Malwa is rich in history. It’s the region where the great king Vikramaditya reigned. It’s the birthplace of poet Kalidasa. Later in modern times Malwa rose to prominence once again through the patronage of Rajmata Ahilya Devi, who ruled from Maheshwar near Indore.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom. She was a great pioneer and builder of Hindu temples. She built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas throughout India.

The greatest representation of Ahilyabai’s patronage towards art and architecture is her own palace Ahilyabai fort. The entire Maheshwar town is built around that famous fort. The fort is grand. The fort along with the ghat in front of it has to be the most scenic waterfront in whole India. It oozes heritage. The fort itself is extremely well maintained, with strong walls, & intricately carved temples & pillars. The grandeur of the palace and the temple inside it reminds people of the golden era of the Holkar dynasty, led by Rajmata Ahilyabai.

Ahileshwar Mahadev temple dedicated to lord Shiva is the main temple complex inside the fort. It’s still an active temple, used by both the local people and the royal family who lives inside the fort complex. The temple with its intricately carved granite walls, is an epitome of the Maratha architecture. The towering ‘DeepStambhas’ on the temple premises are awe inspiring.

The majestic fort, and the beautiful ghat with its well-designed stairs going down to the languid Narmada in front of it, creates a picturesque setting. A boat ride along the Narmada to look at the daily chores on the ghats shouldn’t be missed. The boat ride along Narmada offers the best lookout points to enjoy the majestic beauty of the Ahilyabai fort. Lots of devotees take a holy dip in the sacred waters of Narmada. The chants of the devotees, the cool breeze of Narmada and the grandeur of the mediaeval fort on the backdrop creates a surreal effect.

Maheshwar is also famous for the Maheswari Silk sarees. A lot of families here still earn their livelihood by weaving this piece of art. Most of them are completely handmade and the motifs on the Sarees are inspired by the carvings made on the majestic walls of the Ahileshwar temple and Ahilyabai fort.

The tradition of Saree weaving was patronized by Rajmata Ahilyabai, which helped Maheshwar become one of the famous seats for silk sarees in India.

The rich legacy of Holkar dynasty, the architectural marvel of Ahilyabai fort, the beauty of a languid Narmada along with a majestic ghat , the craftsmanship of the age old weavers all make Maheswar a great place to visit, a great place to relive our glorious past.