Yummy Indore

A trading hub between the Deccan and Delhi in the 16th century, the city of Indore was discovered by Rao Nandlal Chaudhary. Later, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar, with her keen interest in education and planning, built this city in the state of Madhya Pradesh. 

The city is ranked as "the cleanest city in India" for the sixth consecutive year and has reserved its place in the first 20 cities to be developed as smart cities in India. The big city image yet mixed culture vibe of Indore makes it a fabulous place to visit that offers fantastic food to taste. 

Best Places to Visit in Indore 

Indore offers a perfect blend of heritage & modern culture. The city offers a variety of tourist places to visit including majestic palaces co-existing with lip-smacking food options. It is also the birth land of the Indore Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. Here are some of the best tourist places to visit in Indore:

Rajwada 

The pride of Holkars, Rajwada palace, is located near Khajuri Bazar and holds the position of one of the most important monuments in Indore. The Rajwada is located beside the road and is the first thing that grabs everyone's attention. The main entrance of the Rajwada is not separated from the bustling road outside by an exterior wall, a garden, or even a sidewalk. The first impression of this Holkar palace is always overwhelming. The Rajwada's seven-story facade is astounding in its opulence.  

Kanch Mandir 

The spectacular Kanch Mandir, which is made entirely of glass and mirrors is one of the prime tourist attractions in Indore. Early in the 20th century, wealthy businessman Seth Hukumchand constructed this Jain temple. Glass makes up every surface in the room, including the doors, floors, ceiling, and even the paintings and murals. Glass lamps and cut-glass chandeliers adorn the ceiling, while patterned ceramic tiles can be seen through the floor. The murals reflect tales from the Mahabharata and Jain literature. The three Tirthankara statues - Adinath, Shantinath, and Chandraprabha - made of dazzling black onyx are multiplied to an infinite number in the Mandir's distinctive glass room on the top floor.

Bada Ganpati

The Bada Ganapati Temple is located in a busy neighbourhood west of the Kanch Mandir and provides its name to the area. The 8 m-tall Ganesha idol was placed in this modest temple in 1875 by a resident of Ujjain. In addition to bricks and lime, the idol is supposedly made of fenugreek seed, soil gathered from the seven mokshapuris, or holy Hindu pilgrimages, (Ayodhya, Mathura, Mayapuri, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, and Dwarka), as well as the powder of five gems, or Pancha Ratna, (diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, and topaz). 

Lalbagh Palace 

Lalbagh Palace, one of the most impressive structures of the Holkar dynasty. Spread over 71.63 acres, Lalbagh Palace was built between 1886 and 1921, during the reigns of Tukoji Rao II, Shivaji Rao and Tukoji Rao III. The architecture of this palace, especially the main gates, hold a striking resemblance with Buckingham Palace in London.  

Annapurna Mandir 

The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai served as the inspiration for Annapurna Mandir. The temple is situated near Lalbagh Palace and its complex boasts an impressive entryway with four life-size elephants supporting an intricate gopuram, which is typical of Dravidian temples in south India. Hindu gods and goddesses are depicted in minute plaster carvings that cover the entire gopuram. The complex's focal point is the main temple, which is devoted to Annapurna Devi. It has a pink dome and colourful reliefs from Hindu mythology decorating its walls.

Khajrana Ganesh Temple

Rani Ahilyabai Holkar built the Khajrana Ganesha Temple of Indore. Huge crowds of people typically visit this temple on Wednesday and Sunday to offer prayers. According to legend, the idol was hidden from Aurangzeb in a well. In 1735, Ahilyabai Holkar of the Holkar dynasty of the Maratha Empire retrieved the idol from the well and had a temple built in its place. It is a local saying that once a devotee bow down to Ganesha, all their desires are granted by the lord. Vinayak Chathurthi, the primary festival of this temple, was celebrated in a magnificent way in the months of August and September.

Gulawat Valley

While every location at the Gulawat Lotus Valley in Indore is breathtaking, however, you should not miss the opportunity to see the charming 100-meter bridge that spans the lake. One of the beautiful sites to see in Indore is from here, where you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the lake and surfaced lotuses. Also, if you want to see the magnificent sunrise, you should set out early. It is very amazing to see the first sunbeam touching the flowers that are floating over the lake before striking the sparkling lake.

Top Things to do in Indore

Street Foods of Indore

Apart from its rich heritage, the city is also very popular for its mouth-watering culinary experience. Indore is no less than a paradise for foodies. The signature dishes like Poha Jalebi, Mawa Bati, and Bhutte ka kees are popular across the nation. A visit to Indore is never complete without having scrumptious food at the city's Sarafa bazaar & Chappan Dukan.  For all foodies, Chappan Dukan (56 Shops) is a place  where you can find various types of street food, namkeens (Indian snacks), and other food/non-food things. Delicious and inexpensive snacks and sweets can be found on this street in Indore! Pohaa, a popular breakfast dish in Indore, is served at various stalls. You may find a wide range of snacks, chaat, candies, meals, hotdogs (banjos), momos, and hot & cold drinks including coffees, teas, milkshakes, juices, etc., all in one location at this market, which is humming with activity.

A visit to the Central Museum

One of the best collections of ancient and mediaeval Hindu and Jain sculptures from Madhya Pradesh extending from the Gupta to the Parmara eras is housed in the Central Museum of Indore. It was established in Nar-Ratan Mandir in 1929 and moved to its current location in 1965. The Inscriptions Gallery, Coins Gallery, and Antiquities Gallery are all located on the ground floor. There are antiques dating between 5000 and 4000 BC from western Malwa, including stone tools, quartz sickles, ornaments, and domestic items. Additionally, there are a handful of Chalcolithic-era items from the Azad Nagar excavation site on the banks of the Khan (2100-1800 BC). 

Safari at Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary

In addition to its fascinating history, Indore is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The renowned Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary is a visual delight for nature lovers and trekkers, and visiting the sanctuary is one of the top things to do in Indore. Eucalyptus, bamboo, teak, babul, and Chandan trees decorate its thriving kingdom, which is also home to deer, rabbits, leopards, blue bulls, sambhars, and unique bird species.  

Shopping at Sarafa Bazar

The Rajwada serves as the hub for the old bazaars in the centre of this old town. Sarafa Bazaar (jewellery market), which is close to Rajwada, is one bazaar you must visit. Because of the curvy, narrow roads, cars rarely enter there, but there is a parking lot nearby. The namkeen and silver jewellery stores in Sarafa Bazaar are well known to all. Sarafa Bazar is a hotspot for foodies at night, serving mouthwatering chaats and savoury desserts. Saree shops can be found nearby as well, where you may find great deals on Maheshwari, Chanderi, and Bagh-printed sarees. 

Gair Festival

The Holi procession, also known as the "Faag Yatra" or "Gair," is an event that sheds insight on how the festival of colours is observed in Indore which exhilarates and amuses everyone.

"Gair" communicates societal peace and cuts across all barriers of class. If you plan a trip to Indore around Holi, forget not to carry some beautiful Indian tradition clothes to match the vibe of the festival.

Places to visit near Indore  

Patalpani waterfall

The Patalpani Waterfall, which lies in the Mhow Tehsil of the Indore district, is a well-liked picnic location for locals. Patalpani is ideal for anyone searching for a break from their routine schedules because they are surrounded by extensive forest covers, beautiful hills, clear skies, and rich green landscapes. When the water flows at its maximum, the 300- foot-tall falls unleash thundering jets of white water. During the monsoon, there is a generous water flow, and slopes may become slippery. It is advised to trek carefully.  

You can also visit the temples of Mandu which is approximately 100 km away from Indore. The city houses some grand forts like Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Jami Masjid, Hathi Mahal and Ashrafi Mahal. Dhar District is also 100 km away from Indore and can be visited to explore Bagh Cave, a rock-cut Buddhist shrine situated in the Narmada valley on the banks of the Baghini river.  

You can also visit spiritual cities like Maheshwar and Omkareshwar to revive your soul and experience spirituality in and around the city. 

Best time to visit Indore 

Although the city can be toured anytime in the year, the best time to visit is between October and March when the weather is conducive enough for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The temperature during this period ranges between 8 degrees celsius and 32 degrees celsius.

How to reach Indore? 

By Air: The airport in Indore is located 10 kilometres west of the city. Flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Bhopal, Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Jaipur, and Kolkata are available every day. 

By Road: Two national highways, NH-3, which connects Agra to Mumbai, and NH- 59, which connects Ahmedabad to Indore, meet in Indore. Most locations in Madhya Pradesh are accessible by road. The Sarwate bus stop is close to the train station, and the Gangwal bus stop is three kilometres to the west of Chhatri Bagh. Regular buses to Ujjain, Gwalior, Bhopal, Omkareshwar, and Maheshwar depart from the Sarwate Bus Station. 

By Train: Indore railway station is well connected to all Major cities of the country and several trains are running up and down to Delhi and Mumbai. 

Rural Life Experiences Around Indore