Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been known for its art, architecture, and culture- especially the Holkar tradition of many centuries that leaves its mark on the entire city. But all was not well.  Somehow, the dilapidated condition of its two historic monuments, the Rajwada Palace and the Gopal Mandir, put a sort of dent in the`Smart City’ image of Indore.

But thanks to the restoration work done by former CEO of Smart City Indore, Ms. Aditi Garg, the damage has been undone.

The Holkars ruled as Maratha Rajas, and later as Maharajas of Indore in Central India as an independent member of the Maratha Empire until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the protectorate of British India.

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In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Aditi Garg discussed how she and her team members gave a fresh makeover to the Holkar heritage of Indore, and also made it accessible to the general public.

REMOVING ENCROACHMENT

The Rajwada Palace of Indore was built about two centuries ago. The front gate of the palace is a seven-storied structure that serves as the living example of the grandeur of the Holkars.

Ms. Garg while speaking with Indian Masterminds said, “The historic Rajwada Palace was kept in a very poor condition and people had already stopped visiting the place. The encroachers who built various shops around the Palace had even blocked its entrance. Due to this, nobody was able to easily access the Palace.”

In July 2016, a committee was formed to renovate the historic Rajwada Palace. As part of the Smart City project, a joint-team of Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), district administration, and police demolished about 150 temporary shops around Gopal Mandir and Rajwada, overriding the protests by aggrieved shopkeepers and their family members. This was in December 2017.

While carrying out the demolition drive, it was found that shopkeepers had hammered nails in the walls of Rajwada Fort. They had damaged the wall of an ancient temple.

RESTORATION DRIVE

Mr. Garg said, “The Smart City Indore undertakes a lot of civil work to restore the Holkar heritage of Indore. This retrofitting drive was conducted smartly, and not just for facelifting the exterior. We decided that to make people visit these places, and at the same time maintain its historic significance.”

She added, “We are trying to retrofit it in such a way that the access of the place is improved and at the same time people who visit these places have more than just one activity to do. When people will visit places like Rajwada and Gopal Mandir, which were built in the 17^th and 18^th century, they will not only see the architectural restoration work which is going on but also the other things which the smart city is planning to make.”

GOPAL MANDIR COMPLEX RENOVATION

Gopal Mandir is a religious spot situated in Indore and is one of the city’s most important heritage structures. It was built by Krishna Bai Holkar in 1832 and was founded in the honor of Lord Krishna. It has been built in Maratha architectural style.

To conserve the historically important Gopal Mandir and for adaptive reuse of premises, the officials have planned its restoration drive in 3 phases:

This includes an amphitheater, which is being built in the Gopal Mandir complex where cultural activities and public conferences will take place. Additionally, a shopping centre is also being built in the complex where people can have access to traditional art and craft. Apart from the main temple and its periphery block, a separate place has been assigned for setting up shops and offices.

Beautiful Fresco artwork was found at various places in the complex. This is now conserved with the help of artists from Mumbai and Jaipur.

HARIRAO HOLKAR CHHATRI RENOVATION

Situated on River Saraswati, the Hari Rao Holkar Chhatri was built in the 18th Century. But with heavy calcium deposit and vegetation around it, its grandeur remained hidden from view. The administration has brought the Chhatri back to life by a judicious mix of ancient materials, lime, and modern electrification.

The renovation works have enhanced the lost heritage of Indore, one of the examples being three Chhatris in Gangaur Ghat.

The Smart City has also planned to restore the Rajwada Plaza with an open-air theatre, keeping in mind the importance and activity of the place. Other beautification drives here include cultural activities as well as more shops, basic amenities like toilets, drinking water, and ATM service, a car parking area, and a bus stop.