Indore - A City To Remember

Indore is the largest city and commercial capital of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh (Central Province). Located on the Malwa Plateau in Central India, Indore with a population of nearly 1.6 Million, is among the ten largest and most populous cities of India.

Indore till before the independence of India in 1947 was under the Maratha rule and so there is a significant Marathi population still in Indore. Apart from Marathis, the city also has a significant precence of Marwaris, Punjabis, Sindhis and Gujratis, making it a diverse city.

The city is rapidly developing today and is seeing industrialization and investment in IT through software parks and call centers. It is also a largest educational hub in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Not far from the city is the old city of Ujjain, historically and religiously very significant. The city is also important for educations in the state, as many significant schools , colleges and institutions, including the reputed Indian Institute of Management are located here. For shoppers, there is original glass jewellery to check out while in Indore. The city boasts of specialized markets like the Khajuri bazaar and Kasera bazaar which are known for gold, silver, metal work and leather craftsmanship.

There are many interesting spots to visit in Indore, the most significant of which are the Lal Bagh Palace and the Bada Ganpati Temple. The Lal Bagh Palace, which was built sometime between 1886-1921 by the erstwhile Holkar rulers is set amongst well-laid gardens and the architecture and interiors of this modern palace was highly influenced by English palaces. The Bada Ganpati Temple built in the year 1875 is visited by tourists from l over the country. The temple boasts of a magnificent statue of Lord Ganesha which is almost twenty five feet tall. It is said that the statue was built of material like bricks, limestone, jaggery mix, soil collected from seven Mokshapuri, powder of five atnas and water from sacred rivers. Another wonder worth checking out is the Kaanch Mandir or the Glass Temple of the Jains dedicated to Lord Mahavira. It is so called because the entire building is decorated with glass including the ceilings, floors, pillars and everything else. The Rajwada is another magnificent palace worth going to. The palace belonged to the Holkers and its architecture is a fine blend of French, Mughal and Maratha styles. The palace is almost 200 years old and with its beautiful galleries, gardens, fountains, and an artificial waterfall, is undeniably another major tourist attraction in Indore.

Then there is the Town Hall or the Mahatma Gandhi Hall which is now emerging as another spot frequented by visitors. The Hall has an Indo Gothic style of architecture and boasts of domes and minarets giving it a majestic look. Its centre hall can hold almost two thousand people and is today a major venue for art and culture. Other spots to visit include the three exquisite cenotaphs of the three later Holkar rulers. The memorials were built in stone and have ornately carved arches and pillars.