The short answer
Rajwada Palace: what visitors should know first
Yes, if you want to understand where Indore began. The exterior is striking and takes twenty minutes; the interior is worth an hour if it is open. Go in the morning, then walk on into the market lanes around it. Check current opening hours before you leave.
History and context
The story behind Rajwada Palace
Malhar Rao Holkar started building the palace in 1747, and work is recorded as finishing in 1766. The southern section was rebuilt between 1811 and 1833 after fire damage. Further restoration followed in 2007, and the Indore Municipal Corporation ran a larger renovation between 2017 and 2023.
The lower three floors are of stone and the upper floors of wood. The palace is a protected monument of the Madhya Pradesh government.
Useful facts
Rajwada Palace facts at a glance
- Location
- Khajuri Bazaar, old city centre, Indore
- Experience type
- Palace, courtyards and historic rooms
- Known for
- Seven storeys, stone base, wooden upper floors
- Built
- Begun by Malhar Rao Holkar, 1747; completed 1766
- Time or schedule
- Reopened February 2023; check current hours
Why it matters
Why Rajwada Palace is worth your time
Rajwada is the physical anchor of old Indore. The Holkar dynasty rose with Malhar Rao Holkar, appointed Maratha chief of Malwa in 1730, and the palace was begun in 1747 as the seat of his house. Much of what Indore became, a market town on the Khan and Saraswati rivers turned regional capital, grew in its shadow.
The building also tells a story of survival. Fire damaged part of it in the early 19th century, and it was rebuilt; a long closure for renovation ended in 2023. For a visitor, Rajwada is the quickest way to connect today's very clean, very modern city to its Maratha and Holkar past, and it sits in the middle of the old trading district that still keeps the older rhythm of the city.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The studded entrance door
A large wooden door reinforced with iron studs shows the building's defensive Maratha character.
- 02
The Ganesh hall courtyard
Inside the entrance, an arched hall and galleried rooms open onto the central courtyard.
- 03
The stone-and-wood storeys
The lower three floors are stone and the upper four wood, an unusual mix worth looking at from the square.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Start from the open square outside, where the statue of Ahilyabai Holkar stands, and look up at the facade before going in. The seven storeys step back with wooden balconies on the upper floors and stone below, with round bastions at the corners and a heavy studded wooden door at the entrance. It reads as a fortified house as much as a palace, which is the Maratha way of building.
Inside, the courtyard and the Ganesh hall give a sense of how the household was arranged, with galleried rooms and corridors around the open centre. Take the stairs slowly; floors are old and the upper levels are better judged by what staff are currently allowing. Do not plan this as a long museum visit. It is a place to stand in the courtyard and picture Indore as the Holkar headquarters it became.
After the palace, the lanes of the old market begin at the doorstep. Walk through, have tea or a sweet at a counter, and then go to the nearby Krishnapura Chhatris, about half a kilometre away, to continue the Holkar story in stone.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Check current opening days and ticketing before you go
- Ask which floors are open to visitors
- Visit in the morning, before the market square fills
- Keep bags light; the old floors and crowds make carrying heavy things tiring
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Khajuri Bazaar, old city centre
- Time needed
- 1 hour inside; 20 minutes for the exterior
- Best time
- Morning, October to March
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Expect steps and some uneven floors in an old building, and a crowded, noisy square outside. Ask staff which floors are open and whether a lift or ramp is available. A car drop-off at the front is easier than walking from the market lanes.
- Tickets and access
- Check current ticketing, timings and which floors are open on the Madhya Pradesh archaeology or tourism pages before you go; the palace reopened in February 2023 after a multi-year renovation and arrangements may change.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Rajwada Palace
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Expect steps and some uneven floors in an old building, and a crowded, noisy square outside. Ask staff which floors are open and whether a lift or ramp is available. A car drop-off at the front is easier than walking from the market lanes.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Rajwada still a royal residence?
No. It is a protected monument looked after by the Madhya Pradesh government and opened to visitors, not a living palace.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour inside, plus time in the square. Add time if you want to walk the old market lanes around it.
Is it suitable for older visitors?
Partly. The exterior and courtyard are manageable, but there are steps and old floors. Ask staff which levels are open.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
