Maheshwar

A short drive away from Mandu and Indore, this small town is a popular pilgrimage centre with a rich architectural heritage. While Maheshwar has a long history, it was revived in the 18th century by the Holkar queen Ahilyabai. Ahilyabai shifted the capital from Indore to Maheshwar, consolidated the Maheshwar fort and constructed the city’s famous ghats and temples.
The imposing Maheshwar Fort is located on a hilltop overlooking the Narmada river. Its walls enclose the Rajwada or Ahilyabai’s royal palace; Devpuja, the shrine used by her; and the ‘rajgaddi’, her throne, on which a life-sized statue of the queen has been installed. It also contains various heirlooms of the Holkar dynasty.

Most of the activity is centred around its ghats, where pilgrims take a dip in the river Narmada. Maheshwar also has beautiful temples such as Kaleshwar, Rajarajeshwara and Ahileshwar, which have tall spires and carved balconies and doorways. To truly immerse yourself in the city’s history, stay at the Ahilya Fort, a beautiful and sprawling heritage hotel located on the banks of the Narmada river.