Madhya Pradesh - Tourism - Indore @ whatisindia.com

INDORE
Situated on the banks of the river Saraswati and Khan. Indore was planned and founded by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar and derives its name from the 18th century Indreshwar Temple. Indore is a flourishing industrial city with a proud past. Chief attraction is the Kanch Mandir or Glass Temple of the Digamber Jains the walls, floor and ceiling of which are lavishly inlaid with glass and mother of pearl. Palaces and cenotaphs of the former rulers are other attractions.

How to get there

Train Schedules

Air: Indore is linked directly with Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bombay, Delhi, Gwalior by Indian Airlines. Vayudoot connects Indore to Bombay & Pune. Continental Airlines operates flights from Indore to Bhopal, Bombay and Raipur.
Rail: Indore is on Western Railway and is connected to major cities of India.
Road: Indore is connected by good motorable roads. Some important distances are:- Agra 605 kms, Ahmedabad 456 kms, Bhopal 187 kms, Bombay 602 kms, Delhi 809 kms, Gwalior 486 kms, Khajuraho 574 kms, Maheshwar 90 kms, Mandu 105 kms, Ujjain 53 kms etc.

Lal Baag Palace
Lal Baag palace lies on the south-west of the city, surrounded by gardens. It was built between 1886 and 1921. Currently this is the residence of Usha Raje, direct descendent of the Holkars, whose ancestral palace it used to be. It is one of the grandest monuments of the Holkar dynasty. The rooms have been restored and furnished to pleasing effect. Much of the furniture and ornamentation is in the late Regency, early Georgian style. It's Italian marble columns, grand chandeliers, rich Persian carpets, flying nymphs on the ceiling, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek mythological relief's, Italian style wall paintings, a wooden ballroom floor mounted on springs, stuffed leopards and tigers are magnificent. The whole complex has a total area of 28 acres and at one time had one of the best rose gardens of the country.
Open: Monday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Chhattri Bagh
It is on the banks of the river Khan. They are the tombs erected in the memory of the dead Holkar rulers and their families but the inner sanctums are locked. The largest and most impressive is that of Malhar Rao Holkar I.

Kanch Mandir
As the name suggests, the full temple is made up of colored glasses (Kaanch). This Jain Temple was built by the "Cotton King" Sir Hukamchand in the early 20th century. Inside this Jain temple thousands of mirrors adorn the walls, floor and ceilings, supplemented by brightly patterned ceramic tiles, Chinese lantern-type glass lamps and cut glass chandeliers. The use of glass beads and raised figures produces a pleasing 3-D effect. The paintings are done in colored glass which depict stories from Jain scriptures.

Rajwada
The Rajawada with its 7-storeyed gateway, faces the main square. A mixture of French, Mughal and Maratha styles, the palace has been up in flames three times in its 200 year history. Its lofty entrance archway above a huge wooden door encrusted with iron studs, leads into a vast courtyard enclosed by galleried rooms. The lower three floors are made of stone and the upper floors are made of wood. After the serious conflagration in 1984, it's now not much more than a facade. The New Palace still remain on the north side.

Geeta Bhavan
It is adorned with many statues of Gods of various religions. Open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc., with provision for devotes to pray separately. Central hall is decorated with wall paintings from Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and is used for religious discourses - Pravachans.

Nehru Park
It is the oldest and most centrally located park in Indore. Built by the British, initially known as Biscow Park, it was open only to them in the pre independence days. It was renamed as Nehru Park after independence. It has a variety of roses, library, swimming pool, children's hobby centre etc. It also has battery operated cars and a miniature train to ride around the park.

Mahatma Gandhi Hall
This is one of the prettiest buildings in Indore. Built in 1904 and originally named as King Edward Hall, was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Hall in 1948. This Indo-gothic structure is made in seoni stone and its domes and steeples are a landmark of Indore city. It has a clock tower in front, due to which it is also known locally as 'Ghanta Ghar'. The central hall has a capacity for 2000 people and is frequently the venue of book / painting exhibitions, sales, and fairs throughout the year.

Reference:
http://www.webindia123.com/

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