Last but not the least, now it's time to take you on the tour of my own place & that is the majestic Malwa; a region of west-central India comprising a large portion of western and central Madhya Pradesh state. The name is confined to the hilly tableland bounded by the Vindhyachal mountain to the south, but it has been extended southward to include the Narmada river valley and the Satpura range. It is a land of fertile black soil drained by the Chambal, Shipra, Kali Sindh, and Parvati rivers. The region is covered with savanna-type vegetation on the plateau and moist deciduous forests in the southern part, generally on the spurs of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. Malwa’s industrial centers include Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Khandwa, Ratlam & Neemuch. The region long has been known for its production of fine Chanderi sarees. In 1948 Malwa was formally divided among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Malwa is well connected to the country’s rail and road networks.
Here i will try to elaborate about this hidden jewel of India. So let's start with my own city.....
The Happening Indore
Known as the Commercial Capital of Madhya Pradesh,
Indore was the capital of the Holkars. The largest and most densely
populated city in central India, the city is popular for its history,
monuments, food and over-crowded markets. Rao Nandlal Chaudhary, founder of the city, named it as ‘Indrapur’
after Lord Indra, the deity of Indreshwar temple. During the Maratha
regime, the city was renamed ‘Indur’, which the local Marathi community
continues to use. It was later Anglicised to ‘Indore’ during the British
era. Holkar dynasty played a major role in the history of Indore. Indore
region was granted as a reward to Malhar Rao Holkar, founder of the
dynasty by the Peshwas. Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar brought several
developmental changes and reforms in the city. Although Maheshwar was
the capital of the Holkars during the reign of Rani Ahilyabai, Indore
remained an important commercial and military center. Rajawada, Lalbagh Palace and Sukh Niwas stand testimony to the grandeur of the Holkar era in Indore. It is the birth-land of the Indore gharana of the Hindustani classical music. The great singer Swar samragyi Bharat ratna Lata Mangeshkar was also born in Indore only.
Indore is being awarded "Cleanest city of India" for last consecutive 5yrs. It is in the first 20 cities to be developed as smart cities in India & recently bagged the best Smart city award in the year2021 . It is one of the fastest growing cities in India and houses the third oldest stock exchange, Madhya Pradesh Stock Exchange. Indore is also an important educational hub. It is the only city in India to have both Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). One of the prominent school of Indore "Daly college" is ranked among country's top3 co-ed boarding schools according to the EducationWorld India School Rankings 2020-21. The school was founded by Sir Henry Daly of the British army during India's colonial British rule in the year1870. The existing heritage building of the school was inaugurated by the Viceroy lord Dufferin in 1885.
Rangpanchami and Anant chaturdashi mahotsav are the prime festivals of the city. Indore is a paradise for shopaholics. The Sitlamata Bazaar is popular for Maheshwari and Chanderi saris. Accommodation options are numerous in the city. You can conveniently find budget, mid-range and luxury hotels. There are many multi-cuisine restaurants in the city, which serve Indian, Chinese and international cuisine. Local food items like Poha, Jalebi & Sev are very popular among the visitors.
 | |
| Independence day celebration at Regal square, Indore |
Maa Narmada- Indore Chalo Movement
Narmada River is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh which has also played an important part in development of Indore. As many as 50-years have been completed of the movement started by the then leaders, eminent personalities and common people to bring Narmada River’s water to Indore for quenching the thirst of the fast-developing city.
The demand of bringing Narmada water to Indore was raised in 1966-67 and a movement ‘Maa Narmada-Indore Chalo’ was started in 1970. Large number of people and the then leaders comrade Homi Daji, Shubhash Karnik, Rakesh Sharma, Upendra Shukla and Shashikant Shukla played an important role in raising the voice of the movement for the development of the city.”
Indore was totally depended on Yeshwant Sagar Lake which was built and
started supplying water to city in 1938. When the population of Indore
increased to over 3.2 lakhs, the demand for an alternate source of water
was raised and the foundation stone for bringing Narmada water to
Indore was laid by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971.
Since then, three phases of Narmada water supply have completed and it is the major reason behind the rapid development of the city. Still, the city’s development is dependent on Narmada’s water supply. Areas where there is Narmada water supply have developed quickly compared to those that don't have Narmada water.
I've been living in Indore for last 13yrs since year2008 when i came here for my engineering from a very small town. Today i see a huge difference in then Indore & Indore now. The biggest change in the city that I've witnessed during these years is the level of cleanliness achieved by Indore which has set a benchmark in all over the country. It's very admiring that team of delegates from many of the foreign countries have come to Indore to study this model of cleanliness that how Indore has transformed itself from a dirty city to the cleanest city of India. The way this city is developing i think soon it's going to become a metropolitan city in upcoming years. According to the government's Ease of living index2020, Indore ranks among the top10 most livable cities of India along with the big names like Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Ahmadabad & Navi Mumbai etc. Quality education, Health infrastructure & Affordable housing are the key factors behind this success of Indore. Many of the MNCs are now giving preference to Indore over the big cities like Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru for opening their offices.
Best places to visit in Indore
Khajrana Temple
The Khajrana Ganesh temple is a popular landmark in Indore. It was built way back in 1735 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the temple is home to an 8-metre long Ganesha idol. Legend has it that this temple was hidden in a well as it faced the threat of destruction by Aurangzeb. Later, it was removed from the well by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar and a small hut was built around it in the form of a temple. Over the years, the temple underwent several changes to finally take the shape that it holds today.
Lal Bagh Palace
The Lal Bagh Palace is one of the most iconic buildings of the Holkar era. Built by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar between 1886 and 1921, the three storey structure was used for hosting royal receptions. The palace in known mainly for its brilliant architectural style.
You can see a collection of old coins, and contemporary Indian and Italian paintings. The interior of the palace features Italian marbles, flying nymphs and Belgium stained glass. From the bedrooms to the kitchen to the ballroom, each part of the palace takes you back in time reminding you of the grandeur of the Holkars. The palace complex is also believed to have one of the best rose gardens of India during its prime.
Now an annual fest "Malwa Utsav" is celebrated in the palace's premise mostly in 1st week of the May month. It's like a fair where you can go with your family & friends to enjoy the evening with shopping of hand-made artifacts, clothes & artificial jewellery; you may taste variety of foods available here; children can enjoy the camel ride or experience the thrill on various types of swings. It also provides a glimpse of rich Indian culture where you can watch dance performances of different groups belonging to different states of India. It's an overall treat for the entire family.
Vaishno Dham
This temple dedicated to Mata Vaishno devi situated on a walking distance from Lal bagh palace. This beautiful temple is designed like a tunnel-like structure that gives resemblance of the Vaishno devi cave of Katra. The temple is maintained & administered by the local Sikh community living nearby the temple. This temple is a worth watch.
Rajwada
One of the most historical buildings in Madhya Pradesh, Rajwada Palace dates back to the 18th century. Built by the Holkars of the Maratha empire in 1776, Rajwada is located near the famous Chhatris in Indore. It is renowned for its architectural brilliance and royal design. What is special about this seven-storey building is that it is a fine blend of Maratha and Mughal architecture. Now a state property managed by the Archaeology department, Rajwada remains a historic monument and is visited by thousands of people all year round. The original palace was destroyed during the 1984 riots and was then renovated in 2007. The renovation work is still in progress to save this heritage icon of Indore. The grand Rang panchami celebrations held near Rajwada are extremely famous all across India.
Glass Temple
One of the most popular Jain temples in India, the Kanch Mandir in Indore literally translates to ‘temple of glass’. The temple is renowned for the several glass paintings and sculptures placed inside the temple. Dating back to the Holkar dynasty, the Kanch mandir was built in 1903 by one of India’s industrial pioneers, Seth Hukumchand Jain. It is believed that craftsmen were hired from Jaipur and Iran to construct this marvelous structure. The Kanch mandir is popular for its stunning architecture and grand celebrations held during Jain festivals. From the outside, the temple was built like a medieval mansion but as you move inside, you can see glass mosaics and carvings all across the ceiling, walls, floor and columns. Finally, when you reach the garbhgriha, the innermost sanctum of the temple, you can see idols of the Tirthankars flanked by mirrors.
Krishnapura Chhatris
Krishnapura Chhatris are located on the banks of the River Khan. This monument reveals the actual Maratha style of architecture with domes and spires that attracts the tourists to wonder at its grandeur. These beautiful Chhatris are known widely for their architectural sight. It is stunning sights at night when they are lit up. Krishnapura Chhatris are royal tombs of the Holkar Dynasty, they symbolize the glory and fame of the Holkars in the area.
Pitra Parwat
Pitra Parvat Hanuman Temple is considered to be the biggest metal statue of Lord Hanumanji in Asia. It is the tallest statue of Lord Hanuman sitting in the country. This statue weighing 90 tons has been specially polished which will protect it from the weather. In the memory of loved ones, the process of planting trees on this mountain started 12 years ago.Today millions of plants have taken the shape of trees. Here you can take showers of blessings from Hanumanji, roam around in the shades of tall trees & click pictures in the beautiful garden situated in the temple premise. It's a divine place.
Tafreeh Agro Park
Tafreeh Agro Park is located at Indore-Dhar Road. It is a best amusement park for all age people to enjoy different adventure game, watching birds, swimming & boating etc. It's a big park spread over the area of 40-acre. It is a celebration of undiluted joy of nature and agrarian culture. If some one is interested in adventure then so many rides and adventure available inside like climbing through rope, angling, amazing sports like Tarzan’s Swing, Monkey Bridge or crossing over an artificial pond through Zipline, boating in the lake or simply rest on a loft built over the tree. Here you can feed the cute rabbits beneath the tree.
This is a perfect place for full day picnic activity and for b'day celebration etc. It's good to go with own personal vehicle.
Regional Park
The very attractive and beautiful park - the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Park - also known as Pipliyapala Park or Indore Regional Park, has been developed by the Indore Development Authority (IDA). Development of the park is around 80 acres of a lake and 42 acres land near this water body. The serenity of this park comes from nature itself. A canal covers the whole park from one end to the other, and the bridges over it with mist fountains, make it seem like out of a storybook. Various attractions in the park include boating in the lake, musical fountains, jumping jet-fountain, Artists' Village, Indian Gardens or Necklace Gardens, French Gardens, Maze and Labyrinth, Bio-diversity Garden, Lake-view Point and a Fast food Zone.
Annapurna Temple
Annapurna, meaning the 'giver of food and nourishment', is a Hindu goddess who is worshiped by Hindu community. The Annapurna Devi Temple stands as one of the most believed pilgrimage sites of Indore that is thronged by devotees round the year. Here, the deity is seen holding a ladle and a container in her hands, which signifies that those who worship her, will always be flourishing with food and never suffer from hunger and starvation. The architecture of the temple is a mere resemblance of Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Not only the inner side of the temple and the statue of the idol is an attraction here, but also its outside walls decorated with legendary characters are something to take pride in. Tourists are greeted by four full sized elephants, which embrace the temple’s decorated gates.
Bada Ganpati Temple
Housing an iconic 25 foot tall idol of Lord Ganesha, Bada Ganpati Temple is one of the must see tourist attractions of Indore. The statue of lord Ganesha here is believed to be the largest in the whole world. The grandness and serenity of the temple attracts devotees, peace seekers and tourists in equal numbers.
Gommat Giri
Just outside the city is Gommatgiri, a major pilgrimage site with a cluster of 24 marble temples and a 21-foot (6-metre) statue of Lord Gommateshvara of Jainism, a replica of the Bahubali statue of Shravanabelagola(Karnataka). You can enjoy the mesmerizing view of the city from here as it's located at the heights.
Bijasen Mata Temple
Around 5-6kms away from Gommatgiri, this
temple of Bijasen Mata is situated near Indore Airport on a small
hillock. The deity is said to have immense powers and it is said that
wishes of people are fulfilled by the Godess. This place is too crowded
during Navratri festival and during weekends as well. A park is also
developed on one side of the hillock. One can sight the take offs and
landing of flights from the park. Many food stalls are also there which
makes it convenient for people to spend hours at this place.
Indore Zoo
Kamla Nehru Prani sangrahalaya, more popularly known as Chidiya Ghar; it contains some of the spatial animal species like White Tigress with her cubs, birds, amphibians and also many carnivores and omnivores. The park also offers elephant,camel and pony rides to kids. It has a playing area for kids to interact and bond. There is also a pool and a toy train for entertainment.
Dewas Tekri
Dewas Tekri (Hill) is a very famous place for temple of Maa Chamunda and Maa Tulja Bhawani, situated on a small mountain overlooking the small city of Dewas. It takes only 1hr to reach Dewas from Indore through Bypass road. People from different places come here walking. Vehicle & rope-ways go till the top but I would suggest to go climbing stairs as it will hardly take half an hour to reach onto the top. You will get peace of mind when you are there. The place is very famous among locals and must visit place to visitors if you are in Indore. Both the temples are very beautiful and very old too . From hill you can see a rare view of Dewas city ,During Navratri Lacs of people come to Dewas Tekri for Worship.
The Foodie Indore
If the city holds a strong historical background, there is also the tempting food culture to impress you. There are a lot of other things about Indore which will leave you speechless. The most important is the food! The Street food of Indore is extremely popular in Madhya Pradesh. The food culture here has its roots based in recipes from neighboring states and an amalgamation with an Indori touch. The life in the city starts with Chai (tea), Poha and Jalebi and later in the day one can easily find some amazing preparation of snacks by the road side. The city offers a wide variety of Namkeens, Poha, Jalebi, Chaat. Kachori, Samosas and local delicacies such as Daal Bafla.
Sarafa Bazar
Indore has got the heaven for midnight foodies- the place is called Sarafa Bazar. Indore’s famous Sarafa Bazar is known for its amazing street food. Amazing Indian sweets like rabdi, gulab jamun, jalebi and basundi are available at every nook and corner. 'Bhutte ka kees' is a specialty and the Chaat here is also quite popular. Such eateries make Sarafa bazaar an extremely lively hangout place at night. The jewelry market at Sarafa Bazaar is also popular among those interested in gold investments. In fact, Sarafa is renowned as a daytime jewelry market and night time "khau gali" ( eatery street).....If you are in Indore, even for a short visit then visiting Sarafa should be in your must visit list.
Chhappan Dukaan
Another fascinating part of Indore is Chappan Dukaan (referring to the 56 shops) where you find snacks in abundance! This place is quite literally a food treasure trunk with assorted dishes. From Pani Puri, to a bowl of noodles and from north Indian to south Indian delicacies.. you have sizable number of options to try in a cheerful ambience.
The food shop owners of Indore are extremely
welcoming and hospitable and most importantly, very honest. Explore the regions strikingly rich street food
culture which guarantees you to give a mouthwatering food trek and a
stomach full of love!
Shopper's Paradise
Indore, which once was the trading hub between Delhi and Deccan region, is often referred to as ‘Mini Mumbai’. Most of the shopping places in Indore still retain the old-world charm which makes the whole experience unique for shoppers. Nonetheless, brand conscious can also easily find stores of popular international brands in these markets in Indore. Here i would like to tell about the best shopping places in Indore that you simply cannot miss to visit.
MT Cloth Market
MT (Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar) Cloth Market is one of the oldest shopping places in Indore that was established during the reign of Holkars in this region. The shops in this market are mostly set up by manufacturers and wholesalers, so you can buy a variety of things in bulk at wholesale prices. Although famous for fabrics, this market also offers a range of kurtis, suits, sarees, etc. in impressive designs, colors and styles. This is where you get beautiful clothes at lower prices when compared to others. Make sure you use your bargaining skills while shopping here as it can help you save a reasonable amount.
SitlaMata Market
If you have to attend a wedding or any other important occasion and are looking for an exquisite range of ethnic wear, then head straight to Sitlamata Bazaar – a hub for retail clothing and sarees. You will find high-quality fabrics in incredible designs, patterns and colors, be it the traditional Maheshwari and Chanderi sarees with delicate zari work or handcrafted fabrics with chikan work, colorful block prints or tie-and-dye patterns. You will also find a number of shops selling wedding jewellery that can be purchased to complement the saree, lehenga or suit that you buy here.
Heritage Market
Contrary to its name, Heritage Market is apt to shop for the latest designer wear at its many showrooms. Shoppers can easily find all the popular Indian and international brand outlets in this marketplace, which is also a favorite hangout for youngsters. So, whether you are looking for Nike sports gear or Allen Solly formal shirts, you will find the newest collection of leading brands here. Bargaining is something that you won’t be able to do in these branded showrooms, but the quality you get here is worth every penny. Nonetheless, you can also shop for handloom and handicraft items to decorate your home or gift to loved ones.
Tibetan Market
Tibetan Market is another popular shopping place in Indore that shoppers should explore if they are in the city during the winter season to find amazing products sold by refugees from Tibet at reasonable prices. This market is known for its trendy, good quality woolen clothes like jacket, sweater, poncho, muffler, etc. for both adults and kids. You can also find a few stalls selling Momos, Thukpa and other mouth-watering Tibetan delicacies.
Rajwada
Wandering
around Rajwada, you can also enjoy street shopping.
Like in a mall, there are various floors for respective categories;
Rajwada dedicates entire streets to the different classes for that
matter. Here you can get everything from clothes to gold/silver, fruits/vegetables to utensils, cosmetics to books, artifacts to paintings, international brands to local stuff all in your pocket-friendly budget.
Khajuri Market
Khajuri Bazaar located at Rajwada is like a huge open library for the book lovers of Indore. Novels, Encyclopedias, and various books of every genre are available. Not just these books, it is a one stop market for buying of academic books at discounted rates and provision is also there for reselling old books.
All those fond of travel and are nature lovers, can embrace the enchanting natural beauty of Vindhyachal mountain ranges while traveling in the Heritage Train run by MP Tourism. The train runs on the 9.5 km long Patalpani - Kalakund Heritage Track.... The meter gauge (very few left in India) train with three fiber glass transparent coaches, having capacity of 30 passengers, covers the distance in very relaxing three hours, which gives you enough time to enjoy the natural beauty.
Prior to Patalpani waterfall, we have a cottage-like temple built as a tribute to the first tribal revolutionary of the country who fought for the independence of nation, Tantya Bheel. Interesting thing about it is that the train passing by here has to stop for some time as a homage to this great revolutionary by enlightening incense sticks. Most of the people are unaware of this legend.
Patalpani
Patalpani is known for the beautiful Patalpani waterfall with a height of approximately 300 feet. Legend has it that the depth of the water is unknown and it goes as deep as the underground world (Patal). This place is also a famous trekking spot. The fall goes almost dry in the summer season but the sight is majestic soon after the rainy season. However, like in most natural mountainous places, you need to exercise caution here !! Due to some unfortunate fatal accidents in the past, this place has become infamous, so you need to take full care and NOT go near water or inside the stream. Cliffs/edges have been protected with railings, but you should stay well clear and away from the edge. Being a true Indori, I would request you to not throw any litter there and help keep the place neat, clean, Green, and natural. Although enough arrangements have been made, you can always carry your garbage back, if you don't find proper disposal facility/bins nearby.
This is one of the best natural places that you must visit in Indore reachable by train and road both. This place is a good picnic spot to hangout with friends or family. Heritage train stops at the falls for around 45 minutes, enough to explore and take pictures. Its one of the thrilling water fall experience but during monsoon you can enjoy the full bloom of the place. Lush green area and fall gives amazing and photogenic view of the eye catching nature's beauty. What's unique about the place is that unlike most falls where we are usually at the bottom of the falling water, in this case we end up at the top, and get to see the river flowing away in the valley. The water at the top is so little, that it is amazing how it could have created such a huge waterfall.
No restaurants available here but snacks is available, villagers sell it for visitors. There are a lot of monkeys in the area so be careful with food. Just be safe and enjoy the nature.
Nature's show
Then comes the most awaited phase of the trip, the Patalpani – Kalakund ghat section. You could feel the extreme beauty of it complimented by the railways. The tunnels, viaducts and being surrounded by lush green mountain ranges mesmerize the passengers. I would recommend this place to creative minds. Such views have the potential to fill their minds up with optimistic thoughts and also to photographers. This rail route was laid about 150 years ago by the British rulers.
Kalakund
After witnessing the breath-taking scenes all across the track, you reach to the next & last tourist spot of this journey...Kalakund Railway station. No road facility is available to reach here, train is the only mode of transport. The locomotive honks make the ‘Kalakand’ vendors become active on this small Railway station. Kalakand is a famous sweet dish with Kalakund as its origin, it is a fine treat for all the sweet tooths. On the right side, behind the railway station building river Choral flows and on the left side, on a hill there is a building for scout guide. I would suggest to visit here in monsoon.
Here you can spend fun time playing with the water in the river. You can click some beautiful pictures of surrounding green valley. This tiny Railway station is well maintained by the Indian Railways. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva across the river but there is no bridge to reach there. You can reach there either by trekking through the dense forest or crossing the river; I would not recommend to do any of these without taking proper safety measures. You can enjoy the delicious & affordable lunch at the dining hall located at Kalakund Station.
Human needs peace from the hectic life and the minds too need peace and such places serve the purpose. For all nature lovers, rail fans this is a highly recommended place to visit. No restaurants, rest houses could be located here. Only a sum of 50-60 huts of locals are there. It has no human interference yet and that is a plus point. It has potential of being a good tourist spot but on the other side it needs to be preserved from city-dwellers to preserve its tranquillity and serenity.
The train arrives back at Mhow at 04:30pm. Patalpani - Kalakund rail section is made tourist friendly. The train halts at six locations. The 9.5-km journey, passing through several tunnels and 29 sharp curves, offering spectacular views of waterfalls, the fluorescent Choral river and lush green mountain ranges along the route, makes it a very rocking and memorable trip for all.
The city Indore offers a perfect blend of modernity and tradition via its rich legacy of heritage and architecture. Another especiality of Indore is that once you start living here, you won't be able to go anywhere else; that's the charm of this beautiful city. Personally Indore is very close to my heart as this city gave me everything which i wanted, it actually gave wings to my dreams to fly high in the sky. In my opinion, it is the best city in the world.😊
The Romancing Mandu
The historical town Mandu is around 2hr distance from Indore. There are frequent bus services are available from Indore to reach Mandu; but i personally recommend to hire a taxi or you can do a bike ride if you want to make the trip memorable, especially during the Monsoon season because at that time greenery across the road will blow your heart away. Perched on a pleasantly green, thinly forested, picturesque Mandu is home to some of India’s finest examples of Afghan architecture as well as impressive baobab trees, originally from Africa and carried here on ancient trade routes. The plateau is littered with World Heritage–listed palaces, tombs, monuments and mosques.
History
Mandu was originally founded in the 10th century by Raja Bhoj and was later conquered by the Muslim rulers of Delhi, who artistically built pavilions, monuments, mosques, etc. in the city to demonstrate their legacy. If we go back in history, we can see that Afghan Dilawar Khan, governor of Malwa, build his own little kingdom in Mandu and later transferred his capital to his son Hoshang Shah, who raised the splendor of the city. Later, Akbar conquered Mandu to add it to the Mughal Empire; however, Marathas came into power in 1732 to rule the region for a long time.
Kakra Khoh Waterfall
After a long road journey from Indore, this is an entry point for Mandu visitors. Best visited in Monsoons when the water fall is in its full glory, for rest of the year it is still a great location that affords spectacular view of the valley. There is a small perennial stream that you cross to get across to the viewing platform. You should not leave without having the soda nimbu pani from any of the make shift stalls here.15-30 minutes halt is sufficient for having some Nimbupani, bhutta and few snaps with a backdrop of Mandu's Grand Canyon.
Baz Bahadur Palace
A little hike up from Baz Bahadur Palace will take you to Rani Rupmati’s pavilion and Rewa Kund. Standing on the edge of the hill, the place has long corridors and Rewa Kund (water reservoir). The kund was built by Baz Bahadur so that Rani Roopmati could never run out of water. The water was supplied in the whole building through an aqueduct.
Around 4 km from the city lies the splendid Neelkanth Palace which is actually a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple stands on the place of an ancient shrine that was transformed into Akbar’s governor pleasure palace. But the palace was reclaimed and converted back into a temple later. So what you see today is a temple displaying Islamic style architecture with a Shiva Linga installed at its centre. There’s also pretty little waterfall just behind the temple, which adds beauty to the whole place.
Credit: Google
With its finest architectural magnificence and remarkable history, Mandu continues to fascinate its tourists with a rich and varied past that still witness the love and romance between Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Their love tales are very famous in Mandu and everyone has a different yet interesting story to tell. Some people say that the structures here are so beautiful that Shahjahan himself was inspired to built one of the Seven Wonders of the World 'Taj Mahal' in Agra. Mandu is also known for its 12 huge gateways that reflect architectural brilliance, including Delhi Darwaza, Tarapur Gate, Jehangir Gate, and Rampol Darwaza.
Other popular sites that are not mentioned above, but are worth visiting includes Rock Cut Lohani Caves, Hindola Mahal, Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Jami Masjid, Asharfi Mahal, Hathi Mahal, Jali Mahal, Malik Mughis, Dai ka Mahal, Darya Khan's Tomb, Dai ki Chhotti Behan Ka Mahal, Jain Temple and 'Delphic Oracle'. Best time to visit Mandu is from August to February as the town has an attractive natural scenery, which looks the best in the rainy season.
The Glorious Maheshwar
Maheshwar is located at a distance of 40-45 km approx from Mandu & 90km from Indore. Buses ply regularly from Indore to Maheshwar. A car is the preferred way to go. It used to be known as Mahishmati and mentioned in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata under its old name. Does the name ring a bell? Mahishmati from the epic 'Bahubali' movie series. Well, if you have started relating things then please don't go further and pull back your thoughts. It's not the same Mahishmati but the city has great significance in the Indian history.
Maheshwar is situated on the banks of the holy river Narmada. It's a small town but is known for many great things.In the 18th century, Holkar Queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore revived the soul of the city and shifted the Holkar capital from Indore to Maheshwar. Under her reign, the city witnessed a great transformation including independence struggle, progressive society, upliftment of women's and weavers; a lot of buildings were built and public works were completed.
Devi AhilyaBai Holkar
The queen AhilyaBai was such a erudite, just and enlightened ruler who cared for her people. After sudden demise of her husband, father-in-law & son, she took the control of Malwa in her hands. She never observed 'purdah' and was accessible to all those who needed her. During her glorious reign Rani Ahilyadevi's innumerable contributions made her a beloved and respected queen amongst her people in a prospering kingdom, that's why people added the prefix 'Devi' before her name which means the 'Goddess'. Her magnificent and glorious rule ended when she passed away in 1796. In memory and honor of her greatness, the Republic of India issued a commemorative stamp on 25 August 1996.
Today we cannot forget the accomplishments of Ahilyabai. The transformation of Indore from a village to a beautiful city. The many Forts, roads, temples, tanks, wells and rest houses constructed by her across India. Kashi, Gaya, Dwarka, Rameshwaram, Mathura, Kanchi, Badrinath are some of the places developed by her.
Ahilya Fort
What strikes you first in Maheshwar is the splendid Ahilya fort. The walls of the massive Maheshwar / Ahilya Fort rise straight out of the Narmada River to a height of more than 30 metres. The Fort is approached from the Narmada River through a massive arched gateway and a long flight of stairs.
The magnificent Holkar Fort dominates the landscape of Maheshwar, sitting high above the sacred Narmada. The artwork of the fort, Temple, Jharokhe, Windows, Overhanging balconies and Doorways tell a great story about the place and there are some beautiful carvings of spectacular designs on the Windows and Doorways of Fort. Devi Ahilyabai had a great vision and all the works completed in her reign proves that. It is next to impossible to capture Maheshwar Fort's grandeur and beauty in photographs! Maheshwar's temple and mighty fort complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below. This super grand fort is also a popular shooting destination among Indian Filmmakers.
Ahilyeshwar Temple
Rajgaddi & Rajwada
The Rajgaddi and Rajwada of Devi Ahilyabai are the must see places built within the Fort complex. Maheshwar holds the distinction of being the capital of Rajmata Ahilya Devi Holkar's empire during the 18th century. It is from here Queen Ahilyabai used to sit for administration and justice for all.
On the Rajgadi there is a sitting statue of Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar with a Shivling in her hand. Within the complex, there are other collectibles of the Holkar Dynasty that are kept in other rooms for public display.
A double storeyed gateway, directly opposite the main entrance to the Rajwada, leads to a flight of steps that brings one closer to the Narmada ghat. It is from this gateway that one can see the panoramic views and the majestic Narmada River.
Baneshwar Temple
A centre of handloom weaving since the 5th century,
Maheshwar has been producing the exquisite Maheshwari sarees and fabric,
a delicate cotton and silk blend handloom; the queen Ahilyabai did so much efforts for the upliftment of weavers, also she made the Maheshwari sarees famous by
wearing them and gifting them to dignitaries who came to meet her..... so you can buy some authentic Maheshwari sarees from here.
Lingarchan Puja
Lingarchan Puja is a ritual followed at the Fort everyday since the time of Queen Ahilya Bai as she was a devout Lord Shiva devotee. In her time 101 priests performed daily blessings for the entire population of the Holkar State. Now 11 Brahmins make fifteen thousand Shivlings out of earth, do a puja and immerse them in the River on a regular basis.
City of Temples Ujjain
Ujjain is one of seven sacred Hindu cities. Ujjain (Ujjayini) was the capital of the Avanti kingdom as mentioned in the Hindu epic The Mahabharata. Ujjain is the seat of Vikram University (founded in 1957). It is also one of the sites of the Kumbh mela, a Hindu festival held there every 12 years. The city is deemed as one of the top religious places in the country. Formerly known as Avantika, Ujjain has a long cultured past and continues to be an important place of pilgrimage and one of the most pious Hindu cities for Shaivites.
Located on the bank of the holy Shipra River in the Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain is considered the Greenwich of Indian by astronomers as the Tropic of Cancer drifts past the city’s iconic Ved Shala. Besides, Ujjain is also steeped in history. It was ruled by powerful kings such as Vikramaditya and Chandragupta II and served as a home to the legendary poet Kalidasa. This flourishing kingdom was on the trade route between north and south India. There are innumerable religious sites in Ujjain that proffer a divine and cultural insight into the rich heritage of the city.
Ujjain has also featured in both ancient and modern literature. The great 5th century Indian classical Sanskrit poet Mahakavi Kalidasa, who was a court poet of the Gupta Empire, described the city in his work "Meghaduta." More recently, celebrated novelist E.M. Forster traveled through the area in the early 20th century and wrote about it.
You can easily go to Ujjain from Indore as there are a no. of buses & trains are available frequently. The journey takes only about 1hr to reach Ujjain from Indore. You can also book cabs or choose to go comfortably in your own vehicle since it's a very well maintained highway road. There are a plenty of tourist attractions in Ujjain, if you don't have your own vehicle then I would recommend you to take 1-day sightseeing tour of the city offered by many travel agents located near the Mahakaleshwar temple. But before that, make sure that first you should complete your visit to the famous Jyotirlinga temple. My first visit to Ujjain was happened in the year 2008 when i came here to give my Engineering entrance exam. I still remember that one day before the exam, i went to the Mahakaleshwar jyotirling temple & by the grace of Lord Mahakaal i got good marks in the exam to get admission in a good engineering college with the desired stream.
Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are considered to be the holiest abodes of Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain was built by Lord Brahma. However, it was demolished during the time of the Mughals. Later, Maratha kings ruled Ujjain, a district of Madhya Pradesh. Ranoji Scindia rebuilt the Mahakal temple during his reign. It was renovated by different kings from time to time. Bordered by the massive Rudra Sagar Lake, the temple continues to be one of the most sacred and outstanding places of pilgrimage for Hindus providing visitors with an altogether different and unmatched peace of mind and composure. The temple showcases sculptural artistry and sophistication that takes a cue from the Maratha and Chalukya styles of architectural design and is complete with impressive images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Parvati adorning the walls. Apart from these, the splendid Bhasmaarti of the temple is a ritual ceremony that you should not miss.
The temple also hosts many religious festivals and celebrations every year that are celebrated with great fervor and devotion. One of such festival is Nag Panchami, a festival which is dedicated to Nagas and snake deities. The Nagchandreshwar Temple is located on the third floor of the Mahakal temple and was built by King Bhoj in the year 1050. The gates of this temple are opened only on Nagpanchami, making it a special day for the devotees to worship the snake deities. As per the Hindu texts, on this day, Nagraj Takshak himself comes in the temple. The stunning feature of this temple is the ten-headed serpent God and under the fun is Lord Shankar, Goddess Parvati, and Ganesh.
KalBhairava Temple
The Kalbhairava Temple is supposed to be associated with the Tantra cult of Hinduism, which is a secret religious sect who thrived upon black magic. Bhairav is believed to have been a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, and KalBhairava is the most sacred among the eight Bhairavas. Kal Bhairav Temple in Ujjain is a must visit temple famous for its unique tradition of offering liquor to god. History of this temple at Ujjain is very interesting and the Pagdi (Crown) which Lord wearing is of King of Shinde or Schindia of Gwalior.
Kal Bhairav Temple said to have been built by King Bhadrasen on the banks of Shipra River. This ancient temple is dedicated to Kal Bhairav, the chief among the eight Bhairavs. The striking feature of the Kal Bhairav Temple is its exquisite paintings in Malwa style, only traces of which are noticeable. This temple has a unique tradition to offer liquor to god, whole year you will find all types of liquor on the shops outside temple. Temple has a deep stambh also, which is enlightened by the devotees regarding their wishes. You can also spot many sadhus with ash-smudged bodies and long matted hair around this temple.
Chintaman Ganesh Temple
Chintaman Ganesh Temple is one of the oldest temples in Ujjain, housing a large idol of one of the most worshipped Gods of India, Lord Ganesh. It is believed that the largest idol here was born of itself; hence it’s of huge religious significance. Devotees throng to this temple because the deity here is commonly known as Chintaharan Ganesh meaning ‘the assurer of freedom from worldly anxieties’.
Harsiddhi Mata Temple
ISKCON Temple
A visit to Ujjain remains incomplete without visiting the spiritual retreat of ISKCON Temple. Touted as one of the most iconic places in the city of Ujjain, this is a chain of temples all over the world, and the one in Ujjain has exceptional significance and welcomes a plethora of devotees and tourists daily. The soothing chants, the echo of the tinkering temple bells, and the unparalleled peace of the place come together to guarantee an escape into the world of spirituality. The gardens are brimming with colourful flowers, which further add to the beauty of the opulent temple complex. Don't forget to enjoy the mouth-watering food available here.
Shri Mangalnath Temple
Shri Mangalnath Temple is situated a little away from the city of Ujjain and can be reached through a meandering road crossing the vast expanse of the holy Shipra River. According to the holy Matsya Purana, Mangalnath is the birthplace of the red planet, Mars, also called Mangal. During the yester years, the spot was famous for offering a clear view of the planet and was highly preferred for astronomical studies. The mystical temple is a highly revered shrine in Ujjain and is dedicated to the planet Mars.
Many people come here for resolution of their "Mangal-dosh" which is considered as a dangerous planetary position of Mars in one's birth-chart according to Indian Astrology that can adversely effect one's married life. They perform here "Bhaat-puja" to reduce the adverse effects of planet Mars in their lives.
The celebrated couple Aishwarya Rai & Abhishek Bachchan had also visited this temple to get the blessings of Shri Mangalnath before their marriage.
Navgrah Shani Mandir
This one-of-a-kind temple in Ujjain is located on the Triveni Ghat on the banks of River Shipra and is touted as India’s first Navgraha mandir and the only Shani temple in the world where Shanidev is worshipped as Lord Shiva. Dating back to over 2,000 years, the temple pays homage to the nine planets Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Rahu, Shukra, Ketu, and Shani. Shani or the God of Justice is believed to be one of the strongest planets and has a great impact on astrological charts. According to Hindu mythology, Shani blesses and gives wealth and prosperity to follow good deeds as well as severely punishes those who indulge in evil deeds. Make sure you plan your visit and reserve one of the Saturdays or Amavasya nights to see the temple take on a completely different avatar. On Amavasya or new moon night, the temple complex is dotted with thousands of devotees who offer more than 5 quintals of oil to Shani. One can spot flocks of crows, which happen to be the vehicle of Shani, around the temple and feeding them is considered auspicious.
Sandipani Ashram
Vedhshala
Bhartrihari Caves
This is the very place where Bhartrihari, the step brother of King Vikramaditya and a very renowned poet used to live and meditate after relinquishing all the luxuries of life. The caves are situated on the banks of River Shipra, adjacent to the temple of Gadkalika, this is the reason the Caves were a serene place to be in and hence accentuating Bhartrihari's concentration while meditating. Here you will have to climb up on the stairs to reach the caves.
The Kumbh Mela(Simhasth)
Hindu scriptures say that Ujjain is one of four holy places where drops of Amrit (the nectar of immortality) fell during a legendary fight between gods and demons, known as Samudra Manthan. The Kumbh mela is held at each of these places (the others are Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and Nashik in Maharashtra) once every 12 years. The festival at Ujjain is called the Simhasth Kumbh due to the certain configuration of planets. Attending is not for the faint of heart though! It's the largest human gathering in the world. It is the abstract cultural heritage of India declared by UNESCO which attracts millions of pilgrims and Sadhus (Hindu holy men) every day. They come grand in procession to cleanse their sins by taking a dip in the Shipra River, and give discourses to curious spiritual seekers.
The Shipra River, also known as Kshipra River, is one of the holiest rivers in India. There are many stories about it in the "Skanda Purana," an ancient Hindu text associated with Lord Shiva dating back to around the 6th century. Taking a dip in the river is believed to purify body and soul. The most celebrated place to do this is Ram Ghat, where Lord Ram is said to have performed his father's last rites. However, there are other popular bathing ghats along the river.
Unfortunately the river was running completely out of water in the years prior to the Kumbh. To overcome this issue, the then state government launched the project called "Narmada-Kshipra river link project".The project was meant to ensure availability of water during Simhasth kumbh by releasing water into Kshipra river at it's origin Ujjaini village, as it flows to Ujjain. This was a successful project led by the state government because of which the devotees could enjoy the holy bath in the Kumbh. Here one interesting thing happened that whether circumstantially but the river Narmada also involved in the Kumbh & the pilgrims got additional benefit of having bath in the Sangam of two sacred rivers, Narmada & Kshipra. I don't know whether this sudden involvement of Narmada in the Kumbh would have been predicted in our ancient texts or not, but this was a lovely incident.
The last Kumbh Mela was held in Ujjain in the year 2016 & the next Kumbh Mela will be held in Ujjain in 2028. Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus and people from all over the world gather together at a place to bathe in a sacred river. The Ujjain Kumbh Mela is a pompous and colourful event and is a treat for travellers. It is an enriching experience which immerses the attendees of the fair in the colours of spirituality and old world charm. One is never too young or too old to attend the Kumbh Mela. A ceremonial bath in these holy rivers is considered to be the essence and most significant ritual of this festival. It is believed that a holy dip in these rivers cleanses the soul of individuals and frees them from all their sins, as the rivers turn into the areas of sanctity during the favourable time of the Kumbh Mela.
My experience of Simhasth
I was fortunate enough that i could attend the Simhasth Kumbh in 2016. As i live in Indore so it was not a very big deal for me to reach Ujjain during Simhasth. But once i reached there, i realized that the day was not going to be so easy as i was going to enter into the ocean of people. It was a sunny noon of May & the almighty sun was showering it's fireballs on the pilgrims. The vehicles were not permitted in the city after a certain boundary, so we had to walk to move ahead. The distance is not so long in normal days but during the Kumbh all the routes were diverted to handle the heavy rush of people, that's why it took almost 45min to reach at Ramghat by walk.
New feel of the city
On
the way to Ramghat, it was almost impossible for me to recognize the
city Ujjain while i'd been there many times before. But this time it was
completely different; the city was filled with folks, Policemen,
heighted watch towers, road-side stalls selling several items, tents of
saints, public toilets & many more to explore. Soon we started
feeling dehydrated due to the extreme hot whether, so we sat in the
shelter for sometime & had some cucumber sprinkled with red chilli
powder & salt.
The Holy Bath
Then we arrived at Ramghat ready to jump into the river without further delay. Although bathing is the main ritual of Kumbh but i think it was our biggest need at that time not because of any religious or spiritual reason but due to the excessive heat. Jokes apart! i was filled with thrill to enter the waters while holding on to chains near the bank railings, so that we do not drift into the river. A plenty of people were in the river at the same time, children were playing with the water, people were swimming & clicking pictures, some of them were offering water to the sun & cheering up the slogans of "Jai Mahakaal, Har Har Mahadev". There was a newly wed sweet couple & the husband was trying to teach some swimming tricks to his non-swimmer wife but she was continuously refusing due to fear of water. On that hot day, dipping in the holy cold water was something like discovering water in middle of the dessert. So we remained in water for almost 2hrs. Now comes the horrible moment for ladies, Changing clothes.... I am calling it horrible because all of the changing rooms (temporary tent like structure made of clothes) were too dirty & filled with mud in all over the place. But it can be justified as ladies were coming continuously into these rooms with their wet clothes so obviously it can't be kept dry. Same issue we had to face with the public toilets, although there were a no. of temporary eco-friendly toilets were made by the administration but the administrative officers can't come to flush the shit, so it's our duty to keep the toilets clean but the people who come here to cleanse themselves often forget to keep the place clean. So if you are planning to participate in Kumbh, then don't expect very much cleanliness because people get out from the Kumbh becoming purified as they leave their dung behind. It's pathetic but it is the Kumbh.
The tough time
After having lunch, now it's time to visit Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling temple & i didn't expect that it's gonna be the biggest challenge of the whole day, much bigger & tougher than changing clothes in a wet room or finding a clean toilet. The peak of the temple was easily visible to us & we started walking towards it. I had no idea that this 1km distance was soon going to be convert into miles. By then it was 5o'clock in the evening & we were walking happily on the way to the temple filled with a new energy after taking the holy dip. But soon our energy faded away when we saw the calm ocean of people turning out into a stormy one flooded with sudden flow of people coming towards us in bulk. The encounter happened between the two waves of people coming from opposite directions & we started sinking. Yes, it was literally the same experience like drowning into the water. Me & my mother were tightly holding each other's hand but suddenly we lost in the crowd, it was something i can't explain in words. Fortunately we found each other back within 5min. Then a point came when we were too stuck in the crowd that we were unable to breath for a few seconds. It was really scary. The announcements were continuously being done for the lost ones to come at the "Lost & found camp" where their family members are waiting for them. Like you would have seen in many of the old bollywood movies that one of the children is being lost during the Kumbh, so it's not just a tale rather it's the reality. Meanwhile the policemen started barricading on the road & somehow we were rescued. But our real struggle started now when the announcement began for diverting the route to Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling temple. So now we had to return back & take a long route to reach the temple.
After this long & hectic walk we were feeling so tired that we chose to ride on a handcart which was the only conveyance option allowed in the city. I had never ever thought that one day i will be taken on a handcart, but everything is possible in Kumbh as you get chance to do get together with variety of people. Now we entered into the vicinity of temple after 2hrs of this chaos & we thought that our struggle has now come to end but we had no clue that another battle to enter into the temple was waiting for us. We were walking in the lane just behind the temple to reach at the main entrance of the temple, but that was still not so easy. Crowd was continuously increasing in the evening so again the route was diverted by the Police at the very moment when we were just about to enter into the temple. We were so close to the temple but still just roaming round & round around the temple, because everytime we could reach at the main entrance the Police started doing barricading & diverting the public back to another entrance. It lasted for 1hr, by then we had completed 5circular rounds around the temple. We had completed 5 Parikrama of the temple which was a good thing happened unknowingly. Till then we had completely lost the hope to enter into the temple & avail darshan labh of Lord Mahakaleshwar due to that heavy rush but suddenly some miracle happened & one of the kind Policeman removed the barricade on one entrance & we finally entered into the main temple. It took another 2hrs inside the temple in the queue as there was no Special darshan facility available during the Kumbh. But ultimately we reached to the sanctum sanctorum and all the tiredness & negative energy just vanished after having darshan of Lord Mahakaal.
As we stepped out of the temple, the Aarti began so everyone just stopped at their places outside the temple, all the shopkeepers got out of their shops, all stood on the road heading towards the temple & started singing the prayer in the chorus in sync with the one playing in the loudspeaker. It was an awesome experience.
Now another battle was waiting for us & that was 'finding our shoes'😀 as the roads around the temple were covered with a plenty of footwear scattered everywhere because that time shoe stand facility was not functional due to the heavy crowd. So as expected we couldn't be able to find our footwear & returned to Indore barefoot.
During the Kumbh Mela, non-vegetarian food is banned throughout the city. Some ancient delicacies are prepared for the pilgrims that include Dal Bafale, a dish similar to the famous Rajasthani dish Dal Baati. In front of many houses, there were stalls wherein locals were doing service by offering cold water to the pilgrims in the copper vessel. This was like a treat on that sunny day. Saints with matted locks of hair, their bodies covered in ashes and tridents in hand can be seen roaming all around. The city is filled with all kinds of artists, from astrologers to palmists to snake-charmers, the list does not end. Saffron becomes the colour of the city and colourful flags and banners flow across all streets. The air is engulfed with the hymns of the saints chanting the prayers of Lord Mahakaal along with the rhythms of conch shells. Bands play and people dance in euphoria.
Kumbh was also a place of regular gatherings of learned ascetics for discussion and debate. Here i would like to make special mention of a unique thing which I'd seen here that among the tents of several Hindu saints, there was a camp of Muslims who were selling various Islamic religious books. This is something can happen only in India where a minority community is allowed to promote their own religion fearlessly amidst of the largest Hindu gathering in the world. You can't even imagine this thing to be happen during either Ramzan in Mecca or Christmas in Vetican. This flexibility is the charm of Hinduism.
Ujjain is itself an ancient piece of art. There are plenty of historical and religious places to visit in Ujjain present in almost every nook and corner of the city. It is said that it will take approx. one entire month if you visit each & every temple of Ujjain, so plan a visit to this enchanting city soon and embrace its calm and spiritual vibe.
Malwa is more developed in many areas than other regions of Madhya Pradesh like education, health & economy. It can be considered as an ideal land for farming because of it's fertile black soil. Whether of this region is also very pleasant as it rarely goes above 40degrees in the summer, also it's very moderate in the winter & in the rainy season as well. So possibility of facing the extreme whether conditions are very unlikely to occur here. People of Malwa are very sweet by nature, they are foodie, socially very active, they love to celebrate each & every small thing, they are very passionate towards the life. Some areas of Madhya Pradesh like Bundelkhand or Chambal are still very backward & this backwardness reflects in the nature of people belonging to those regions. But thanfully that is not the case with Malwa; people living here keep very progressive thinking & modern approach for everything. This may be the impact of the queen AhilyaBai Holkar who ruled in this region for decades as she had the vision ahead of her time.
Nimad
The western region of Madhya Pradesh is called Nimad. Legend has it that this place had a mixed culture of Arya & Un-arya(Non-Arya) civilizations that's how it got the name "Nimarya" which later on transformed into 'Nimad'. According to another belief, Nimad got it's name due to the abundance of Neem trees in this region. It's surrounded by Vindhyachal mountains at one end & Satpura mountain range on the other end. Narmada river flowing through middle of this region separates it into two parts i.e. eastern & western Nimad. The dialect spoken here is called Nimadi. Nimadi folk songs are very famous in this region. Gangor is the main festival celebrated in Nimad during Nav-ratri. Khandwa & Khargone are the major cities of Nimad.
The Melodious Khandwa
Now you would have been curious about why i called this city melodious? Yes, it is because Khandwa is the birth-place of the celebrated veteran singer Kishore Kumar. He was born and brought up in Khandwa and did his education in Indore at Christian eminent college. His soothing voice still could be heard in Khandwa in the homes of locals playing their songs in loudspeakers. Even i think that every folk born here has some essence of Kishore Kumar as they all are so good at singing. Since one of my maternal aunt lives in Khandwa so I've been there many times & i noticed that sounds of locals singing Kishore da songs in mic used to be heard every evening in her colony. You can easily find all the musical instruments in many of the houses located here. If you are going to attend a wedding in Khandwa & if you are a music lover like me then no other night could be more cheerful than a Sangeet ceremony in Khandwa. I've experienced that joyful night at my cousin's wedding where the family members used to sing for the whole night. I am also very much fond of singing so i didn't miss the golden opportunity to sing in the city of such a musical legend. Here you can also visit the memorial place of Kishore Kumar built as a tribute to the music maestro.
Dadaji Darbar
Another great man for whom Khandwa is known is Dadaji Dhuniwale. He is remembered as a great wandering saint who always sat in meditation before the holy fire (called "dhuni" ) so remembered as "Dada Dhuniwale" ( Dada means Grandfather). His real name was Swami Keshavanandaji Maharaj. He never wore any clothes on his body. Dadaji Dhuniwale has the same place among his devotees as Shirdi ‘s Saibabaaba. He is being worshipped as the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. His exact biography is not available but many myths about him are there in the common. "Dada Darbar" (The Court of Dadaji) is located at his Samadhi (burial) place. Millions of the devotees come here from all parts of India and abroad and on "Guru Purnima" attends the fair at this place. On the occasion of Guru Purnima, the whole Khandwa city aquires a completely different look due to the crowd gathered here to get the blessings of Dadaji. There are about 27 dham (places of worship, prayer and other religious activities) in India in the name of Dadaji. Dhuni (The holy fire ) has been continuously burning at the place since his time. His samadhi is located in the Khandwa city about 3 KM south to the bus/railway stations.
He bestowed his mortal throne on his dear disciple Swami Harihar Bhole Bhagwan (Chhote dadaji) and entered sanjeevan Samadhi at Khandwa in 1930 AD. He vehemently supported India’s freedom struggle against British rule. Eminent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Motilal Nehru, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya etc. had personally obtained his blessings.
Khandwa is a lovely city. The only disappointing thing about the place is that it has been infamous for Hindu-Muslim riots for past few years. On various occasions of Hindu & Muslim festivals, the city becomes so sensitive that the administration has to impose curfew at several places. The harmony should be brought back in the city of such renowned figures like Dadaji Dhuniwale & Kishore Kumar.
The Divine Omkareshwar
It is a100km drive from Indore on Khandwa
road and is 10 km from Mortakka; it
takes around 2.5 hours of travel so it's better to leave a bit early in the morning. This
jyotirlingam is
located on the Mandhata island which has the shape of the Sanskrit
syllable "OM"
and is surrounded with the waters of River Narmada from all 4 sides.
Easier way to reach the temple is a short walk through hanging bridge
across the river Narmada. I first visited this place on the very next day after i got admission in the engineering college in Indore.
Built in the Nagara style, the Omkareshwar temple is featured by an eminent Shikhara. You'll get charmed by the stunning architecture and striking mural paintings & carvings of the place.
As per the legend when Narad, the great prophet visited to the god of Vindhya Mountains, he was quite raging after knowing that there was no dwelling for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was very delighted when the deity of the mountain said that he would make Omkareshwar one of his homes. Shiva was pleased with the worship of Vindhyachal and believed to have appeared in two forms, namely Omkareshwar and Amaleshwara. That's why the place is dedicated to Lord Shiva and till now it is a strong belief that the subtle Light (Jyoti Roopam) of the Almighty is there 24 hours and the holy universal healing sound of OM is emitted from it continuously in the subtle form. The entire area of this holy place is bordered by mountains, making an enchanting view for travellers. If you're here you must take a Parikrama around the island as it is considered to be very religious and you'll feel relax and peace. The parikrama path is studded with several temples and architectural delights.
We normally do lots of expenses on ourselves but when it comes to spend on some spiritual practice at such holy places then lots of people start blaming the pandits or the system there. I believe that it is OK if we give some reasonable money and get the Spiritual Offerings (Pooja) done at such places as we normally visit such places very rarely so we should do the best we can at such places which makes us feel happy. Kindly note that there may be some pandits there who may try to get more money out from you in the name of spiritual offerings but kindly do not spoil your spiritual mood for these things and do enjoy the true blessings of this Formless Almighty which i think may help us in our spiritual journey ahead.
The over-crowded place
So
if you get a chance to visit this sacred place then do visit Shri
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga for sure and experience the divine bliss present
there. The view of the river in spate is truly
awesome and adds to the spirituality of the place. But never ever think to stand in the queue for Darshan because you would not even find the end of the queue to stand as the queue could be so long upto kilometers that too in a very narrow lane. However temple complex and the management needs to have more system in
place as even after buying the Special darshan tickets, you can not find the proper entry route for that. When we went there we had to roam here & there around the temple for almost an hour to find the exact route to enter into the temple through our Special darshan tickets. When we were roaming there almost clueless about what to do next, that moment i thought that today we will not be able to avail darshan labh of the jyotirling but then finally we could enter into the temple with the help of a Panditji. There are no bathroom, drinking water facilities in the temple complex. There
aren't many places to eat food. Only option and it is really worth
exploring is MP Tourism Hotel. Their food is good. Location of
restaurant is beautiful. You can see Dam, river and Omkareshwar temple. When in Omkareshwar do not miss the boat ride.The boats start from the ghat and
circles the omkareshwar island. The boat ride
will be about one hour. If you are planning to have bath in the Narmada
river at Omkareshwar, then i would recommend you to simply avoid it
because water level is very deep here & it could be really dangerous
to go into the water if you are not a good swimmer.
So, come and enjoy a splendid time vacationing in this must see destination of Madhya Pradesh and explore the serene town of Omkareshwar.
That's Malwa & Nimad for you folks. So you can plan a 1-week journey to explore these two fascinating regions of Madhya Pradesh.
JAI MAHAKAAL!
Anyone planning to visit indore will be hugely benefited from your article
ReplyDeleteYou are also looking gorgeous as ever
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteILU
ReplyDelete