Tourist Attractions in Indore
Indore is the most populous city of the State of Madhya Pradesh. Indore is 56 kms from Ujjain by road. The city was built by the famed Rani Ahalya Bai on the banks of the river Saraswati and Khan. It has a sizable textile industry and it’s a centre of trade.
The major tourist attractions in Indore are given below:
1. Residences of the Maharaja
Among the residences of the Maharaja are the modern Lal Bagh Palace, south-west of the town; the Manik Bagh Palace, where important guests are entertained; the Old 8-storey Palace in the heart of the city; and the New Palace.
2. Kanch Mandir
The most interesting building in the city is the Kanch Mandir, a shrine of the Digambar sect of Jains. The walls, roof and floor of the Kanch Mahal are lavishly inlaid with mother-of-pearl, glass and multi-colored beads.
On the walls are hung graphic paintings illustrating the terrible punishments visited in the next world on those guilty of various sins.
There are three exquisitely carved silver tables in front of the sanctum on which are installed one huge black marble idol and two white marble idols of the Jain Tirthankaras, Chandraprabhu, Shantinath and Adinath.
The pillars in the hall are beautifully decorated with red, green, blue and orange beads enormous crystal chandeliers are suspended from the roof. Reflections of light on the walls and the shining pillars produce an indescribably beautiful effect.
The upper storey, which is similarly ornamented, has in its sanctum three bronze images of the same Tirthankaras placed in the middle of a pair of mirrors which show hundreds of reflections of the idols stretching to infinity. The silver-door temple is kept open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for those who do not belong to the Jain faith.
3. Chhatri Bagh
The Chhatri Bagh contains the majestic cenotaphs of the Holkar Rajas. The principal cenotaph is that of Malhar Rao Halkar I and is lavishly decorated with frescoes.
There is a smaller one dedicated to Rani Ahalya Bai (died 1795), his daughter-in-law, and most famous ruler of Indore.
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