When I landed at the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport in Indore, I was curious to know who is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. I got my answer in Maheshwar!
We took a detour to Maheshwar on our two nights and three days trip to Indore, Ujjain, Mandu and Omkareshwar. Maheshwar is popular with pilgrims as much as it is with tourists. I am hardly a religious person. So Maheshwar for me was more of a lesson in history.
Who is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar?
Maheshwar was the capital of the Malwa region during the Maratha Holkar dynasty till 1818. The region saw several kings, but it is said to have flourished the most under the rule of a queen who is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.
Devi Ahilya Bai’s journey as the queen of the Holkar dynasty was eventful, tragic even. She was born in a village in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The king of the Holkar territory, Khande Rao Holkar married Ahilyabai at the age of 8. By 29, she was a widow and almost committed sati. But her father in law, Malhar Rao Holkar refused for her to participate in the custom. When her father-in-law died, she was later elected to rule the kingdom.
Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar
At the height of her rule, Devi Ahilya controlled half of Madhya Pradesh. It was she who moved the capital from Indore to Maheshwar and built the stunning Ahilya Fort on the banks of the Narmada River. Under her rule, the Malwa kingdom saw its most prosperous period. She built schools and colleges and communities lived in harmony. Devi Ahilyabai was an ardent Shiva devotee who donated generously towards building temples, dharamshalas and baoris (wells) in cities across India like Varanasi, Dwarka, Haridwar, Rameshwaram, Pushkar and Pune.
Portrait of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar administrating affairs
Ahilya Fort history
Devi Ahilya’s rajwada in Maheshwar was a modest home – simple and elegant, unlike the flashy forts we see in Rajasthan. It’s a pity then that more than half of the palace has been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. The area open to tourists include the durbar hall where Devi Ahilya conducted meetings with the administration and the aangan (courtyard), both on the ground level.
A stairway leads us towards the fort that has some intricately carved chhatris of the Holkar rulers. Walk a little further down towards the ghat and you’ll have to yourself the majestic Narmada River. I understood why people called Maheshwar the Varanasi of Madhya Pradesh, although an absolutely unfair comparison!
Intricately carved chhatris of Holkar rulers
The everyday scene at the ghat is serene. Devotees took a dip in the holy river, others sat along the stairway to watch the sunset. Tiny shrines dotted the entire stretch of the ghat. Boats took tourists for a ride on the Narmada and promised beautiful views of the Ahilya fort from the other side.
A quiet moment at the Ahilya fort overlooking Narmada
The art of Maheshwari sarees
Maheshwar is well known for its Maheshwari sarees, made popular by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar. The city once had a thriving handloom weaving industry during the 5th century. The near-death of the art, motivated Richard Holkar, the scion of the Holkar dynasty to start the Rehwa Society in 1979. If you’d like to know more about Maheshwari sarees and the art of handloom weaving in Maheshwar, Rehwa Society is a great place to begin. The centre is built within the Ahilya fort and hosts several workshops and factory visits for people from across the world.
Maheshwar travel guide
How to reach Maheshwar?
Maheshwar is 90km from Indore and 220km from Bhopal. The nearest airport is in Indore. Buses ply regularly from Indore to Maheshwar. Although a car is the preferred way to go for most visitors. We hired a cab from Indore to cover Mandu, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar.
Best time to visit to Maheshwar
Maheshwar is best visited during monsoons when the river brims with water and the weather is cool. Else summers can be harsh and so do winter afternoons.
Where to stay in Maheshwar
If you’re willing to spend, there can be no better option than the Ahilya fort heritage hotel – the erstwhile residence of the Holkars. A moderately priced option is the Labboo’s cafe and lodge just outside the fort, once a soldiers’ den to protect the Ahilya Fort.
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Nice write-up. Quite informative. Thanks!
This is on my to-do list.
Thanks Manoj. Hope you have a great trip, whenever. Come back and tell me how it was 🙂
Good write up.i visited yesterday and what you have written is very informative and true