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About Indore |
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Indore traces its origin in the era of hereditary Zamindars and local landlords, patronized by the Mughal rulers during the medieval part of the Indian history. These landlords of the Malwa region, who were then addressed by titles like Singh and Chaudhari, were headed by Rao Nandlal Chaudhary when the attacks of the Marathas and the Mughals started to disturb their peaceful existence in the region. He found a place near the banks of river Saraswati suitable for relocation of his people as the area seemed immune to the assault of the invaders. This region later came to be known as Indore after the name of Indreshwar temple that is present here.
Indore eventually came under the influence of the Maratha power during the middle of the eighteenth century. Malhar Rao Holkar was appointed as a Subhedar of the region, and thus the indore came to be ruled by the Holkar dynasty, initially under the control of the Peshwas and later on its own.
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Ahilyabai Holkar, the daughter of Malhar Rao Holkar, became the next ruler and Indore saw some of the finest architectural marvels coming up during her rule. Later She chose Maheshwar to be the capital of her state. The glory of Indore was at its height during the Holkar rule, which saw its emergence as a flourishing center of trade and commerce. They built a grand palace and made it the center of all political and cultural development of the state. Today this palace exists only in remains, and is known commonly as the Rajwada.
The Holkars remained the master of the region until they lost against the British in the third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818. The defeat of the Holkars led by Rani Krishnabai Holkar at the hand of the British forces led by Sir John Malcom resulted in the treaty of Mandsaur. A part of the Holkar state was handed over to the British, and its capital was shifted from Maheshwar to Indore. The English became the absolute master of Indore by now.
Indore continued its existence as a princely state during the British Raj, up to the time when India became a free nation. After independence, Indore was made the summer capital of Madhya Bharat, which it continued to serve until the latter was merged with the state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956. Indore ceased to be a political center when Bhopal was chosen to be the new capital of Madhya Pradesh, however it retained its position as an important district and a chief commercial center of the state.
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