ln 1733, Malhar Rao Holker got lndore as a marriage gift for collaborating with the Marathas in many battles, Malhar Rao joined Panipath war handling over the rein of lndore to his widow daughter in law Ahalyabai who was about to commit Sati on the funeral pyre of her dead husband, After the untimely death of her mentally handicapped son, she became the Queen of lndore in 1766. Foundation of lndore thus was initiated by the Queen Victoria of India, Ahalyabai. Palaces, temples, dharamsalas were built upacross the state. The name of the capital lndore has been derived from the name of the God Indreswar. Indore is a very picturesque city. About 10 million people live here. Bengali culture still exists there and a Bengali club. Navalakha is also there. lndore is known to tourists for being a Jn to Omkareswar and Naheswar, a Hindu pilgrim centre and Mandu hill. Another Hindu pilgrim centre is Ujjain, 55 kms away from lndore. Visitors throng for the Anant choudas or Ganesha festival in September and Rang Panchami, on the 5th day of Holi in March at Indore.
After the death of the Queen in l795. civil war broke out in lndore among the heirs to the kingdom. War also started between Maharathas and Brrtish. ln 1801, with the fall of Indore to British the HQ of British Central lndia Agency was shifted to lndore.
By a deed of agreement the Holkar family got back lndore (partly) in 1818—keeping indore as capital. In return, Holkers took sides with the British in l857’s Sepoy Mutiny and continued to reign over lndore till Independence.
From Rajwara a 10 minutes walk to the west on Johar Road, the main attraction of lndore is Glass Temple or Seth Hukumchand Temple. An idol of Digambar jain faith is in the temple. The basements, walls, ceilings of the temple are made of beads, gems, pearls, and multi coloured stones and ceramic tiles glasses. The decoration of the interior of the temple is pleasing. Jain mythology has been depicted in more than 50 mural paintings. But the outer portion is very ordinary. The paintings on the wall depict the torment of sinners in hell. The Gods—on the full bloom lotus on solid silver beds »3 Tirthantkars Chandra Prabhu,
Shantinath and Adinath.
Maharajas of Indore
Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar can be rightly called as the first Maharaja of Indore. He founded a dynasty the descendants of which exist even today. His successors, in chronological order, are
- Maharaja Malle Rao, 1764-1766
- Rajmata Ahalya Bai, 1765-1795
- Maharaja Tukoji Holkar, 1795-1798
- Maharaja Yeshwant Rao, 1798-1811
- Maharaja Malhar Rao (II), 1811-1834
- Maharaja Martand Rao, 1834
- Maharaja Hari Rao, 1834-1843
- Maharaja Khande Rao, 1843-1844
- Maharaja Tukoji Rao (II), 1844-1886
- Maharaja Shivaji Rao, 1886-1903
- Maharaja Sir Tukoji Rao (III) Holkar, 1903-1926
- Maharaja Sir Yeshwant Rao (II) Holkar, 1926-1961
- Maharani Ushadevi Holkar, 1961- Present
