When it comes to History, we know the cultural places and heritage sites such as the Red Fort of Delhi, Qutub Minar, and Taj Mahal from Agra but have you ever heard about Rajwada Palace located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh which is a symbol of Holkar’s Dynasty. Let’s learn more about the Rajwada Indore Palace.
History of Rajwada Indore
The Rajwada Palace is also known as Rajwada Mahal or Holkar Palace in Indore. The palace is a true example of a combination of Mughal, Maratha and French styles of architecture. If we look at the history of Rajwada Indore it was built by the founder of the Holkar Dynasty. Malhar Rao Holkar in 1747. Malhar Rao Holkar chose Indore as his own capital and built the Rajwada Palace for his residential and administrative purposes. The Rajwada Palace in Indore has seen triumphs and tragedies in history. The Palace was burned three times by various enemies of the Holkar Family such as the Pidaris, Scindias and the British invaders. According to historians the last fire occurred in 1984 during the riot the upper four floors were burnt into ashes and only the stone-built floors of Rajwada Palace survived.
Thanks to the Government of India and the Holkar family the Rajwada Palace was reborn. Now the Rajwada Palace holds different cultural festivals like Malwa Utsav which showcases the art and culture of Indore.
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Architecture of Rajwada Palace
The Rajwada Indore Palace is of seven-storey heights blended with phenomenal architecture Maratha, Mughal and French styles. The lower three floors of Rajwada Palace are made up of stone and the upper floors are made up of wood. If you look at the palace you will find a huge Wooden gate. The Rajwada Indore is rectangular in shape and spread out around an area of 2.4 acres. The Rajwada Palace is divided into two parts, the main palace and the rear palace. The main palace is said to be the older part that is faced towards the main road and the rear palace is the newly made part that is faced towards the waterfall and the garden.
The Main Palace
The Main Palace of Rajwada Palace in Indore is a three-storey building that has a huge wooden door. It is decorated with Mughal arches, a courtyard, a temple, various halls and chambers. The wooden gate has a beautiful floral pattern and has iron spikes. In an earlier time, the iron spikes on the wooden gate were placed for the prevention of elephant attacks. The Rajwada Indore Palace’s arches have beautiful paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses and have a balcony above. The courtyard of the main palace has intricately carved pillars with a centre of marble platform. The Rajwada Palace’s temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha which has a silver door and an idol made up of gold.
The Rear Palace
The Rear Palace is a four-storey building consisting of a beautiful garden, statue, waterfall and a fountain. The garden has beautiful flowering plants. The statue is dedicated to the “Queen Punyashlok Ahilya Bai Holkar” which is made of bronze. An artificial waterfall creating a soothing sound calms your mind and then there is a circular fountain that rises the water up to the height of 100 feet. Every evening the rear palace conducts a light and sound show depicting the story of legends of the Rajwada Palace.
Places To Visit Near Rajwada Palace
If you have visited the Rajwada Palace and you have ample amount of time left then you can visit other places nearby Rajwada Palace in Indore. Here are some of them
1. Khajrana Ganesh Temple
The Khajrana Ganesh Temple is one of the best places to visit near Rajwada Palace located in Indore. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it was restored by Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar in the 18th century. The best thing about the temple is that the idol of Lord Ganesha is said to be self manifested and that attracts so many devotees coming from various parts of the country. The temple is open every day from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm with no entry fees.
2. Patalpani Waterfall, Indore
This is for the nature enthusiasts. According to the legends, the name “Patal” itself suggests the meaning of “underworld or Patal Lok”. It is believed that the water that comes from this waterfall enters the Patal world. The Patalpani waterfall is a beautiful place with lush greenery and high terrain of about 150 feet. Picnic, Trekking and hiking at Patalpani waterfall region are some of the popular things to do near Rajwada Palace. As the waterfall is open all year still it is suggested to avoid entering this place in a heavy monsoon.
3. Sarafa Bazaar, Indore
You are in Indore and How is it possible that you are not going to roam in the market?Located in the centre of the city, the Sarafa Bazaar holds a combination of traditional and modern aspects. In earlier days the Sarafa Bazaar was known for its jewelry shop but now it is one of the best street food markets in Indore. Tasting delicious local cuisines like Jalebi, Indori Poha, and Bhutte ka kees are some of the popular things to do near Rajwada Palace.
Suggested Read: 8 Best Places To Eat In Indore: A Culinary Delight
4. Central Museum, Indore
People who are interested in history and heritage can always visit the Central Museum of Indore after visiting the Rajwada Palace. The Central Museum is one of the best places to visit near Rajwada Palace. It has a wide variety of collections of artefacts that provide insight into the heritage of India. The Central Museum has a beautiful collection of historical and archaeological objects such as coins, and armoury. The Parmar sculpture is the centre of attraction of this museum has been extracted from the ruins of various temples of Madhya Pradesh. The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
5. Glass Temple, Indore
Glass Temple also known as the Kanch Mandir is a worshiping place of Jain community members. The temple will take your breath away with its architectural beauty which is fully decorated by the glass. According to the reports the temple was built by Sir Seth Hukumchan Jain around the 20th century. From the interior walls of the temple to the ceilings, floor pillars and doors are decorated with glass panels and it looks more eye-catching when the sunlight passes through it. Apart from the glassy decoration the temple has a beautiful idol of Lord Mahavira embedded in glass. Besides the spiritual significance, the Kanch Mahal holds a special place for tourism for its kaleidoscopic effect.
The Best Time To Visit Rajwada Palace
Madhya Pradesh is a subtropical region of India with three distinct seasons. The best time to visit Rajwada Palace is between the months of October to March. However, preferring the season that is cooler can help you explore would be the best time to visit Rajwada Palace and explore Indore without discomfort.
Rajwada Palace Timing
The Rajwada Palace is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with an affordable entry ticket depending on the category of adult and child.
Conclusion
In the centre of Indore, Rajwada Palace holds a special place that not only attracts history enthusiasts but also attracts tourists from other parts of the country. The Rajwada Palace showcases how extraordinary history can be. So whenever you step into Indore, do not forget to visit Rajwada Palace and explore the history of the Holkar Dynasty.