the Jawahar Road near the Rajwada.The Chinese lantern-type glass lamps and cut-glass chandeliers adorn the temple. The carvings on the walls of the temple depict Jain stories. They also portray torture of sinners in the afterlife, conversion to Jainism, and the court life of the 19th century.
Lalbagh Palace:-
The Lal Baag Palace was built by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar in the European style between 1886 and 1921. It is located on the peripheries of Indore, to the southwest. Built on the bank of the River Khan, this palace is a three-storeyed building. The palace has a statue of Queen Victoria in its garden area. It also contains an English library, baroque and rococo dining rooms, a Palladian queen’s bedroom, and a Renaissance living room. The visitors are overwhelmed at the sight of the decorations in the style of the Versailles Palace: flying nymphs on the ceiling, Italian marble columns, rich Persian carpets and grand chandeliers, Italian-style wall paintings, Belgian stained-glass windows, Greek mythological reliefs, and stuffed leopards and tigers.
Bada Ganapati:-
The Bada Ganapati Temple, built in 1875, consists of one of the largest Ganesha idols in the world – an eight-metre-tall, saffron-coloured statue of Lord Ganesha made up of bricks, methi dana, limestone, jaggery, mud from the stables of horses and elephants, and soil collected from the seven moksha puris (Ayodhya, Dwaraka Maya, Kanchi, Mathura, Kashi and Avantika). The constituents also include the grind of Pancharatna, namely heera, panna, moti, manek and pukhraj (diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby and topaz), as well as holy water.
Indore Museum:-
The Indore Museum, also known as the Central Museum, is a Holkar-dynasty building exhibiting one of the finest collections from medieval and pre-medieval Indore. The collection includes Hindu sculptures, coins, arms, armours and carved land-titles.The museum, established in 1929, is located on the Agra-Mumbai Road near the General Post Office in Indore. It remains open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Mondays. No admission fee is charged.
Mahatma Gandhi Hall:-
The Mahatma Gandhi Hall, formerly known as the King Edward Hall, has been designed in Indo-Gothic style. It was built in 1904 and consists of a four-faced clock tower, a temple, a library and a children’s park. The hall can accommodate around 2,000 people.
Nehru Park:-
The Nehru Park, located on the AB Road between Naulakha and Chhawanalso, is a zoological park. It is situated on the banks of River Khan. The park is also known as Chidiya Ghar (zoo). It has a library, swimming pool, battery-operated cars, children’s hobby centre, and a mini-train.
SHOPPING:-
Indore is an interesting shopping destination in Madhya Pradesh. While shopping in Indore, be on the look out for the typical bangles and jewelry, wood-carved products and the beautiful Chanderi and Maheshwari silks. Indore has a number of interesting markets where you can roam around and shop for things .The oldest market in Indore is the Maharaja Tukuganj Cloth Market, popularly known as MT market which can transform you into a princess with its dazzling array of of brocades and zari work in brilliant designs. The traditional Maheshwari and Chanderi sarees with their distinctive borders will make good gifts to take home from Indore.
FOOD:-