Leave Pune around 5:30 AM for the roughly 10–11-hour journey to Indore, following the NH60/NH52 corridor through Nashik, Dhule, and Sendhwa. The first stretch is easiest before traffic builds; keep FASTag topped up and expect a mix of good divided highway and slower town approaches. Plan fuel and breakfast near Nashik, a proper lunch or rest stop around Dhule, and one final tea break near Sendhwa. Monsoon conditions can make parts of the route slower, so use the drive-time estimate as a minimum and avoid rushing.
After checking in and freshening up, head to Rajwada Palace in the old city for about an hour. The Holkar-era palace is best experienced in the softer early-evening light, when the surrounding Rajwada market is lively without yet reaching its busiest food-crowd peak. It is generally open until around 8 PM, though timings and access can vary; allow extra time for traffic and look for paid parking a few lanes away rather than trying to stop directly at the palace. From here, Sarafa Bazaar is a short walk or quick auto-rickshaw ride—roughly 10–15 minutes depending on the crowds.
Start at Sarafa Bazaar around 7:30 PM, when the jewellery market transforms into Indore’s celebrated night-food lane. Try small portions of poha-jalebi, bhutte ka kees, garadu, dahi vada, and malpua rather than committing to one heavy plate; stalls usually run late, but the busiest period is roughly 8–11 PM. Carry cash or use UPI, keep valuables secure in the crowd, and choose stalls with fast turnover. Later, take a 15–20-minute auto or cab to 56 Dukan in New Palasia for a more spacious, casual finish—sample local snacks or dessert for about an hour, then return to the hotel and rest. Because the next day’s onward journey is also planned as an early start, confirm your fuel, route, and Faridabad accommodation parking tonight rather than leaving it for the morning.
Start at Lal Bagh Palace around 7:00 AM, allowing about an hour to see the Holkar-era interiors and gardens before the heat builds. It is usually open in the morning, but confirm the exact Tuesday schedule and entry rules locally, as museum hours can change; budget roughly ₹20–100. From here, take an auto-rickshaw or cab—about 10–15 minutes—to the Sarafa area near Rajwada for breakfast. At a traditional poha-jalebi shop, order the classic combination with a cup of tea; ₹100–250 per person is plenty. Keep this stop to around 45 minutes, since the Omkareshwar detour is only sensible with a very early departure and a firm onward travel plan.
If you have arranged a private car and are prepared for a substantial deviation, leave Rajwada by about 9:15 AM for Omkareshwar Temple, roughly 2½–3 hours each way depending on traffic and monsoon road conditions. The temple sits on Mandhata Island in the Narmada, reached via bridges and local pedestrian lanes; allow about two hours for darshan and a short walk, with modest clothing and footwear storage in mind. Expect crowds, queues, and possible rain delays in August, so this is best treated as an optional visit rather than a guaranteed stop. If you are using the planned overnight train, do not attempt this detour: return to your accommodation or the station with a generous buffer instead.
After reaching Faridabad, make a short early-evening stop at the Badkhal Lake area for around 45 minutes, subject to current access and water-safety conditions. The landscape is pleasant for a breather, but do not expect the lake facilities to operate like a fully developed tourist attraction; arrive before dusk, avoid isolated stretches, and check locally whether entry is open after monsoon weather. Finish at a convenient North Indian restaurant around Badhkal Mor, where a relaxed dinner of tandoor dishes, dal, breads, or kebabs should cost about ₹300–700 per person. A cab or auto is the easiest connection between these stops, while the final ride to your accommodation is generally only 10–25 minutes depending on the sector and evening traffic.