Indore, the seat of Holkars is set on the banks of river Saraswati and Khan in the heart of picturesque Malwa plateau. It was planned and built by Rani Ahilya Bai and named after the 18th century Indreshwar temple. Formerly a major textile trading center, the city has emerged as a throbbing mini-metropolis with a cosmopolitan culture.
Around Indore
Bawangaja (175 kms.)
Important Jain pilgrim center with temples dating back to the early 15th century.
Dhar(47kms.)
It was the glorious capital of Paramara kings, of whom Raja Bhoj is the best known. The city came under the Muslim influence with the rule of Delhi Sultanate and exhibits a fine blend of Hindu, Afghan and Mughal architectural styles.
Maheshwar (90 kms.)
An ancient pilgrim site on the banks of river Narmada finds mention in epics Ramayana and Mahabharta. Its glory was revived by Rani Ahilya Bai, who built and renovated several shrines here. The main attractions are Rajgaddi and Rajwada. the ghats and the temples of Kaleshwara, Rajarajeshwara, Vithaleshwara, and Ahileshwar. Rani Ahilya Bai also introduced the famous Maheshwari sarees well known for its unique weave, patterns, and colors.
Omkareshwar (77 kms.)
This holy island shaped like the sacred Hindu symbol OM is set amidst sceninc surroundings on the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri. Shri Omkar Mandhata temple of Lord Shiva is the main attraction here. It enshrines one of the tweive Jyotirlingas. Other sites worth visiting are – Siddhnath Temple. 24 Avatars (a group of Hindu and Jain temples), Satmatrika Temple and Kajal Rani Cave.
Ujjain (55 kms.)
Ujjain, one of the oldest and holiest of the Indian cities lies on the banks of river Shipra This ancient center of learning is sanctificd with the memories of Sandipani, Kalidasa. Asoka and Vikramaditya. It is also the venue of mammoth Kumbh Mela, held once in twelve years.
- Mahakaleshwar Temple: The famous shrine of Lord Shiva cnshrines one of the twelve.hotirlingas in the country. It was destroyed by the Altamish of Delhi in 1235 and was restored in the 19th century by the Scindias.
- Bade Ganeshji ka Mandir: It is located near the Mahakaleshwar temple and is known for the large ornate statue of Lord Ganesh.
- Harsiddhi Temple: It houses the famous image of the goddess
- Annapurna Gopal Mandir: The 19th-century shrine was built by the queen of Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia. The silver-plated doors of the sanctum were originally taken from the temple at Somnath to Ghazni in Afghanistan and then to Lahore. The gates were rescued by Mahadji Scindia and installed in the temple.
- Chintaman Ganesh Temple: This ancient temple on the opposite bank of the river Shipra has artistically carved pillars in the assembly hall.
- Vedh Shala (Observatory): It was built by Raja Jai Singh ll of Jaipur in 1730 when he was the Governor of Malwa under the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. Ujjain has been India’s Greenwich since the 4th century BC., as it stands on the first meridian of longitude for Hindu astronomers, who believed that the Tropic of Cancer also passed through the site.
- Kaltadeh Palace: This ‘Water Palace’ of the Mandu Sultans was built in 1458, on an island in the Shipra river. Its central dome is a fine example of Persian architecture.
