Why Cleanliness Is Not Just a Tagline in Indore — It's a Way of Living, Breathing, and Belonging

India.com

18-07-2025

Clean doesn't just mean dustbins and sweepers. It means pride. It means respect. And in Indore, it means identity.
When the morning sun rises over Rajwada's ancient arches, it touches not just old bricks but spotless streets. There is a rhythm here — of brooms, bins, and a billion tiny acts of responsibility that make Indore more than just the cleanest city in India for eight years in a row.
Most tourists come for the poha jalebi breakfasts or the Sarafa night market. But what if we told you this city's real beauty is not in what you see — but in what you don't?
Litter. Piles of waste. The careless plastic bag in the breeze. Here, these things simply do not belong.
So what makes Indore's cleanliness different from other Indian cities?
It's not the slogans. It's the citizens.
This city is not a passive recipient of Swachh Bharat awards. It is the quiet worker behind them. Shopkeepers sweep outside their own shutters. Households religiously segregate waste. The municipal vans come like clockwork — and you'll see kids reminding elders if they ever forget to use separate bins.
From the narrow lanes of Chhappan Dukaan to the wide boulevards near Vijay Nagar, a single rule holds — Indore cleans up after itself. Not because someone said so. But because it is part of who they are.
In a nation where blame often travels faster than a broom, Indore is proof that when citizens stop pointing fingers and start lifting brooms, cities breathe easier.
Tired of the same sightseeing spots? These Indore spaces are waiting to be experienced
The charm of Indore is not just its monuments — it's the living, breathing spaces kept spotless by the people who use them every single day. Step off the beaten path and you'll see how cleanliness becomes the canvas on which the city paints its life stories.
1. Rajwada — The Heartbeat That Stays Clean Against All Odds
Indore's iconic palace stands surrounded by busy markets, buzzing rickshaws, and crowds that never thin. Yet the streets around Rajwada are swept every few hours, the waste neatly gathered, the ancient stones shining under streetlights.
Sip cutting chai near the iron gates. Watch how shopkeepers pick stray wrappers without waiting for anyone to tell them.
Rajwada is not just an old palace — it's the reminder that heritage shines brightest when it is not buried under neglect.
2. Chhappan Dukaan — Where Food Meets Discipline
Fifty-six shops. Hundreds of plates served every hour. And not a single paper cup left behind.
Indore's beloved street food lane turns into a culinary carnival every evening. Samosas sizzle, dosas flip, falooda overflows. And when you're done, you'll find a dustbin exactly where you need it.
Vendors here take pride not just in taste but in tidiness. The place stays spotless because every stall owner knows — food tastes better when the ground is clean.
3. Pipliyapala Regional Park — Nature's Clean Canvas
A sprawling lakefront, manicured gardens, and boats gliding over water that actually sparkles.
This park shows how Indore's cleanliness extends beyond markets and streets. Locals come here to breathe, walk, picnic — and leave behind nothing but footprints.
Try an evening boat ride. Watch the lights dance on the clean water. See families quietly pick up snack wrappers and drop them in the nearest bin. Here, nature and nurture go hand in hand.
4. Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary — Where Clean Trails Tell a Story
A few kilometers from the city, Ralamandal feels like Indore's hidden green lung. The trails here are marked, cared for, and free of plastic waste.
Trek up to the old hunting lodge. Hear peacocks call from the trees. Notice how even on busy weekends, visitors carry their waste down the hill.
Ralamandal's secret is not just its wildlife. It's the unwritten rule — respect the trail, and leave it cleaner than you found it.
5. Sarafa Bazaar — The Night That Stays Spotless
Every night, Sarafa turns into India's most delicious street party. Pav bhaji. Bhutte ka kees. Garadu chaat. And yet, when dawn breaks, the narrow lanes look untouched by the chaos.
How?Vendors sweep their spots before they go home. The municipal team arrives with high-pressure cleaning trucks. By breakfast time, Sarafa is back to its daytime calm — no sign of last night's culinary adventure.
This cycle repeats every single night. A reminder that cleanliness is not a one-time job. It's a promise renewed daily.
Why should you care about Indore's clean streets? Isn't it just cosmetic?
Look closer. It's not about spotless roads alone. It's about health. Dignity. Livelihoods.
A clean city means less disease. It means children grow up knowing civic sense is not optional. It means local businesses thrive because visitors come back to places that don't reek of neglect.
Indore's success story shows that when people care for their streets, they learn to care for each other too. It builds trust. It builds community. It builds hope that if Indore can do it, any city can.
Practical Tips — How to Respect Indore Like a Local
Bin before you begin. Always know where the nearest dustbin is before you unwrap that snack.
Segregate your waste. Dry and wet. Locals do it. You can too.
Carry your own bottle. Reduce plastic waste. Refill at your hotel or cafes.
Walk more. Short rides mean more traffic, more emissions. Clean air needs fewer honks.
Compliment the workers. A thank you to the person sweeping the street means more than you know.
The hidden economy of a clean city — why it matters more than a badge
Every waste collector, street sweeper, recycler — they are part of a huge invisible workforce. When you visit Indore and keep it clean, you respect their work. You make their jobs easier. You set an example for your city when you go back home.
Cleanliness creates new jobs — waste processing, composting, recycling plants. It saves money that would otherwise be spent on treating diseases caused by filth. It inspires smaller towns to try harder.
Your choices matter. Even if it's just one paper cup in your hand.
So what's stopping you?
Visit Indore not just for the food or the palaces. Come see how a city and its people choose every day to keep their home shining. Walk the streets. Taste the jalebi. Thank the sweeper. Drop your wrapper in the bin.
Because here, every clean corner is a small revolution. And you are part of it.
Final Thought
Don't just visit Indore. Feel it under your feet. See it in the spotless lanes at dawn. Breathe it in the fresh air that smells like possibility. And the next time someone says Indian cities can't be clean — tell them about Indore. Better yet, show them.
Because clean is not an accident here. It's a habit. A hope. A way forward. And it begins with you.