Editing Indore (section)

==History==
===Gupta Empire (Gupta Era)===
[[Gupta Empire]] inscription mentions Indore as city/town of Indrapura in Gupta Indore Copper plate inscription dated 146 Gupta era or 465 CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Maity|first=Sachindra Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCXUAAAAMAAJ&q=indrapura+indore+skandagupta|title=Economic Life in Northern India in the Gupta Period, Cir. A.D. 300–550|date=1970|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9780896841994|language=en}}</ref> These are also some of the earliest mentions of Indore where the city is mentioned as 'Indrapura'.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dandekar|first1=R. N.|title=Some Aspects of the Gupta Civilization: Economic Conditions|journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute|date=1960|volume=20|issue=1/4|pages=108–115|jstor=42929739|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42929739|access-date=26 September 2020|issn=0045-9801|archive-date=11 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211151744/https://www.jstor.org/stable/42929739|url-status=live}}</ref> Indrapura (modern day Indore) was then known for its sun temple, where in 464–65 CE, Gupta king [[Skandagupta]] had made an endowment for the permanent maintenance of the city's sun temple. The temple was constructed by two merchants of the city – Achalavarman and Bhṛikuṇṭhasiṁha.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Fleet|first1=John Faithfull|title=Corpus inscriptionum indicarum vol.III|date=1888|publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta|page=71|url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/corpus-inscriptionum-indicarum-voliii|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:466 CE Indore Copper Plate Inscription, Hinduism, Skandagupta, Sanskrit.jpg|thumb|An early Gupta era inscription from ancient India. This is a photograph of a personal copy of plates published by John Fleet in 1888, with Inscriptions of the Early Gupta Kings And Their Successors, as a part of the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum series, Vol. 3]]

=== Holkar Era (Maratha Empire)===
{{main|Holkar}}

During the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal era]], the area under the modern Indore district was equally divided between the administrations (''[[sarkar (administrative division)|sarkar]]''s) of [[Ujjain]] and [[Mandu, Madhya Pradesh|Mandu]]. Kampel was the headquarters of a ''mahal'' (administrative unit) under the Ujjain ''sarkar'' of [[Malwa Subah]] (province). The area of the modern Indore city was included in the [[Kampel, Indore|Kampel]] [[pargana]] (administrative unit).<ref name="gazetteer_1971">{{cite book|title=Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Indore|editor=P. N. Shrivastav|year=1971|edition=1st|publisher=Government Central Press|pages=2, 55–59}}</ref>

In 1715, the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] invaded this region (Mughal territory) and demanded [[chauth]] (tax) from the Mughal ''Amil'' (administrator) of Kampel. The Amil fled to [[Ujjain]], and the local [[zamindar]]s agreed to pay Chauth to the Marathas. The chief zamindar, [[Rao Nandlal Chaudhary|Nandlal Chaudhary]] (later known as Nandlal Mandloi), paid a chauth of around Rs. 25,000 to the Marathas. [[Jai Singh II]], the Mughal Governor of Malwa, reached Kampel on 8 May 1715, and defeated the Marathas in a battle near the village. The Marathas came back in early 1716, and raided Kampel in 1717. In March 1718, the Marathas, led by [[Bhonsle (clan)|Santaji Bhonsale]], invaded Malwa again, but were unsuccessful this time.

By 1720, the headquarters of the local pargana were transferred from Kampel to Indore, due to the increasing commercial activity in the city. In 1724, the Marathas under the new [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao I]], launched a fresh attack on the Mughals in Malwa. Baji Rao I himself led the campaign, accompanied by his lieutenants [[Dhar State|Udaji Rao Pawar]], [[Malhar Rao Holkar]] and [[Ranoji Scindia]]. The Mughal [[Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I|Nizam]] met the [[Peshwa]] at [[Nalchha]] on 18 May 1724, and acceded to his demand of collecting chauth from the area. The Peshwa returned to the [[Deccan]], but left [[Malhar Rao Holkar]] at Indore to oversee the chauth collection.

The Marathas maintained friendly relations with Nandlal Chaudhary, who held influence over the local [[Sardar]]s (chiefs). In 1728, they defeated the Mughals decisively in the battle of [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire|Amjhera]], and consolidated their authority in the area over the next few years. On 3 October 1730, [[Malhar Rao Holkar]] was appointed as the Maratha chief of [[Malwa]]. The local zamindars, who had the title of [[Chowdhury|Chaudhari]], came to be known as ''Mandloi''s (after [[tehsil|mandal]], an administrative unit) during the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha reign]]. The [[House of Holkar|Holkar]] dynasty of the Marathas, which controlled the region, conferred the title of ''Rao'' upon the local zamindar family.<ref>Major General Sir John Malcolm, ''Central India, Part I'', pp. 68–70</ref>
After Nandlal died, his son Tejkarana was accepted as the ''Mandloi'' of Kampel by the [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao I]]. The pargana was formally granted to [[Malhar Rao Holkar]] by merging 28 and one-half Pargana by the Peshwa in 1733. The pargana headquarters were transferred back to Kampel during his reign. After his death, his daughter-in-law [[Ahilyabai Holkar]] moved the headquarters to Indore in 1766. The [[tehsil]] of Kampel was converted into Indore tehsil by a change in the name.<ref name="gazetteer_1971"/>
Ahilyabai Holkar moved the state's capital to [[Maheshwar]] in 1767, but Indore remained an important commercial and military centre.

===Princely State (Indore/Holkar State)===
{{main|Indore State}} {{See also|Dewas Junior|Dewas Senior|Dhar State|Gwalior State}}
[[File:Ahilyabai Holkar 1996 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|[[Ahilyabai Holkar]] 1996 stamp of [[India]]]]
[[Ahilyabai Holkar|Ahalyabai]] Holkar is fondly remembered as a noble, saintly and courageous woman. She ruled the kingdom of Indore (which was then part of the wider [[Maratha Empire]]) for several decades. Her rule is remembered as a golden age in Indore's history. From an agricultural background herself, she married Khande Rao, prince of Indore. Thereafter, she resided in the Royal Palace. Later, she was trained in statecraft and accompanied the army to war on many occasions. At that time the [[Maratha Empire]] (which was founded by [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsale]]) was at the apex of its power. There were frequent battles and skirmishes, both against foreigners as well as internal feuds. In one such battle in 1754, [[Ahilyabai Holkar|Ahalyabai's]] husband was killed. Her aged father-in-law ([[Malhar Rao Holkar|Malhar Rao]]) was shattered at the death of his son. He summoned Ahalyabai, who he loved deeply, and said: "You are now my son. I wish that you look after my kingdom".[[Malhar Rao Holkar]] died in 1766, 12 years after the death of his son Khande Rao. Malhar Rao's grandson and Khande Rao's only son [[Male Rao Holkar]] became the ruler of Indore in 1766, under Ahilya Bai's regency, but he too died within few months in April 1767. Ahilya Bai became the ruler of Indore after the death of her son with Khande Rao. [[Ahilyabai Holkar|Ahilya Bai]] was a great pioneer and builder of Hindu temples who constructed hundreds of temples and [[Dharamshala (type of building)|Dharmashalas]] throughout India. She is specially renowned for refurbishing and reconsecrating some of the most sacred sites of Hindu pilgrimage that had been desecrated and demolished in the previous century by the Mughal Emperor [[Aurangzeb]] including:

* [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]] 
* [[Ayodhya]] – Construction of Shri Rama Temple, [[Sarayu River (Ayodhya)|Sarayu]] Ghat
* [[Badrinath Temple|Badrinath]] – Construction of Shri Kedareshwar Temple and Hari Temple, Dharamshalas (at Rangdachati, Bidarchati, Vyasaganga, [[Tungnath|Tunganath]], Pawali), construction of many kundas (at Gaurkund, Kundachatri), a garden and a kunda of warm water at [[Devprayag]], pastoral land for cows 
* [[Dwarka]] – Mohatajkhana, Pooja House and donation of some villages to the priests of the [[Dwarkadhish Temple]]
* [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]] – Dharmashala and Kund)
* [[Omkareshwar Temple|Omkareshwar]] – Renovation of the temples of Mamaleshwar Mahadev, Amaleshwar and Trambakeshwar Temples, completing the construction of Gauri-Somnath temple, construction of a Dharmashala & pond, donation of a silver mask for adoration of the [[Lingam|Shivalinga]] 
* [[Rameswaram]] – Construction of Hanumana Temple, Shri Radha Krishna Temple, a Dharmashala, Well & Garden and many more.

In 1818, the [[House of Holkar|Holkar]]s were defeated by the [[British Empire|British]] during the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]], in the [[Battle of Mahidpur]] by which the capital was again moved from Maheshwar to Indore. A residency with British residents was established at Indore, but Holkars continued to rule [[Indore State]] as a [[princely state]] mainly due to efforts of their [[Dewan]] Tatya Jog. During that time, Indore has established the headquarters of the British Central Agency. [[Ujjain]] was originally the commercial centre of Malwa. But the British administrators such as [[John Malcolm]] decided to promote Indore as an alternative to Ujjain because the merchants of Ujjain had supported anti-British elements.<ref name="AF_1998">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAJDrdP6sikC&pg=PA63|title=Smuggling as Subversion: Colonialism, Indian Merchants, and the Politics of Opium, 1790–1843|first=Amar|last=Farooqui|publisher=Lexington|year=1998|pages=62–63|isbn=9780739108864|access-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518084214/https://books.google.com/books?id=pAJDrdP6sikC&pg=PA63|archive-date=18 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1906 electric supply was started in the city, the fire brigade was established in 1909, and 1918, the first master-plan of the city was made by noted architect and town planner, [[Patrick Geddes]].<ref name="Geddes">{{cite conference|last=Geddes|first=Patrick|title=Indore: Town Planning towards City Development, Parts I and II|conference=Durbar of Indore|publisher=Holkar State Press|place=Indore|date=1918}}</ref> During the period of [[Tukojirao Holkar II|Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II]] (1852–86) efforts were made for the planned development and industrial development of Indore. With the introduction of Railways in 1875, the business in Indore flourished during the reigns of [[Shivajirao Holkar|Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar]], [[Tukojirao Holkar III|Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar III]] and [[Yeshwantrao Holkar II|Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar]].

<gallery>
File:Raja Shrimat Sir Kashirao (Dada Saheb) Holkar (KCSI) (KIH).jpg|Kashirao (Dada Saheb) Holkar KCSI ([[Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]), the elder brother of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar II, receiving public recognition by the Viceroy, Lord Canning, in open durbar on 14 January 1861
File:Tookajee Rao Holkar.jpg|[[Tukoji Rao Holkar II]], Indore, from a drawing by Mr. W. Carpenter, Jun.," from the ''Illustrated London News'', 1857
File:Shivajirao Holkar 1859 1908.jpg|[[Maharaja]] [[Shivajirao Holkar|Shivaji Rao Holkar]] of Indore
File:Tukojirao III Maharaja Holkar of Indore.jpg|[[Tukojirao Holkar III|Tukoji Rao Holkar III, The Maharaja of Indore (1890–1978)]] by [[James Eckford Lauder|James Lauder]], [[London]]
File:Investiture of his Highness Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar Bahadur of Indore 9th May 1930.jpg|Investiture of [[Yashwant Rao Holkar II|His Highness The Maharaja Yeshwant Rao II Holkar Bahadur of Indore 9 May 1930]]
</gallery>

The Holkar State [[Durbar (court)|Darbar]] (Court) was composed of many [[Jagirdar]]s, [[Sardar]]s, Istamuradars, [[Mankari]]s and [[Zamindar]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Way of Life: King, Householder, Renouncer : Essays in Honour of Louis Dumont|author=Madan, T.N.|date=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9788120805279|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_qMH9PY9fQC&pg=PA129|page=129|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdIBAAAAMAAJ&q=Mankari+being+primarily+a+title+applied+to+Maratha+noblemen%2C+who+held+an+official+position+at+court|title=Pt. II. Descriptive articles on the principal castes and tribes of the Central Provinces|last1=Russell|first1=Robert Vane|year=1916|access-date=10 October 2022|archive-date=30 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230130447/https://books.google.com/books?id=xdIBAAAAMAAJ&q=Mankari+being+primarily+a+title+applied+to+Maratha+noblemen%2C+who+held+an+official+position+at+court#v=snippet&q=Mankari%20being%20primarily%20a%20title%20applied%20to%20Maratha%20noblemen%2C%20who%20held%20an%20official%20position%20at%20court&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Post-independence ===

After India's independence in 1947, Holkar State, along with several neighbouring princely states, acceded to the Indian Union. On 1 November 1956, when [[Madhya Bharat]] was merged into [[Madhya Pradesh]], Indore became part of the newly formed state. Indore a city today of nearly 4.5 million (2018) residents, has been transformed from a traditional commercial urban centre into the modern dynamic commercial capital of the state.