| |
  |
|
| |
Maheshwar
- The Temple Town With a Quiet Beauty
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
The town had
reached its apex of glory in the dawn of Indian
civilization when it was Mahismati, capital of
the king Kartvirarjun. This temple town on the
banks of the river Narmada finds mention in the epics of
Ramayana and Mahabharata. Revived to its
ancient position of importance by the Holkar |
|
 |
|
|
| |
queen Rani AhilyaBai, Maheshwar's temples and mighty
fort-complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below. |
|
| |
 |
Rajgaddi and Rajwada |
|
A life size statue of Rani Ahilyabai sits on a throne in the Rajgaddi within the
Fort complex. This is the right place to begin a tour of Maheshwar,
for this pious and wise queen was the architect of its revived
importance.
Other fascinating
relics and heirlooms of the Holkar dynasty can be seen in other
rooms which |
|
|
| |
are open to the public. Within the complex is an exquisite, small shrine which is the starting
point of the ancient Dussehra ceremony which is carried out even
today.
The image
on this day is installed reverently in a splendid palanquin and carried down the steep
Fort road to the town below to receive the yearly homage of the people of Maheshwar. |
|
|
Ghats |
|
| |
Peshwa Ghat, Fanase Ghat and Ahilya Ghat line the river Narmada,
flights
of steps lead down from the sqandy banks to the river, and through the day, a kaleidoscope
of rural India can be seen here, in the pilgrims and holy men who sit here in silent
meditation, in the rows of graceful women who carry gleaming brass pots down to the holy,
life giving river, in the ferry roads of villagers who cross and recross these surging
waters. Lining the banks too are poignant memorials in stone to the satis of Maheshwar,
who perished on the funeral pyres of their husbands. |
|
|
Temples |
|
|
 |
With their soaring spires, the many-tiered temples of
Maheshwar are distinguished by their carved overhanging
balconies and their intricately worked doorways. Temples to see are:
Kaleshwara, Rajarajeshwara, Vithaleshwara and Ahileshwar. |
|
|
Maheshwari
sarees |
| |
|
Introduced into
Maheshwar 250 years ago by Rani Ahilyabai, the
sarees are renowned throughout India for their unique weave. Woven
mostly in cotton, the typical Maheshwari saree has a plain
body and sometimes stripes or checks in several variations. The mat
border designs have a wide range in leaf and floral patterns.
|
 |
|
|
The pallu is particularly distinctive with five stripes ,three
coloured
and two white alternating ,running along its width. Maheshwari
has a reversible border, known as bugdi. |
|
|
|
Top |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
How to go |
|
|
| Regular buses are available from Barwaha, Khandwa, Dhar and Dhamnod. |
|
|
|
| Nearest railheads are Barwaha (39km),
Khandwa (110km), Indore (91km) and Mhow on the Western Railway. |
|
|
|
| Nearest airport is Indore (91 km),
connected with Bombay, Delhi, Bhopal and Gwalior. |
|
|
|
|
Ahilya Trust
Guest House,
Government
Rest House,
Dharamashalas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
