Indore Tourism (2024) - Madhya Pradesh, India

Indore Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

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"'The food city' famous for its Poha and Immarti"

Indore Tourism

Indore is the largest and the most populous city of Madhya Pradesh. Located on the Malwa Plateau, the charm of this city lies in its rich cultural heritage which has been preserved over centuries and along with the hints of urbanisation.

Indore has been one of the fore-runners in the development of the country in the era of modernization. One of the educational hubs in the country, Indore has both an IIT and an IIM. Indore is also the cleanest city of India. Indore has over the years established itself as the hub of trading and industrial practices in the state. The city of Indore gets its name from Indreshwar Mahadev temple. It is believed that Lord Indra meditated on this land and led Swami Indrapuri to establish this temple. Try out some local delicacies like Indori Poha at Sarafa Bazaar while you are in Indore.

Rajwada

Lal Bagh Palace

Khajrana Temple

Sarafa Bazaar

Indore Museum

Patalpani Waterfalls

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Indore - A Mini Version Of Mumbai

One of the most populated cities of Madhya Pradesh, Indore is a major commercial hub, growing exactly on the same lines, as does India's major commercial capital, Mumbai. However, given the size of both the cities, Indore is aptly nicknamed Mini Mumbai. This city was once ruled by the Maratha scion of Holkars, among whom Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar has a special place in the history of India. Indore is also a major education hub, owing to the city being the seat of both IIT [Indian Institute of Technology] and IIM [Indian Institute of Management]. Very few people know that Indore is also the birth town of star cricketer Rahul Dravid, as well as Bollywood star Salman Khan, who had lived up to five years of his childhood here.

History Of Indore

Indore witnessed the conflict between the Mughals, Marathas and the British who wanted to gain domination of Central India. Located in the Malwa Region, the city of Indore was founded by Rao Nandlal Chaudhary. On his visit to the Indreshwar temple, he found the area to be sheltered and secured by natural boundaries on all sides. He established the city of Indrapur and built a fortress there. The name Indore is a change of Indrapur. When the Marathas became powerless after they lost the third battle of Panipat to Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan invader, they had to sue for peace in order to resist the British. After this, the Holkars established their rule on Indore. The Holkar Dynasty was founded by one of the greatest warriors of his time, Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar I. Even during the British Raj, Indore remained as the part of the Holkar Dynasty. During the Independence of India, it joined a few other Princely States and became a part of Madhya Bharat. Later, it became a part of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 1956.

Maratha Architecture

There is very little information with respect to the architecture of the earlier period covering the rules of Shivaji, Sambhaji, Rajaram and Shahu. The prior Maratha rulers had neither the time nor the assets to indulge in such activities because of their extended wars with the Mughals. However, one can get some idea about the features of the Maratha architecture from the later built forts and buildings. The materials that were mostly used for construction were bricks, mortars and stone. The arches were made in the Deccan style, even though their use was kept to a minimum. Some of the decorative features that were commonly used were arches, stone brackets, narrow balconies that are jutting out of these brackets and shallow ceilings in the shape of domes. The Maratha design did not have the excellence and beauty of the structures of the Mughals and the Rajputs. Be that as it may, the Marathas exceeded expectations in fortification engineering. The woodwork they used to enliven their royal residences, and other common structures were intricate and minute.

Restaurants and Local Food in Indore

The cuisine of Indore provides one, countless options for lip-smacking vegetarian dishes with a hint of a South-Indian influence on the food. Being a sparkling city and a unique hub of cultures in and around, this town provides one quite a variety. From the hustle-bustle of street food culture to an array of fine dining experiences, all choices here, are equally delicious. The cuisines that you will find here are Maratha, Rajasthani, Continental, Muslim and South-Indian, Bengali and Mughlai.
Indore is famous for Indori Poha and Imarti. Adding to this list of essentials, you have Pani Puri, Vadas, Idlis, Dosas, Sabudana Khichdi, Bhel Puri, Poha, Chaat, Kachori, Samosas, Dal Bafla, Chole Bhature and a huge variety of traditional salty snacks called Namkeen. There are also a number of sweets to relish such as Jalebi, Malpua, Gulab Jamun, Rabri, Faluda Kulfi and more. Popular traditional beverages include Jal-Jeera and Lassi.

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Suggested Itinerary for Indore

Day 1: Reach Indore, preferably by noon, and take some rest. In the evening, you can take a stroll on the city side, particularly Sitlamata Bazar, which is famous for its retail clothing. Or if you wish to go trendy, visit the Treasure Island Mall on MG Road, Indore. Those who are ultimate foodies can prefer to gorge at Chappan Dukan, which has street food of all kinds in 56 shops!
Day 2: The next day should be earmarked for a visit to the glorious Lal Bagh Palace, which houses some exquisite artefacts right from Mughal era to the time when Holkars ruled Indore. Then, you can go for the majestic Rajwada, which has glimpses from the time of famous warrior queen, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar. This is 3.1 km. away from the Lal Bagh Palace.
Day 3: The final day can start with blessings from Annapurna Mandir or Bada Ganpati Mandir, which has one of the biggest idols in the world of Lord Ganesha. A 39-minute drive will further take you to another site of interest in Indore, which is the Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, holding some of the rarest species of flora and fauna. By the time you return from Indore, you shall leave satisfied to the core.

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Indore Photos

Indore Central Museum - Established in 1929

Bada Ganesh Mandir - Popular Hindu Pilgrimage Spot in Indore

Gandhi Hall - Constructed with Indo-Gothic Style Architecture

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FAQs on Indore

What are the places near Indore?

The top places near to Indore are Ujjain which is 51 km from Indore, Mandu which is located 62 km from Indore, Maheshwar which is located 66 km from Indore, Udaipur which is located 301 km from Indore, Omkareshwar which is located 60 km from Indore

What are the things to do in Indore?

The top things to do in Indore are Lal Bagh Palace, Rajwada, City Shopping, Kanch Mandir, Bada Ganpati, Annapurna temple, Indore. You can see all the places to visit in Indore here

What is the best way to reach Indore?

Indore is well connected to the rest of India by rail, road and air. Regular rail and bus services ply to and fro the city of Indore. The nearest airport here is the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, which is 7 km. away from the city centre, accessible in the fastest time via Airport Road.
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What is the local food in Indore?

What is the best time to visit Indore?

October to March are the best months to visit Indore. July to September is also a good time to visit as the temperature cools down due to showers, but rains could hamper your sightseeing and travel plans. Summers must be avoided due to the scorching heat.
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Who should visit Indore?

Ideal for tourists of every type. Suitable for backpackers from places like Bhopal, Jaipur, New Delhi etc.

What is not so good about Indore?

Congested in winters. Not a lot to do within the city for tourists.

What is famous about Indore?

A commercial and historical hotspot. A good city located in central India. Nicely connected to all parts of the country.

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Indore Reviews

Your rating

Durgesh Rai

4 years ago

in my opinion is that if you are planing for tourism , here is very well information Best place for visitors/text

Vaidyanathan Sankaranarayanan

on Tincha Falls 3 years ago

We went here on Oct 25, 2021 with lots of expectations. We were totally shocked and disappointed. Apart from the waterfall being a trickle only, you can view it from a long distance only.....like vie (Read More)wing the Niagara. There is no life there. Access is difficult. If you want to see lots of monkeys, this is a good place.

Ayush Baheti

6 years ago

- Indore is a safe city in general. Although if you are staying out beyond 10-11 pm in the night, it is advisable to stick around crowded areas such as MG Road, Palasia, Y.N Road etc.

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Indore

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Indore Travel Essentials

"'The food city' famous for its Poha and Immarti"

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