Fact File Area - 165.17 sq. km  Population - 1,109,056  Altitude - 567 metres  Languages - Hindi, Marathi and English  Best Time to Visit - October to March  STD Code - 0731

Introduction Indore is known as the city of the Holkars. The city was built by a Holkar Rani Ahilya Bai, one of the famous queens of India. Located in the Narmada River valley in the western part of the state of Madhya Pradesh, Indore is an important industrial city of India. It is also the centre of trade and textile industry and home to many historical monuments and temples. A must visit, Indore is also affectionately called /’Mini Mumbai/’. Sightseeing Visiting Indore means a visit to some of the famous historical monuments and religious centres inside the town. Famous for its glass bangles and jewellery, Indore has some of the best architectural marvels that belong to the Holkar dynasty. The Rajwada or the Old Palace (a major centre of attraction), Lalbagh palace, (another architectural wonder), Kanch Mandir (a marvellous Jain temple Chattri Bagh (the memorial with some canopies) and the Bada Ganapati (the largest Ganapati statue in the world) are some of the attractions you must visit in Indore. Moreover, Indore is famous as a shopper/’s paradise. The Khajuri Bazaar offers you unique shopping options of gold and silver work, cloth, leather work and traditional garments. Moreover, there are the Sarafa Market that specialises in snacks and jewellery and the Kasera Bazaar that specialises in metalwork where you can indulge in the variety displayed for selling. The Chanderi and Maheshwari silks of Indore are the other famous attractions of this city. Excursions Indore is an important base to visit some of the interesting sites nearby. Hence an excursion is highly recommended. Your excursion from Indore would include sites like the Omkareshwar temple and island at the confluence of the Narmada and Kaveri rivers; Maheshwar, a famous spot for monuments, forts and Maheshwari saris; Ujjain one of the holiest cities of India, Military Headquarters Of War (MHOW), Mandu, the former monsoon retreat of the Mughal emperors and Patal Pani, a waterfall with a height of 150 feet.