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Indore is
known as "The Commercial Capital" of the state. Trade &
Commerce at Indore has a close resemblence with Mumbai.
Being well connected to Mumbai by Rail/Road/Air every
business trend be it new fashion , technology or just the
business culture, comes in very fast to Indore. Hence
sometimes also called "Mini-Bombay".Apart from having big
shops & showrooms of all the national & international
brands (Company outlets), a big cloth market industry has
flourished at Indore. Indore is also known for its leather
toys and Maheshwari & Chanderi are some very interesting
ornate sarees and brocades to offer. There is a lot of
zari work coming out of Madhya Pradesh, and the Maheshwari
sarees have particularly gained in popularity of late.
Besides the fabrics, there is a variety of local carving
crafts to choose from. For shopping in Indore there are
main places as under.
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- MT
Cloth Market for Clothings specially in wholesale
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Sitlamata Bazar for retail clothings and sarees
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Kothari Market, A paush market with all big showrooms
like Louis Phillipe, Raymond, Bombay Dying etc.
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Topkhana having big showrooms for readymade garments
like Agrawal stores, and Fantasy a big and popular
backery shop
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Heritage Market, Palasia for big Show rooms loke Nike,
Lee, Arrow, Van Husain, Allen Solly, Grasim, Woodlands
etc.
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- GLOBUS,
A huge departmental store by Raheja's on MG Road
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- M.T.H.
Compound, a big Electronic home appliances market.
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- Card
Galleries like Archies at Palasia and Hallmark near
Madhumilan cinema
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- R.N.T.
Marg for Big Departmental stores like Avani, Sanskar
Dress materials,
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- Bada &
Chota Sarafa Market near rajbada for All kind of
jewellery, delicious sweets,chaat, namekeen shops.
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Readymade garments (Moolchand) market specially for
children (manu./ retail.) near Rajbada.
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Siyaganj, A whole sale market for hardwares , paints and
food items. This area is having branches of almost all
the banks.
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- Dawa
Bazar, A huge market for medicines & medical products
opp..M.Y. Hospital.
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Raymond Retail shops at AB road near palasia, at MG road
near gandhi hall, at Tower chouraha khatiwala tank
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- Jail
Road, A place mainly for Electrical items & Tailors
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Jawahar Marg, A big road with wooden & steel Furniture
shops.
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Marothia Bazar : Shops for art & craft , grosseries.
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- Bartan
Bazar for Utensils
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Chhawni : Anaj Mandi , small departmental stores,
sweets, Namkeen shops.
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- Loha
Mandi : for building material
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- LOTUS
: Sapna Sangeeta Road, Palasia. A big departmental store
for electronic household goods.
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PAKEEZA at Regal Square & MT Cloth Market : A huge
showroom for readymade garments , dress material & other
textile items.
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Khajuri Bazar : A big market for all types of Books ,
stationery items.
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- 56
Shops : A popular area for 'chaat' , sweets , 'lassi/jiuce'
, big showrooms of Titan, HCL, Internet Parlours.
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- Bada
Sarafa (Rabri , Gulab Jamoon , Ras Malai, Bhutte ka kis,
moong/gajar halwa, chaat)
- 56 Shops
at Palasia (Samosa , kachori , patis, Icecream, Khaman.
South Indian food)
- Gujrat
Sweets at Sapna Sangeeta Road
- Indian
Coffee House (M.G. Road, Bhanwar Kuan,Dental College)
- Uttam
Bhog ( A.B. Road)
- Jain
Mithai Bhandar ( Collectorate, 56 shops)
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Santooshti ( Near Yashwant Club)
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Mathurawala (Chaawni)
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Nearby
Attractions :

Lalbagh Palace:
The
Lalbagh Palace of the
Holkars on the
banks of the Khan river is one of the grandest monuments the
Holkar dynasty left to Indore city. A reflection of their taste,
grandeur and life style, its construction began in 1886 under
Tukoji Rao Holkar II, and was carried out in three phases, the
final phase completed in 1921 under Tukoji Rao Holkar III. It is a
blend of the baroque and renaissance styles, and in its days was
one of the most elegant residences in India. It is being developed
by the Government of
Madhya Pradesh as a cultural centre. The main attraction are
the splendidly proportioned and furnished rooms, with frescoed
ceilings and guilded ornamental mouldings. The architecture and
decoration of this palace, inhabited by the Holkars till 1978
reflect the highly westernized aesthetic sensibility of the later
Holkars. Tukojirao III was the last incumbent of this magnificent
palace. The whole complex has a total area of 28 acres and at one
time had one of the best rose gardens of the country.
Though simple to look from outside, the magnificent interior takes
one into a dreamland of past glory. Lavishly decorated in the
style of Varsailles Palace, its italian marble columns, grand
chandeliers, rich persian carpets, flying nymphs on the ceiling,
Belgium stained glass windows, Greek mythological reliefs, Italian
style wall paintings, stuffed leopards and tigers are
breathtaking. The ballroom has wooden floor on springs for extra
bounce. The kitchen was built on the opposite bank of the river
and was connected to the palace by a well lighted underground
tunnel. The imposing
gates of
the palace are unique in Asia. A replica of the gates of
Buckingham palace (London), about twice their size , were moulded
in cast iron and shipped from England. They carry the Holkar state
emblem which means "He who tries will succeed".
The
Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) which is a jain mandir
(temple) is a marvel in glass. This temple was built by the
"Cotton King" Sir Hukamchand Seth in the early 20th century. The
walls, ceiling, floor, pillars, doors are entirely inlaid with
glass. The mirrorwork reflects minute detailing. There are
paintings done in coloured glass which depict stories from Jain
scriptures. At the top is a special glass chamber which multiplies
the three statues of Lord Mahavir installed there, into an
infinite number.
The Krishnapura
Chhatris:
These are exquisite cenotaphs of the three later Holkar rulers.
These memorials in stone are gracefully poised on the banks of the
Khan river with their pyramidal spires tapering into soaring
kalashas. These are memorials built on the cremation spots of
the Holkar rulers of Indore. Facing west is the cenotaph built
over the ashes of another woman ruler of Malwa, Maharani
Krishnabai. The other two Chhatris are of Tukoji Rao II and
Shivaji Rao, father and son, and are linked by a common oblong
prayer hall with ornately carved arches and pillars on a high
platform along the garbha grihas containing life size
statues of these rulers. A breathtaking sight at night when
illuminated, the Chhatris glow etherally against the dark of the
sky. An artificial lake is created in this stretch of the
otherwise dry Khan river, complete with a fountain, well laid
gardens on both banks and boating facility.
The
Holkar Palace (Rajwada)
is close to the Chhatris, in the main square in the heart of the
city. It is a seven storied building (only facade remains) built
over two centuries ago. This historic palace of the
Holkars is built
in a mixture of Maratha, Mughal and French style. The gopura-like
monumental stone and wood structure, flanked by bastions and
studded with balconies and windows, is a testimony of the past
grandeur of the Holkars. Its lofty entrance archway above a huge
wooden door encrusted with iron studs, leads into a vast courtyard
enclosed by galleried rooms, and the arcaded Ganesh Hall where
state and religious functions were once held. It is now used for
art exhibitions and classical music concerts. The lower three
floors are made of stone and the upper floors are made of wood,
which made it very vulnurable to destruction by fire. Rajwada was
burnt three times in its history, and the last one in 1984 was the
most devastating. The charred rubble of the rear portion has now
given way to a symmetrically laid out garden featuring fountains,
an artificial waterfall and some superb pieces of eleventh century
sculpture.
Bada
Ganapati: Better known for its size than antiquity, this
temple houses perhaps the largest Ganesh idol in the world,
measuring 25 ft. from crown to foot. Created as a result of a
dream to an Avantika (Ujjain) resident Shri Dadhich, it was built
in 1875. The idol has a most interesting configuration of
ingredients: bricks, lime stone, masala made of Gud,
methi dana, soil collected from seven moksha puris:
Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, and Dwaraka, mud
from stables of horse, elephant and cow, the powder of
Pancharatna : heera, panna, moti, manek and pukhraj
(diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby and topaz) and the holy water from
all major places of pilgrimage. The metalic frame is of gold,
silver, copper, brass and iron.
Khajrana:
Many citizens of Indore have a great faith in this Ganesh temple
made by Ahilya Bai. They believe that praying here fulfils one's
wishes. Nearby is the dargah of Nahar Sayed. It is believed
that his headless body is buried here. This is an important
pilgrimage place of Naita Muslims.
Geeta
Bhavan: Newly built, adorned with many statues of Gods of
various religions. It is open to all, irrespective of caste,
creed, religion etc., with provision for devouts to pray
separately. Central hall is decorated with wall paintings from
Puranas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, and is used for religious descourses
- Pravachans. Book stores within the premises sell
religious books.
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.
Gopal mandir: This is a Krishna temple built by Krishna Bai
Holkar in 1832. Situated on the right wing of the Rajwada, it has
a big central hall with stupendous pillars bearing a massive roof
which is elaborately decorated. Its systen of lighting in the form
of huge glass chandeliers is eye catching.
Indore Museum : The Indore museum houses the finest
collection of Parmar sculptures from Hinglajgarh. The Parmar style
originated here and and is characterized by proportionated
figures, carefully and ornately depicted in stone. The museum is
also known for its collection of coins, arms and armours.
Nehru
Park: This is the oldest and most centrally located park
in Indore. Built by the Britons as Biscow Park, it was open to
only British in the pre independence days. It was renamed as Nehru
Park after independence. It has a variety of roses, library,
swiming pool, children's hobby centre etc. It also operates
miniature train to ride around the park. It also has battery
operated cars.
Meghdoot
Upavan: Newest and the largest of the gardens situated on
the outskirts of the city, about four kilometers from Palasia. It
has sprawling lawns, lighted fountains, dancing fountains,
landscaped gardens. It has been extensively renovated in 2000-01.
There is an amusement park Mangal Merry Landadjacent to it.
Ice cream parlours, milk parlours, Chaat gali are on the
outside.
Annapurna Mandir: Inspired by the Meenakshi temple of
Madurai, four life size elephants hold an ornately decorative gate
in plaster. Inside the complex, apart from the main temple of
Annapurna Devi are also temples of Shiva, Kal Bhairav, and
Hanuman. There is also a pravachan hall. The outer wall of
the main temple is decorated with colourful reliefs from
mythological stories.
Kamala Nehru
Park (Zoo) : More popularly known as Chidiya Ghar,
it combines the pleasure of a park and zoo on a modest, easy
reachable area. Evening attractions include elephant rides, camel
rides, pony rides, goat cart and buggy rides (mostly for kids). It
has a restaurant and an ice cream parlour overlooking the Khan
river. There is a children's playground at the far end of the
park.
Gomatgiri: In 1981, the M.P. government donated a hillock
to the Jain Samaj, who constructed a 21 feet statue of Gomateshwar,
a replica of the Bahubali statue of Shrawanbegola. Also built are
24 marble temples with shikars, for each Tirthankar.
Gomatgiri is approached by a lovely picturesque drive 10 minutes
from the city airport. It also has a guest house, a dharamshala
and a restaurant.
Bijasen Tekri: This hillock (tekri) has a small temple of
Bijasen Mata, built in 1920. Mela is held here during
Navaratri. This place is two minutes drive from the airport
and about nine kms from the railway station. From this hill, one
gets a magnificent view of the sunset and a breathtaking view of
city at night. Perched on top of the hill was a guest house of the
Holkars, now converted into a Border Security Force Arms Museum.
Surrounding area is being developed into gardens with a small
lake.
Deoguradia: In a small picturesque village of Deoguradia, 8
kms from Indore, on Nemawar road, stands the monolithic rock
temple built in 7th century and redone in 18th century by Ahilya
Bai Holkar. Also known as Garuda Tirth, it has a water
outlet in the shape of of Gomukh from which water flows out
almost as in Abhishek. The original Shivalinga is 12
ft under water in a sunken temple above which the present temple
is constructed. On every Shivratri, a fair is held in
honour of the diety - Shri Gutkeshwar Mahadeo.
For the garments, Chhappan Bazar and Sarafa are
places to visit. Chhappan Bazar has many shops selling
mouthwatering "Chaat" and related stuff. Sarafa, which as the name
suggests, is a jewelry market during day time. But at night, when
the jewelry shops close, the place is magically transformed into a
large indian fast food centre selling rabri, rasmalai, kulfi,
and an amazing array of vegetarian snack foods and
namkeens.
This narrow mile long road (close to Rajwada) is packed with
people through most of the night and has a carnival atmosphere.
This is a new concept in entertainment which is fast catching
roots in Indore. These are sort of heritage villages with rustic
Rajasthani atmosphere. There are camel / horse / goat / bullock
rides, train ride, puppet show, magic show, monkey show, bioscope,
etc for the kids in addition to boating facility, rajasthani dance
cum entertainment show, a public dance hall (disko!) etc. There is
also a spacious indian style dining hall where hot, tasty meals
are served. The whole area is nicely landscaped and kept clean and
well maintained. Open full day on week ends and in the evening
till night on working days. There are currently two such villages,
Nakhrali Dhani at Rau in the souther suburb and Chokkhi Dhani on
Khandwa road in the eastern suburb. These provide a very good
means of family outing in the evenings.
The pilgrimage town of Ujjain is about 56
km from Indore. It traces its origin to the very dawn of Indian
history. Hindu astronomy, astrology and geography have Ujjain as the
base for calculations which is the "Greenwich" of Hindu astronomers
and astrologers. Situated on the bank of Kshripra, it is one of the
oldest holy cities of India. It is place of one of the Kumbh Melas.
It was the capital of the Avanti Nagari of Raja Bhoj and poet
Kalidasa. It had become a great centre for learning during the rule
of the great legendary king Vikramaditya. The
temple of
Mahakaleshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Bhartrihari
caves, Sandipani (Shri Krishna's Guru) Ashram, ancient observatory
are some of the places to visit.
The historical fort of Mandu (Mandav
gadh or the "City of Joy" [Shadiabad] ) is about 90km
from Indore. Founded in the 10th century as a Fort-Capital by the
Parmar rulers, this extensive, now deserted hilltop fort is one of
the most interesting sites in Madhya Pradesh. This is supposed to be
the biggest fort in India (82km perimeter) and has ruins of lots of
palaces, baths, pavilions of the past, when it was a busy town. The
tomb of Hoshang Shah is supposed to be the inspiration behind Shah
Jehan's celebrated Taj Mahal. Jahaj Mahal, H indola Mahal, Ashrafi
Mahal are some of the notable monuments. Each of these is an
architectural gem in the Afghan style. The legend of the romance of
Rani Roopmati and Baj Bahadur haunts this place which is
quite beautiful in rainy season.
Dewas is 36 kms
from Indore. Its name is derived from a hill in its vicinity known
as Devi Vashini, on which is perched a temple of its presiding deity
Chamunda Devi. Earliest mention of Dewas is in the epic poem
Chandi bardai of 16th century. Most beautiful spot is the Devi
hall where there are several temples cut out in rocky walls with
images in relief.
The holy town of
Omkareshwar is also about 77 kms from Indore. It is an island on
the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri. This place has
hundreds of Hindu/Jain temples. The most important being the one
housing one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which has made this
place an important pilgrimage centre since ancient times. A boat
ride in Narmada river around the island of Omkareshwar is quite
enjoyable.
Maheshwar:
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Maheshwar, 90
kms from Indore is mentioned in Ramayan and Mahabharat as Mahishmati.
It became famous when Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar made it her capital. It
is famous for its sarees -
Maheshwari
sarees - known for their unique weave.
Patal Pani, 36
kms from Indore towards Mhow, is famous for its scenic waterfall.
Water falls from a height of 150 feet into a kund whose depth
is still unfathomed. It is popularly believed that the bottom of
this deep kund [trench] reaches Patal (the
mythological world below Earth ), hence the name Patal Pani.
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