Introduction
In India, there are numerous villages, towns, and cities with rich cultural heritage where the past creeps into the present, and co-exists with its belongings and nostalgic moments. These places attract both inland and overseas tourists who feel the glorious past at the tourist spots, and enjoy them. The spots make the local people feel proud, and the tourists have an insight into the cultures and traditions of the old society and civilisation.
One such place I visited is Maheshwar, a small historic town in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh. This small, picturesque town on the bank of the river Narmada bears the glorious past of the Holkar dynasty, particularly that of the great queen Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. There is no railhead, but the nearest major railway station and nearest airport are Indore, which is about 90 km from Maheshwar.
Our Journey & Stay
We undertook a one-day journey to Maheshwar in October 2025 during our visit to the Malwa region. It was a 65-km, 2-hour taxi journey from Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh. We started at 8:00 AM from Omkareshwar and reached there at 10:00 AM. There are several budget hotels in the range of INR 1000 to INR 3000 per night to cater to the pocket of every tourist, and we stayed in a budget hotel costing INR 2000 per night.
Places of Visit
After lunch, we hired an auto-rickshaw to visit the tourist spots. We covered the small spots in and around the small town in 2 – 2.5 hours, such as:
1) Shri Datteshwar Temple – A temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya.
2) Sahashra Dhara – Through a rocky terrain, the Narmada River flows like several branches.
3) Bade Ganeshji Temple – Dedicated to Lord Ganesh on the bank of the Narmada.
4) Chhote Jagannathji Temple – Lord Jagannath temple on the bank of the Narmada.
5) Shri Kaleshwar Temple – Atop a hillock, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar – View from the Ahilya Ghat, Narmada River Bank, Maheshwar
We then visited the main attractions inside the Ahilya Fort on the bank of the river Narmada, which housed the following:
1) The Palace – Queen Ahilya Bai ruled from this fort palace.
2) Ahilya Bai Statue – Bigger than the life-size statue.
3) Raj Gaddi – The throne of the queen.
4) Swarna Jhula – The Golden Swing for God Shri Krishna during religious festivals.
5) Ahilyeshwar Temple – Famous 18th-century Lord Shiva temple built by Ahilya Bai.
6) Gupta Kashi temple – Old 18th-century Kasi Vishwanath temple built by the queen.
7) Shri Raja Rajeshwar Temple – Famous 18th-century Lord Shiva Temple.
8) Ahilyeshwar Chhatri – Memorial built in honour of queen Ahilya Bai.
9) Ahilya Ghat – At the foot of the fort and on the bank of the river Narmada.
Shahshra Dhara – The Narmada River flowing through the Rocky Terrain
Shopping
Maheshwar is famous for Maheshwari silk sarees, the price typically ranging from INR 2,000 to INR 10,000 depending on the quality and design. The varieties are pure silk, cotton, silk-cotton mix, with or without zari-work. We purchased sarees and a few dress materials to suit our pockets. This small town has a market area on the main road, and other branch roads, having shops, restaurants, hotels, eateries, cafes, etc.
Concluding Words
We had a one-day stay in Maheshwar, and the next day we proceeded to another place of visit in the Malwa region. This small, not-so-much-busy town can give a peaceful stay, reminiscing about the old, glorious past of the valiant rulers of the Holkar dynasty. The enchanting golden view of Ahilya fort and Narmada River in the morning and in the evening (particularly in the sunset time) is worth seeing. One day visit is sufficient, but if time permits, one more day can be spent to enjoy golden moments on the bank of the river Narmada.
Kishor Kumar Mishra
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