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 Lal
Baag Palace
Lal Baag Palace is one of the grandest monuments the Holkar dynasty left
Indore. A reflection of their taste, grandeur and lifestyle, its
construction began in 1886 under Tukoji Rao Holkar II, and was carried
out in three phases. The final phase was completed in 1921 under Tukoji
Rao Holkar III. Many royal receptions were held here. It has a total
area of 28 hectares, and at one time it had the reputation of having one
of the best rose gardens in the country.
Bada Ganpati
Better known for its size than antiquity, this temple houses perhaps the
largest Ganesh idol in the world measuring 25 feet from crown to foot.
Created as a result of the dream of an Avantika (Ujjain) resident, Shri
Dadhich, it was built in 1875.
Kanch Mandir
This Jain temple is an architectural marvel in glass. The walls,
ceilings, floors, pillars and door knobs are entirely inlaid with glass.
Even paintings are done in glass. Atop is a special glass chamber which
multiplies the three statues of Lord Mahavira installed there into an
indefinite number (said to be visible upto 21 times, corresponding to
the 21 tirthankaras).
Town Hall
Made in 1904 and originally named King Edwards Hall, it was renamed
Mahatma Gandhi Hall in 1948. Its architectural style is Indo-Gothic.
Made in Seoni stone, its domes and staples are a landmark of Indore
today. It has a four-faced clock tower in front, because of which it is
locally known as Ghanta Ghar.
It is frequently the
venue for the various book and painting exhibitions, fairs and festivals
held throughout the year. The building also has a library, a children's
park and a temple.
Central Museum
The Indore Museum houses the finest collection of Parmar sculptures from
Hinglajgarh. The Parmar style originated here, and is characterized by
proportioned figures, carefully and ornately depicted in stone. The
museum is also known for its collection of coins, arms and armour.
Gita Bhavan
Adorned with many statues of gods of various religions, its construction
is inspired by the religious motto "many names to a God is after all of
one God."
 Chhatris
Chhatris are the tombs or cenotaphs erected in memory of dead Holkar
rulers and their family members. The Chhatris picturesquely poised on
the Khan river banks near Rajawada are incomparable in terms of Maratha
architecture and sculpture of their period. At Chhatri Baag is the main
collection of tombs housed in two compounds. Close by is the beautiful
Bolia Sarkar's Chhatri constructed in 1858 AD in memory of Sardar
Chimnaji Appa Sahib Bolia.
Annapurna
This temple was inspired by the Meenakshi temple of Madurai. Four
life-sized elephants hold an ornately decorated gate in plaster. Inside
the temple of Annapurna Devi are also temples of Shiva, Kal Bhairava,
Hanuman and a Pravachan Hall. The outer wall of the main temple is
decorated with colourful motifs from mythological stories.
Khajrana
The citizens of Indore have great faith in this Ganesh temple, built
during the reign of Ahilyabai Holkar. It is believed that all wishes are
fulfilled by praying here. Nearby is the dargah of Nahar Sayed. This is
an important pilgrimage place for Maita Muslims.
Kasturbagram
8 km from Indore, the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust was
founded by Mahatma Gandhi. Its headquarter were shifted from Wardha to
Indore in 1915. The main objective of this trust is showing ways of
improvement in the quality of village life and the welfare of rural
women and children. Some of its many commendable activities are :
agricultural production, research, training, experiments in fruit
orchards, social forestry, new renewable sources of energy, gobar gas,
better water management, rural institute for girls, village sanitation
programmes etc.
Bijasen Tekri
A 2 minutes drive from the airport leads you to a hillock on which was
perched a guest house of the Holkars, now converted into Border Security
Arms Museum, as well as a small temple of Bijasen Mata, built in 1920,
which has a magnificent view of the sunset. A mela (fair) is held during
the Navratri. A good picnic spot, with a breathtaking view of Indore
city by night.
Gomatgiri
The Jain Samaj has constructed a 21 feet statue of Lord Gomateshwar, a
replica of the Bahubali statue of Shravanbelagola. Also built here are
24 marble temples with shilars for each tirthankar.
Bada
Ganpati
The idol has a most
interesting configuration of ingredients; bricks, limestone, masala made
of gud (jaggery), methi dana, soil collected from the seven mokshapuri:
Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantike and Dwarka; mud from the
stables of elephant, cow, horse; the powder of 'Panch Ratna': heera,
panna, moti, manek and pukhraj (diamond, emerald, pearls, rubies and
topaz) and holy waters from places of pilgrimage. The metallic frame is
made of Panchdhatu or five metals i.e. gold, silver, copper, iron and
brass.
 Rajawada
Synonymous with the heart of Indore
city, it stands today as a mute witness to the bygone splendour of the
Holkar rulers. This 200 year old seven-storey historic palace of the
Holkars is built in a mixture of Muslim, Maratha and French styles.
The lower three floors are made of
stone and the upper floors are made of wood, which made it very
vulnerable to destruction by fire. Rajwada was burnt three times in its
history; the last fire in 1984 took the greatest toll. Today only the
front facade remains. Recent renovations have recreated some of the old
glory of this beautiful palace.
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