Indore history, geography and tourist attractions
About Indore
Indore is situated on the Malwa plateau at an altitude of 553 m above sea level, on the banks of two small rivulets - the Saraswati and the Khan. They unite at the centre of the city where a small 18th century temple of Sangamnath or Indreshwar exists. The name Indore is due to this diety. It is the largest city in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is the commercial capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Indore city presents a happy blend of historical past and promises of rapid future modernization. . Indore was planned and built by Rani Ahilyabai Holker. It is naturally endowed with a beautiful landscape and salubrious climate. There are numerous monuments associated with the Holkars in the city. Indore is a great industrial centre and has the look of a boom town. (Interactive map of Indore)
History of Indore
Situated on one of India's oldest pilgrimage routes from Mahakaal at Ujjain on river Kshipra, to Omkareshwar on the river Narmada and onwards to Rameshwaram, Indore was a convinient resting place. It was on the route of the Marathas of Deccan on their way to North India. These Maratha guerilla warriors were in constant battle with the Mughal empire. Their army transit camps here attracted the local Zamindars (landlords) who, drawn by the promise of lucrative trade, settled in the villages on the confluence of the Khan and Saraswati rivers, thereby laying the foundation of this commerce centre in 1715. In 1741, temple of Indreshwar was erected in the town, from which it derives the name Indore. The trade centre grew rapidly under the Holkar dynasty (1733-1818). The remains of their two century old palace still stand in the main square (called Rajwada). The city became the capital of the Indore princely state in 1818 after the British forces under Sir John Malcolm defeated the Holkars led by Rani Krishnabai Holkar at Mahidpur. She signed the treaty of Mandsaur by which the control of Indore went in the hand of the East India Company. Between 1948 and 1956, Indore served as the summer capital of the former Madhya Bharat state. Currently, it is the commercial capital of M.P.
Places of Interest
Lal Baag Palace
Lal Baag palace lies on the south-west of the city, surrounded by
gardens. It was built between 1886 and 1921. Currently this is the
residence of Usha Raje, direct descendent of the Holkars, whose
ancestral palace it used to be. It is one of the grandest monuments
of the Holkar dynasty. The rooms have been restored and furnished to
pleasing effect. Much of the furniture and ornamentation is in the
late Regency, early Georgian style. It's Italian marble columns,
grand chandeliers, rich Persian carpets,
flying nymphs on the ceiling, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek
mythological relief's, Italian style wall paintings, a wooden
ballroom floor mounted on springs, stuffed leopards and tigers are
magnificent. The whole complex has a total area of 28 acres and at
one time had one of the best rose gardens of the country.
Chhattri Bagh
It is on the banks of the river Khan. They are the tombs erected in the memory of the dead Holkar rulers and their families but the inner sanctums are locked. The largest and most impressive is that of Malhar Rao Holkar I.
Kanch Mandir
As the name suggests, the full temple is
made up of coloured glasses (Kaanch). This Jain Temple was built by
the "Cotton King" Sir Hukamchand in the early 20th century. Inside
this Jain temple thousands of mirrors adorn the walls, floor and
ceilings, supplemented by brightly patterned ceramic tiles, Chinese
lantern-type glass lamps and cut glass
chandeliers. The use of glass beads and raised figures produces a
pleasing 3-D effect. The paintings are done in coloured glass which
depict stories from Jain scriptures.
Rajwada
The Rajawada with its 7-storeyed gateway, faces the main square. A
mixture of French, Mughal and Maratha styles, the palace has been up
in flames three times in its 200 year history. Its lofty entrance
archway above a huge wooden door
encrusted with iron studs, leads into a vast courtyard enclosed by
galleried rooms. The lower three floors are made of
stone and the upper floors are made of
wood. After the serious conflagration in 1984, it's now not much
more than a facade. The New Palace still remain on the north side.
Geeta Bhavan
It is adorned with many statues of Gods of various religions. The
place is open
to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion with provision
for devotees to pray separately. Central hall is decorated with wall
paintings from Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and is used for
religious discourses - Pravachans.
Nehru Park
It is the oldest and most centrally located park in Indore. Built by
the British, initially known as Biscow Park, it was open only to
them in the pre independence days. It was renamed as Nehru Park
after independence. It has a variety of roses, library, swimming
pool, children's hobby centre etc. It also has battery operated cars
and a miniature train to ride around the park.
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
This is one of the prettiest buildings in Indore. Built in 1904 and
originally named as King Edward Hall, was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi
Hall in 1948. This Indo-gothic structure is made in seoni stone and
its domes and steeples are a landmark of Indore city. It has a clock
tower in front, due to which it is also known locally as 'Ghanta
Ghar'. The central hall has a capacity for 2000 people and is
frequently the venue of book / painting exhibitions, sales, and
fairs throughout the year.