Indore

Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) is a Jain temple in Indore built almost entirely from glass and mirrors, walls, ceilings, and decorative elements throughout the interior are covered in intricate glasswork and mirror mosaics, creating a dazzling, reflective effect. It's a lesser-known but genuinely striking site, quite different in character from typical stone or marble temples elsewhere in India. It's a compact visit, but the density and craftsmanship of the glasswork rewards a slow look, and it's an easy, worthwhile addition to an Indore city itinerary.

Lal Bagh Palace was the residence of the Holkar rulers of Indore, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a European style with grand halls, imported chandeliers, and ornate gates modeled on London's Buckingham Palace gates. It reflects the Holkar dynasty's considerable wealth and taste for Western architectural styles during the colonial period. The interior includes a mix of European and Indian decorative elements, and the palace grounds add to the sense of scale. It's a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in India's princely state history and the particular blend of European aesthetics adopted by several ruling families of the era.

Patalpani Falls is a seasonal waterfall near Indore, dropping roughly 300 feet over a rocky cliff, most striking during and just after the monsoon when water volume is at its peak. Outside monsoon, flow reduces considerably, sometimes to a trickle, so timing the visit affects the experience significantly. It's a popular monsoon-season day trip from Indore, offering a scenic natural break from the city, though it draws large crowds on weekends during peak monsoon.

Rajwada Palace is a seven-story historic palace in central Indore, the former residence of the Holkar dynasty, blending Maratha, Mughal, and French architectural influences at its grand entrance gate. It has been damaged by fire on multiple occasions over its history, and some of the interior has been lost as a result, but the impressive facade and remaining structure still convey its former grandeur. It sits right at the edge of Sarafa Bazaar, Indore's famous night food market, making it easy and natural to combine a Rajwada visit with an evening of street food nearby.

Sarafa Bazaar is Indore's jewelry market by day and one of India's most celebrated street food destinations by night, when jewelry shops close and the same lanes fill with food stalls selling a huge range of Indori street food, garadu, bhutte ka kees, jalebi, kachori, and much more. Indore is widely regarded as having one of India's best street food scenes, and Sarafa Bazaar's night market is its centerpiece. It's best visited specifically at night for the food, ideally with an appetite and a willingness to sample multiple small dishes from different stalls rather than one big meal. Weekends draw the biggest crowds, but the atmosphere and variety make it worth navigating regardless.