Among the temples of the Holkar era in the city of Indore, founded and nurtured by Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, the Banke Bihari Mandir is regarded as one of the most important. With a history of about 250 years, this ancient Mahanubhav temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, worshipped here in the form of Banke Bihari. Alongside Krishna, an idol of Lord Dattatreya is also enshrined in the temple. The Mahanubhava sect, established by the great reformist saint Chakradhar Swami, who is considered an incarnation of Krishna, reveres Krishna and Dattatreya as their chief deities. Accordingly, the rituals and worship at this temple follow the traditions of the Mahanubhava sect.
The history of the temple dates back to the era when Subedar Malharrao Holkar laid the foundation of Holkar rule in Malwa in 1728, with Indore as the capital. 
At that time, Indore was still a small settlement and Malharrao chose Hakimbadi as his residence, which gradually evolved into the grand Rajwada Palace. Initially, the Rajwada was built of mud walls, but later Malharrao constructed a three-storied stone building. Near this Rajwada, Malharrao built the Banke Bihari temple for his second wife, Harkubai, who was deeply devoted to the Mahanubhava sect. The sect, which emerged in the 13th century in Maharashtra, became a prominent non-Vedic Hindu tradition.
The Mahanubhava sect considers five avatars of the Supreme – Krishna, Dattatreya, Changdev Raul of Dwaravati, Govind Prabhu of Riddhipur and Chakradhar Swami. Collectively, they are called Panchakrishna. The Bhagavad Gita is the sect’s primary scripture and Krishna is its supreme deity. Harkubai was a devout worshipper of Krishna, so much so that she would not even drink water without first having darshan of Krishna’s idol. It was at her insistence that Malharrao built this temple. The idol of Krishna placed here is similar to the one worshipped at the famed Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura. Hence, Malharrao named this temple Banke Bihari. The term ‘Banke Bihari’ means ‘one who stands in three bends’ (tribhanga) and ‘the giver of supreme bliss’. The idol of Krishna in Vrindavan is depicted with the head, waist and feet all gracefully bent, hence the name. Some years ago, Indore Municipal Corporation restored this temple, spending around 1.5 crores on its renovation.
Situated near the Old Rajwada and Gopal Mandir, this two-storied temple stands upon a tall platform, with extensive use of wood in its construction. Its outward appearance resembles a Maratha mansion. The roof has two large halls on either side and three cylindrical domed canopies in the middle. The temple layout includes a small corridor, an assembly hall and the sanctum. The assembly hall, supported by large square wooden pillars, is surrounded by broad corridors, with an open section in the middle leading upward, where wooden railings are fixed. At the center, on a raised marble platform, stands the sanctum, 
shaped like a large shrine, its pillars and arches adorned with exquisite carvings.
Within this sanctum are three large idols of Krishna in the form of Banke Bihari, adorned with opulent garments and jewelry, garlands around their necks and crowns upon their heads. In front of these idols is a smaller idol of Krishna, along with stone idols and a small figure of Dattatreya. On the platform is also a large brass idol of child Krishna (Bal Krishna), dressed in resplendent garments and ornaments, holding a flute adorned with peacock feathers and crowned with a gleaming headpiece. Close to the sanctum’s wooden railing is a decorated wooden cradle with a deity sculpted in black stone placed within it. Wooden sandals (padukas) rest in front of the cradle. It is said that all the idols in this temple were carved from stone brought from Brajbhumi. Around the sanctum is a circumambulatory path connected to the assembly hall.
Daily, aarti is performed here at 5:30 in the morning, 12 noon and 7 in the evening. Regular devotional singing (bhajan) and discourses (kirtan) are held at the temple. The major festivals celebrated here include Krishna Janmashtami, Datta Jayanti and the birth anniversary of Chakradhar Swami. On these occasions, the temple is specially decorated and the idols of Banke Bihari are adorned with special ornaments and garments. Thousands of devotees from Indore gather to participate in these celebrations. During the month of Shravan, the temple also hosts the Potparva ritual. On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, just before Shravan Purnima, coconuts wrapped in thread are offered to Banke Bihari along with betel nuts and rakhis. It is also believed that vows made to Banke Bihari here are fulfilled, especially those seeking the blessing of children.
