Indore Visit

This is possibly my second proper visit to Madhya Pradesh. The first was a visit to Omkareshwar when I was seven or eight.I made that trip with my parents from Khandwa in Maharashtra when we were visiting my maternal uncle who was stationed there.

Indore is an Industrial town, but luckily the factories are far away in Pitampura and Naghda. Indore is the focal point.

Indore, or Malwa, as the region is traditionally known was the royal seat of the Holkars, of whom Maharani Ahalya Bai Holkar seems to be enshrined in legend.

The weather was quite cool with mild showers in the evening. The roads are wide and have green trees and shrubs lining them. The whole place is by and large clean with numerous old heritage buildings nestled between ultra-modern and chic designer structures.

Another thing I noticed was that people are pretty friendly on the roads. Car and two wheeler drivers are more patient with pedestrians. The people are happy and show it. This is because of the quasi-urbanized nature of the city that permits the rural values and manners to survive.

I felt that this part of MP had no unique or clearly distinguishing features like language, food, dress or even a major difference in geography. The state is seamlessly merged with its surrounding states especially Maharashtra. Of course, in interior parts like Ujjain and beyond they speak Malwi.

We visited the Rajwada or Royal Residence of the Holkars. There is a huge gate facing the main market and a circular park. The gate gives access to an open courtyard. Across the courtyard is a covered platform with a Gaesha shrine in the center. This abuts the

museum cum temple that houses many royal artifacts, pooja idols and other objects of interest. One peculiar idol was that of Malhar Mahadev or Kandhoba. Lord Shiva is here depicted as mounted on horse together with his wife.