Indore
Indore Image Courtsey - MP Tourism
It is the largest city in the state of madhya pradesh
Its signature cuisine, found at sarafa bazaar, is popular across the nation
Numerous maratha era architectural marvels are sprinkled in the city
Home to The Kanch Mandir, which is made entirely of glass and mirrors
Birth-land of The Indore Gharana of the Hindustani Classical Music
A trading hub between the Deccan and Delhi in the 16th century, the city of Indore was discovered by Rao Nandlal Chaudhary in mid-1710. Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar, with her keen interest in education and planning, built this city.
Today, Indore, the state’s largest city, offers a spectacle of majestic palaces co-existing with commercial centres. Apart from being considered as the state's commercial capital, it is also known for mouth-watering culinary experience. It is in the first 20 cities to be developed as smart cities.
Indore, with its abundance, will make you ask for more, like you did as a child for your favourite dish.
Planned and built by Rani Ahilyabai, the brave Holkar queen, Indore lies to the extreme west of Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the rivers Saraswati and Khan which unite at the centre of the city. The bustling and vibrant city, 186 km from Bhopal, derives its name from the 18th century Indreshwar temple.
The history of Indore is inseparable from the history of the Holkar State. The founder of the House of Holkars was Malhar Rao Holkar, born in 1693 AD. His soldierly qualities brought him to the forefront under the Peshwa and he was rewarded with the gift of territories comprising the Indore region. Malhar Rao was succeeded by his grandson, on whose death, without issue, his mother, Maharani Devi Ahilya Bai ascended the throne.
Ahilya Bai was one of the foremost Maratha personalities and an extraordinary woman ruler of India. Her cherished desire was to promote the prosperity of the region and its people. She was the rare Indian royalty who was deified in her lifetime.
Though Ahilya Bai loved Indore immensly, it was only after her death that the State capital was shifted from Maheshwar to Indore in 1811 AD. Today, her statue adorns the centre of the city, Rajwada. Indore continued to be the State capital until the formation of Madhya Bharat State in 1948.