Lal Bagh Palace is considered to be one of the finest buildings in Indore, famous for its interiors inspired by European styles and opulent gardens surrounding the main building. Commissioned by the Holkar dynasty, the Palace’s construction began in the late 19th century and was completed in 1926. The architectural style reflects trends of the Italian Renaissance revival, making the building one of the finest pieces of neo-classical architecture in India.

Lal Bagh Palace stands on the southwest frontier of Indore, on the banks of the River Khan and its entire complex is spread over 28 acres. The Palace’s main gates are famous for being replicas of the gates of London’s Buckingham Palace and were shipped from England for the Holkars. The interiors of the Palace include several neo-classical elements like Italian marble columns, grand chandeliers, rich Persian carpets, flying nymphs on the ceiling, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek mythological reliefs, Italian style wall paintings, stuffed leopards, and tigers. Furthermore, Georgian-style furniture and contemporary paintings from India and Italy make Lal Bagh Palace a spectacular heritage site that gives a peek into the lives of India’s erstwhile royalty. One of the palace’s most interesting attractions is the grand ballroom which is fitted with special wooden floorboards to make dancing easier.

Lal Bagh Palace was the residence of the Holkars till 1978 and now functions as a museum displaying artifacts from the Holkar dynasty along with a rare coin collection from the Mughal period. The government of Madhya Pradesh is working on the Palaces’ development as a site of cultural heritage, and hence visitors can tour the restored rooms and galleries to acquaint themselves with the building’s unique architecture and artifacts.