Rajwada Palace is one of the beautiful attractions in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Also known as the Holkar Palace, the palace was built around 2 centuries ago by the Holkars belonging to the Maratha dynasty. The palace is one of the oldest structures of Indore.
This palatial structure is built using Mughal, Maratha and French styles of architecture. One of the interesting features of the palace is that from the Southern side the structure looks like a Mughal monument, and European from the eastern side. The Darbal Hall and the Rani Ahilya throne are designed in French style.
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The structure stands within cylindrical bastions on all the sides. The entrance of the palace is a lofty wooden gate with iron studs. The entrance leads you to a beautifully done courtyard with its Maratha style of ornamentation at balconies, windows and corridors. The lower three floors of the structure is made of stone and the upper three floors are made of wood.
The courtyard is surrounded by several gallery rooms. There is an arcaded Ganesha hall that once served as a major venue for all the important events and religious functions. Today, this hall is where the art exhibitions and classical music concerts are held.
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Though the huge structure has been burnt three times in history, it was recently renovated under the instruction of H. H. Ushadevi Holkar, the Maharani of Indore, bringing back all its beauty and elegance. The reconstruction was done with such perfection that the same materials used then to build the original palace was used to retain the look and feel of this place. Hence, the structure looks the same till date . The palace faces a beautiful garden that has fountains, an artificial waterfall and some amazing sculptures.
Tourists can also enjoy a light and sound show during evenings. The Sarafa market and other local markets near the structure are ideal for shopping for clothes, junk jewellery and some sumptuous street food.
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Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm on all days of the week
Light & Sound Show: 7pm (45 minutes long)
To be noted: Pets are not allowed here. There is a nominal entrance fee, and no camera fee.
How to Reach Rajwada Palace
The palace is located near the Chhatris in Indore. Here is how to reach Indore.
Other Places to See in Indore
Indore has several other tourist attractions apart from Rajwada palace. Some of the attractions here include Annapurna Temple, Geeta Bhawan, Kanch Mandir, Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Patalpani and Gomatgiri among the rest.