Indore temples at a glance
- Khajrana Ganesh — Lord Ganesh, Khajrana (east Indore). Founded in 1735 by the temple's tradition, credited to Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. Busiest on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Bada Ganpati — Lord Ganesh, western end of MG Road, old city. A 25-foot idol, built in 1875.
- Annapurna Temple — Goddess Annapurna, south-west Indore. An elephant gateway and spires over 100 feet.
- Kanch Mandir — Jain, old city near Rajwada. The glass temple, built from 1903.
- Harsiddhi Temple — Goddess Harsiddhi, old city. An 18th-century shrine.
- Indreshwar Mahadev — Lord Shiva, old city. The temple Indore takes its name from.
- Bijasan Mata — Goddess Durga, hilltop beside the airport. Indore's big Navratri fair.
- Pitreshwar Hanuman, Pitra Parvat — Lord Hanuman, Bijasan Road. A 72-foot seated Hanuman.
- Gomatgiri — Jain, near the airport. A 21-foot Gomateshwar and 24 marble shrines, established in 1981.
The nine temples, one by one
1. Khajrana Ganesh Temple
Indore's best-known Ganesh temple. By the temple's tradition the idol was hidden in a well during Aurangzeb's reign and recovered in 1735, when Rani Ahilyabai Holkar had the shrine built. Devotees tie a thread with a wish and come back to give thanks. The sanctum has silver doors and walls, and crowds peak on Wednesdays, Sundays and Ganesh Chaturthi. It is about 5 km from Indore railway station.
Stay: any central ZECOHO hotel — Khajrana is a short cab ride away.
2. Bada Ganpati
One of the largest Ganesh idols in the world — about 25 feet from crown to foot — built in 1875 at the western end of MG Road. It opens around 5 AM, closes for a few hours around midday and reopens around 4 PM. Entry is free.
Stay: hotels near Bada Ganpati, linked below.
3. Annapurna Temple
Recognisable from its gateway of four stone elephants, the temple's design draws on the Meenakshi Temple of Madurai, with spires rising over 100 feet and 64 Yogini figures carved into the pillars. It was renovated in 1959 and the main entrance added in 1975. Listed darshan hours are about 5 AM to 12 noon and 2 PM to 10 PM.
Stay: hotels near Annapurna Temple, linked below.
4. Kanch Mandir — the Glass Temple
A Jain temple begun around 1903 by Sir Seth Hukumchand, with walls, pillars, ceilings and floor covered in glass and mirror work by craftsmen from Jaipur and Iran. Mirrors on both sides of the sanctum repeat the idols endlessly. Photography inside is not allowed.
Stay: hotels near Sarafa and Kanch Mandir, linked below — the Sarafa night food lanes are in the same pocket.
5. Harsiddhi Temple
An 18th-century temple in the old city. The goddess faces east and holds a sword and a trident, with smaller Shiva and Hanuman shrines in the same complex. It fits easily into an old-city day.
Stay: any old-city base — Bada Ganpati or Sarafa, linked below.
6. Indreshwar Mahadev
The Shiva temple the city is named after, in the old city, later renovated by the Holkars. A quiet, old shrine rather than a big-crowd temple — worth a stop if you are walking the old town.
Stay: any old-city base, linked below.
7. Bijasan Mata
A hilltop Durga temple beside the airport — the airport is visible from the hill. It is about 10 km from the railway station, and during the nine days of Navratri a fair is held here and thousands of devotees climb the hill.
Stay: hotels near Indore Airport, linked below.
8. Pitreshwar Hanuman, Pitra Parvat
A 72-foot ashtadhatu (eight-metal) statue of Hanuman on Pitra Parvat, off Bijasan Road. Hanuman is shown seated in meditation, which is unusual, and the hilltop gives wide views over the city.
Stay: hotels near Indore Airport, linked below.
9. Gomatgiri
A Jain hill site established in 1981, with a 21-foot statue of Gomateshwar (Bahubali) and 24 marble shrines, one for each Tirthankara. It is about a 10-minute drive from the airport.
Stay: hotels near Indore Airport, linked below.
Timings in short
Most Indore temples open early, around 5–6 AM, and many close for a few hours in the afternoon before reopening for the evening aarti. Hours change on festival days, so confirm locally before a late visit. Ask your hotel owner — one call or chat from the hotel page — for the day's timings and a reliable auto.
Where to stay: pick the base by temple group
- Old-city group (Bada Ganpati, Kanch Mandir, Harsiddhi, Indreshwar, with Annapurna a short ride south): stay near Bada Ganpati, Sarafa or Annapurna Temple. You can walk to some temples and reach the rest in a few minutes by auto, with Rajwada and the Sarafa food lanes close by.
- Hill group (Bijasan Mata, Pitra Parvat, Gomatgiri): stay near Indore Airport — handy if you are flying in or out, and the closest base to the three hill temples.
- Khajrana Ganesh: sits on its own on the east side. Any central base is a short cab ride away.
Each area page, linked below, shows the verified ZECOHO hotels there with today's prices and the distance from the landmark.
A simple temple-day plan
- Start early at Khajrana Ganesh, before the queues build.
- Move to the old city: Bada Ganpati, then Kanch Mandir and Harsiddhi near Rajwada.
- After lunch, Annapurna Temple on the way south-west.
- Late afternoon on Bijasan Road: Pitra Parvat and Bijasan Mata, when the hills are cooler and the light is good. Add Gomatgiri if you have time.
- Finish at Sarafa for dinner.
When to visit
Weekday mornings are the calmest for darshan at every temple, before the crowds and the heat build. If you can, time your trip around Ganesh Chaturthi or Navratri for the biggest celebrations at Khajrana Ganesh and Bijasan Mata — but book your room well ahead, as those weeks fill fast and prices firm up across the city.
Why booking direct helps
The room is cheaper because the hotel isn't paying a commission to a middleman — those savings come straight off your price. On ZECOHO you send a booking request, the owner confirms it directly, and you pay at the hotel on arrival. Nothing is collected upfront.
And unlike the big travel sites, you can call or chat the hotel owner directly — before, during or after your stay. Want to check parking, an early check-in for a dawn darshan, or a cab for the temple loop? Message the owner straight from the hotel's page and get a real answer from the person who runs the property.
Book direct, save 15–25%, and pay at the hotel — more of your budget stays with you and your yatra.
FAQ
Which are the most famous temples in Indore?
Khajrana Ganesh, Bada Ganpati, Annapurna Temple, Kanch Mandir (the glass temple), Harsiddhi, Indreshwar Mahadev, Bijasan Mata, Pitreshwar Hanuman on Pitra Parvat, and the Jain site of Gomatgiri.
Which temple is Indore named after?
Indreshwar Mahadev, a Shiva temple in the old city.
Which is the most famous Ganesh temple in Indore?
Khajrana Ganesh, founded in 1735 by the temple's tradition. Bada Ganpati, with its 25-foot idol, is the other famous one — they are two different temples in different parts of the city.
What are the temple timings in Indore?
Most temples open around 5–6 AM and many close for a few hours in the afternoon. Bada Ganpati opens around 5 AM and reopens around 4 PM; Annapurna lists about 5 AM–12 noon and 2–10 PM. Festival days change the hours, so confirm locally.
Where should I stay to visit Indore's temples?
Near Bada Ganpati, Sarafa or Annapurna Temple for the old-city temples, or near Indore Airport for Bijasan Mata, Pitra Parvat and Gomatgiri. Khajrana Ganesh is a short cab ride from any central base.
How do I pay, and can I contact the hotel first?
You pay the hotel directly at check-in — ZECOHO collects nothing at booking. You can call or chat the owner from the hotel's page to ask about parking, early check-in or a temple cab before you book.
Find your Indore base on ZECOHO and book direct — verified hotels, zero commission, pay at the hotel.