Indore is the largest and most populous city of Madhya Pradesh. Indore was described by the Economic Times as the commercial capital of the state. It is also considered as an education hub of the state and houses campuses of both the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management. Located on the southern edge of Malwa Plateau, the city is 190 km west of the state capital of Bhopal. Hindi is the official language of the Indore city and is spoken by a majority of the population. A number of Hindi dialects such as Bundeli, Malawi and Chhattisgarhi are also spoken. Other languages with a substantial number of speakers include Urdu, Marathi, Sindhi, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. The temperature here ranges from an average of 42 °C maximum in summer to 8 °C minimum in winter. The winter season is most pleasant, with the temperature dropping at nights, the ideal months to visit being October to March.
History: Indore traces its roots to its 16th-century founding as a trading hub between the Deccan and Delhi. The city and its surroundings came under Hindu Maratha Empire on 18 May 1724 after Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I assumed the full control of Malwa. During the days of the British Raj, Indore State was a 19 Gun Salute (21 locally) princely state (a rare high rank) ruled by the Maratha Holkar dynasty, until they acceded to the Union of India. Indore served as the capital of the Madhya Bharat from 1950 until 1956.
By 1720, the headquarters of the local pargana were transferred from Kampel to Indore, due to the increasing commercial activity in the city. On 18 May 1724, the Nizam accepted the rights of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I to collect Chauth (taxes) from the area. In 1733, the Peshwa assumed the full control of Malwa, and appointed his commander Malhar Rao Holkar as the Subhedar (Governor) of the province. Nandlal Chaudhary accepted the suzerainty of the Marathas.
On 29 July 1732, Bajirao Peshwa-I granted Holkar State by merging 28 and half parganas to Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder ruler of Holkar dynasty. His daughter-in-law Ahilyabai Holkar moved the state’s capital to Maheshwar in 1767, but Indore remained an important commercial and military center.
In 1818, the Holkars were defeated by the British during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, in the Battle of Mahidpur by virtue of which the capital was again moved from Maheshwar to Indore. After India’s independence in 1947, Holkar State, along with a number of neighbouring princely states, acceded to the Indian Union.
*(All the above information are from Wikipedia.)
Transport:
Airport: Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport at Indore is major airport connected with most cities across India.
Rail: Indore is connected to most major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Vadodara to name a few. The station is divided into meter gauge and broad gauge. Khandwa and Ratlam are the two major junctions on the meter gauge.
Road: Being located in the central part of India this region is well connected through various national and state highways. NH 3, NH 59 and 59A passes through Ujjain with connecting bypass road and state highways (SH 27 and 31). A large number of state-run and private buses are available, connecting various cities to Indore.
Local: Auto rickshaws, city buses private taxis and Tata Magic are available for transportation within the city. Tour operators provide vehicles for hire. Ola, Uber and other car rental services are also operative here.
Tourist Interest:
Khajrana Ganapati Temple: The famous temple is located in the heart of the city and is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. There are several other temples for other deities located within the large compound.
Lal Bagh Palace: The Lal Bagh Palace is one of the most iconic buildings of the Holkar era. Built by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar between 1886 and 1921, the three storried structure was used for hosting royal receptions. The palace in known mainly for its brilliant architectural style. Its main gate resembles that of the Buckingham palace and the rooms are built in the European Rococo style.
Rajwada Palace: Built by the Holkars of Maratha Empire, it is a fusion of Mughal, French, and Maratha styles of architecture. The seven storied palace has two parts, the first one at the city’s center and the second is in the old town. The three lower floors are of stone and the top floors are of wood. Burnt thrice, the last being in the year 1984, the palace was rebuilt.
Indore White Church: Indore White Church was built in the year 1858 and it is the oldest church in central India. It was earlier called St. Ann’s Church. The church is a fine specimen of European architecture. Experience the serenity of the place that relaxes you and soothes your soul, a believer or otherwise.
Chhatris: The Maratha Rulers were skilled in the field of architecture. An exquisite example of their architectural style comprises of the Chattris of Indore. These chhatris are the cenotaphs built in the memory of the Holkar rulers. The memorials are built in stone and have stood the test of time.
Patal Pani Waterfall: Situated within the forest this waterfall is around 36 km from Indore. The waterfall is situated in a serene and breathtaking location.
Pipliyapala Regional Park: Pipliyapala Regional Park is a perfect destination for nature lovers. The beautiful Mughal, French, and biodiversity gardens and a wide range of fountains here make the place picture perfect.
The other places of interest in Indore are Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, Tincha Falls, Gomatgiri and more.
Tour Planner: This tour planner is made on the basis of the location of the destinations. One can make changes as per their interest, convenience and accessibility and duration of the trip.
Day 1: All the major places in Indore can be covered in a single day. One can take an extra day to cover all the other places too.
Hotels: Online booking is always preferable for discounts in tariff. Hotels in Indore are Treeboo Daaksh Residency, Hotel Surya, Kanchan Tilak, Hotel Sayaji, Hotel Radisson Blu, Tata Ginger Hotel, Lemon Tree Hotel, Fortune Landmark and more.