Indore Travel Guide: Rajwada, Sarafa Bazaar, Side Trips and Flights
Indore is a city in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Tourism (MP Tourism), the state's tourism body, describes it as a trading hub between the Deccan and Delhi in the 16th century and as the birthplace of the Indore Gharana of Hindustani classical music. Its sights include the Rajwada, Lal Bagh Palace, the city's temples and the Sarafa Bazaar night market for street food.
According to MP Tourism, buses run from Indore to Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Mandu, and Indore's airport is the closest airport to Ujjain and the nearest to Mandu.
Flights land at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport (IDR), and the main direct routes recorded from there are named under "Flying to Indore" below. The India travel guide covers the rest of the country.
What to see in Indore
The Rajwada and Sarafa Bazaar
The Rajwada palace stands near Khajuri Bazar and has a seven-storey facade. Sarafa Bazaar, close to the Rajwada, is a night food market. Cars rarely enter it, because the roads there are curving and narrow, but there is a parking lot nearby, according to MP Tourism.
Indore's food and saris
MP Tourism names poha jalebi, mawa bati and bhutte ka kees among Indore's signature dishes. Shopping near Sarafa Bazaar includes Maheshwari, Chanderi and Bagh-printed saris.
Lal Bagh Palace and the Central Museum
MP Tourism says Lal Bagh Palace reflects the European style and that its gate was built as a replica of the main gate of Buckingham Palace. As of October 2026, Incredible India, the Ministry of Tourism's website, says the palace is closed on Mondays; check before you go.
The Central Museum's collection includes antiques from western Malwa and objects from the Chalcolithic period.
Temples in and around Indore
MP Tourism says large crowds typically visit the Khajrana Ganesh Temple on Wednesdays and Sundays. At Bada Ganpati the Ganesha idol was placed in the temple in 1875.
The Annapurna Mandir's design was inspired by the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Kanch Mandir is a Jain temple made entirely of glass and mirrors, built early in the 20th century by the businessman Seth Hukumchand.
Gulawat Valley and Ralamandal
MP Tourism also lists Gulawat Valley, known as Lotus Valley, where a 100-metre bridge spans the lake, and safaris at Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Gair procession at Holi
MP Tourism describes the Gair, also called the Faag Yatra, as a Holi procession that shows how the festival of colours is observed in Indore.
When to visit Indore
MP Tourism says Indore can be toured at any time of year, and that the best time is between October and March, when the weather suits sightseeing and outdoor activities. Incredible India gives the same months and says the temperature then is pleasant. Across India, the India Meteorological Department counts June to September as the south-west monsoon season.
For the side trips, MP Tourism gives October to March as the best time for Maheshwar and Omkareshwar, and July to March for Mandu. Ujjain can be explored at any time of year, with its festivals the best time to go.
MP Tourism's pages also say Omkareshwar has its most visitors in the month of Sawan (July or August), and that Maheshwar draws pilgrim crowds at Shivratri and Kartik Purnima. The daytime sun at Maheshwar can be very sharp, even in the winter months.
Flying to Indore
Indore's airport is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The airport page covers the facilities and the ways into the city. As of October 2026, AAI's facilities page lists an MP Tourism information facility in the arrival area, for guidance on tourist places and booking at tourist destinations.
The site's schedule data records direct domestic flights on the main routes from Indore to Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, and also to Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa (Dabolim) and Lucknow. Each name links to its route page.
The airlines recorded on these routes include IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express.
Side trips from Indore
Ujjain
MP Tourism calls Ujjain the temple town of Madhya Pradesh and puts it about 55 km from Indore's airport. Its list of sights includes the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, the Mahakal Lok corridor, the Kal Bhairav and Harsiddhi temples, and the Ved Shala observatory.
The Bhasma aarti at Mahakaleshwar is a daily ritual, and MP Tourism advises registering in advance on the temple's website to attend it. The Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee takes online bookings for the Bhasma, Sandhya and Shayan aartis, among other services, and some aarti times change with the season. Check the temple committee's website for bookings and the current schedule before you go.
MP Tourism names Mahashivratri, the Mondays of the month of Sawan, Nag Panchami, the yearly Kartik Mela and the Kumbh Mela as the best times to visit Ujjain. The Simhastha (Kumbh Mela) is held on the banks of the Shipra river once every 12 years. Check the dates of the next Simhastha with the Madhya Pradesh government or the Ujjain district administration.
Omkareshwar
MP Tourism's Omkareshwar page puts the town about 80 km south-east of Indore, and says it takes its name from an island shaped like the sacred syllable "OM". Its sights include the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Mamleshwar and Ekatma Dham, where a statue of Adi Shankaracharya called the "Statue of Oneness" was installed in September 2023.
Maheshwar
Maheshwar is on the banks of the Narmada river. MP Tourism says it has been a centre of handloom weaving since the 5th century and is home to Maheshwari saris and fabric, and it names the Rehwa Society for weavers. MP Tourism also says the Ahilyabai Fort and Palace houses a life-size statue of Rani Ahilyabai on a throne and a Shiva temple, and lists the Narmada Ghat among the town's sights.
MP Tourism describes the Nimar Utsav as an annual event at Maheshwar around Kartik Purnima in November, with music, dance, drama, boating and canoeing. Check its dates for the year you travel.
Mandu
MP Tourism says Mandu is perched along the Vindhya ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Its monuments include the Jahaz Mahal, built between two artificial lakes, Munj Talao and Kapur Talao, as well as the Hindola Mahal, Hoshang Shah's Tomb, the Jami Masjid, Roopmati's Pavilion and Baz Bahadur Palace. The Delhi Darwaza is the main entrance of the fortress city.
The World Heritage Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists the Group of Monuments at Mandu on India's Tentative List, submitted in 1998. As of October 2026, Mandu is on the Tentative List, not the World Heritage List. The entry, written for the 1998 submission, says the monuments are protected and declared as monuments of national importance.
Buses from Indore
MP Tourism says regular buses to Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Gwalior and Bhopal leave from Indore's Sarwate bus stand, which it places close to the railway station, and that the Gangwal bus stand is three kilometres west of Chhatri Bagh.
Direct buses to Mandu leave from both the Gangwal and Sarwate bus stands, and MP Tourism puts the journey at around 3 hours. Private and state-operated direct buses also run between Ujjain and Indore.
Questions about visiting Indore
What is the best time to visit Indore?
MP Tourism and Incredible India both give October to March as the best time to visit Indore. MP Tourism says the city can be toured at any time of year.
Is Lal Bagh Palace in Indore open on Mondays?
As of October 2026, Incredible India says Lal Bagh Palace is closed on Mondays; check before you go.
Is Mandu, near Indore, a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
No. As of October 2026, UNESCO lists the Group of Monuments at Mandu on India's Tentative List, submitted in 1998, not on the World Heritage List.
How do I book the Bhasma aarti at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain?
The Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee takes Bhasma aarti bookings online on its own website, and MP Tourism advises registering in advance. Some aarti times change with the season, so check them on the committee's website before you travel.