Central India · Madhya Pradesh
Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
Ahilyabai Holkar's riverside capital; ghat aartis on the Narmada and the famous Maheshwari saris.
About Maheshwar
- Riverside
Where it is
Maheshwar is a town on the northern bank of the Narmada in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, in the Nimar region about 90 km south-west of Indore.
History
Maheshwar is identified with Mahishmati, an ancient city named in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. In 1767 Ahilyabai Holkar made it the capital of the Holkar state, building its fort palace, ghats and temples and bringing weavers to settle, and it remained the capital until the seat moved to Indore in 1818.
People
Maheshwar speaks Nimadi and Hindi, and many families weave the light cotton and silk Maheshwari saris on handlooms, a craft revived in 1979 by the Rehwa Society. Boatmen, priests and pilgrims keep the ghats busy, and Ahilyabai is remembered with deep respect as a pious and just ruler.
Known for
- The Ahilya Fort and Narmada ghats
- Maheshwari handloom saris
- The Ahilyeshwar and other riverside temples
- Evening aarti on the Narmada
Did you know?
Maheshwari saris traditionally have a reversible border, so the sari can be worn on either side.
Shrines and sites
- Narmada ghats and the Ahilya Fort
- Rajwada and the Ahilyabai Holkar temples
- Maheshwari handloom weaving centres
Traditions
- Hindu
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