Credit: Naveen Patidar
History and Architecture
Lal Bagh Palace is a regal and historical building that is located in the heart of Indore, M.P. Situated in the Nai Duniya, the palace is easily accessible from the Indore junction, which is 4 km away. A significant and historical palace was built during the Holkar era.
On the bank of the river Saraswati, Lala Bagh Palace is a neoclassical creation that was built over 35 years from 1886 by Maharaja Shivaji Rao and later completed by his successor Tukoji Rao Holkar in 1921.
Spread over an area of 28 acres, the palace is a testament to the lavish lifestyle of the Holkar family. Influenced by European styles of architecture, the wrought iron gates are modeled on Buckingham Palace. Inside the palace, the darbar hall, banquet room, ballroom, and dance floor symbolized the prosperity of the dynasty. The use of an elevator during that time to deliver food to the dining hall is a noteworthy feature
Credit: Aveer Dhare
The interiors are adorned with Italian marble columns, grand chandeliers, Persian carpets, flying nymphs on the ceiling, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek mythological reliefs, Italian-style wall paintings, and a taxidermy display of leopards. A vast collection of tribal artifacts, a jewel-encrusted portrait of Tukaji Rao, and tigers add overall charm to the place. Maharaja Planetarium, which shows the position of planets in the clear Indore night sky, is a must-visit.
In its present state, the royal residence has been turned into a museum, where the ground floor has the most exquisite artifacts of the Maratha and Holkar dynasties. On the first floor, the coin collection from the Mughal era is displayed for visitors.
It took two generations to complete this palace. The main purpose of the building was to provide a comfortable place for key kingdom figures and their grand receptions. During its days, it was rivaled by Scindia’s Jal Vilas palace in Gwalior. The Lala Bagh Palace remained the residence of the Holkar family until 1971.
Timing
10 am -5 pm
Closed on Monday
How to reach Lal bagh palace
By road: Lal Bagh Palace is located in the heart of the Indore city and can be easily reached by road. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from any part of the city to reach Lal Bagh Palace.
By train: Indore Junction is the nearest railway station to Lal Bagh Palace, which is about 6 km away. Indore Junction is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. From the railway station, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Lal Bagh Palace.
By air: Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport is the nearest airport to Indore, which is about 9 km away from Lal Bagh Palace. The airport is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. From the airport, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Lal Bagh Palace.