Ahilyabai Temple

A must visit place in Madhya Pradesh. Do not treat it as a tourist place. It's a place of inspiration by Ahilya Mata Holkar to dedicate life for Dev - Desh - Dharma.

Beautiful temple on the banks of river narmada.

One of the finest build temple in the honour of Ahilya Bai holkar.

Great Place With A Great History So many Great Leader Had been part of this historical and wonderful place. This place is also famous for its maheshwari silk sarees. This place has witnessed so many Wars over the years. The Narmada River flowing beside the fort is the the best thing there.

Could see the life and struggle of Ahilyabai Holkar's life. Visit to Maheshwar is must for all travellers.

Ahilyabai temple is located in Maheshwar in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, India. This temple in the complex of Fort. You can see Narmada river from here. Temple is very neat and clean. Well maintained. It's a perfect location for shooting and Mmany Bollywood films are shot here. It's approximately 90 kms from Indore. You can reach by public transport. Please take a round of boating which will give you perfect view of Maheshwar Fort. You can also see Mata Narmada Aarti in the morning as well evening. Please check the timings with any local around ghat.

Maheshwar is a town in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh
It was the kingdom of Chaktavartin Samrat Sahastraarjun, Kartavirya Arjuna a Heheya king. Lately, after many years, it was the capital of the Malwa during the Maratha Holkar reign till 6 January 1818, when the capital was shifted to Indore by Malhar Rao Holkar III.

Need atleast 3-4 hours to enjoy this magnificent fort. visit early morning and evening time. Be ready to walk lots of stairs but it is worth it. Feed the fish and enjoy boat ride

Loved this place....so PEACEFUL and nice...also it's not overcrowded so you can enjoy ..

This is easily about 300 years old.

People here are very calm and really supportive.

You can drive till the gate and then a 5 mint walk.

It's about 50 kms from indore.

If you want you can do a boating or a speed boat. Takes or charged about 300-500 bucks for a 20 minute ride.

Also a paradise for photographers. You will surely love this.

It is also famous for maheshwari silk which us manufactured right here.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom. Rajmata Ahilyabai was born in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.
Rani Ahilyabai was a great pioneer and builder of Hindu temples. She built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas throughout India.

The capital of Her Highness Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar, Maheshwar also happens to be one of the finest centres of weaving. Standing strong on the bank of Narmada, the fort is probably the prettiest of its kind in India. The famous Maheshwari sarees are woven here within the walls of the fort with the patronage of the Rheva trust run by the Royal family. This is not only beautiful but also very clean. The water of Narmada is crystal clear.

I recon, this is one the must visit spots in India. Take a boat ride for about 15-20 mins, you can have a great view of the fort. The cool breeze emanating from the Narmada keeps the area cool.

Pleasent place on narmada river devotional feeling with great architecture view boat facility available to enjoy river ride quite at morning many comes for yoga and pranayama and at evening light shows improve the view of ghats helping people shooting of many bollywood movies happend such as padman , ymla pgla etc

Beautiful temple located inside Maheshwar fort.

Ahilyabai was born on May 31, 1725, in the village of Chondi, Taluka Jamkhed District, in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Her father, Mankoji Shinde, was the patil of the village, a member of the proud Dhangar community. Women then did not go to school, but Ahilyabai's father taught her to read and write.

Her entrance onto the stage of history had been accidental. Malhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the service of the Peshwa Bajirao and lord of the Malwa territory, stopped in Chondi on his way to Pune and, according to legend, saw the eight-year-old Ahilyadevi at the temple service in the village. Recognizing her piety and her character, he brought the girl to the Holkar territory as a bride for his son, Khanderao Holkar (1723–1754). They were married in 1733.

Ahilyadevi’s husband died in battle in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar died. From 1766 until her death in 1795, she ruled Malwa, trained in both administrative and military matters by Malhar Rao. A letter to her from Malhar Rao in 1765 illustrates the trust he had in her ability during the tempestuous battle for power in the eighteenth century:

Proceed to Gwalior after crossing the Chambal. You may halt there for four or five days. You should keep your big artillery and arrange for its ammunition as much as possible…. On the march you should arrange for military posts being located for protection of the road."

Already trained as a ruler, Ahilyadevi petitioned the Peshwa after Malhar’s death, and the death of her son, to take over the administration herself. Some in Malwa objected to her assumption of rule, but the army of Holkar expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of her leadership. She had led them in person, with four bows and quivers of arrows fitted to the corners of the howdah of her favorite elephant. The Peshwa granted permission, and, with Tukoji Holkar (Malhar Rao's adopted son) as the head of military matters, she proceeded to rule Malwa in a most enlightened manner, even reinstating a Brahmin who had opposed her. Ahilyadevi never observed purdah but held daily public audience and was always accessible to anyone who needed her ear.

Her achievements She developed Indore from a small village to a prosperous and beautiful city. She made Maheshwar, a town on the banks of the Narmada river, her own capital. Ahilyadevi built forts and roads in Malwa, sponsored festivals and served as a patron for many Hindu temples. Outside Malwa, she built dozens of temples, ghats, wells, tanks, and rest-houses across an area stretching from the Himalayas to pilgrimagecenters in South India. The Bharatiya Sanskritikosh lists as sites she embellished, Kashi, Gaya, Somnath, Ayodhya, Mathura, Hardwar, Kanchi, Avanti, Dwarka, Badrinarayan, Rameshwar, and Jaganathpuri. Ahilyadevi also rejoiced when she saw bankers, merchants, farmers, and cultivators rise to levels of affluence, but rejected claims to any of that wealth, be it through taxes or feudal right. She financed all her activities with the lawful gains obtained from a happy and prosperous land.

Since India's independence, the city of Indore, when compared to neighboring Bhopal, Jabalpur, or Gwalior, has progressed dramatically: economically, through business and financial development, and politically through the development of efficient administration. The local population proudly states that they live in 'mini-Mumbai', a reference to the great metropolis 600 kilometers away. Ahilyadevi’s legacy of good deeds, her dedication to religion, and her policies served to enrich the city into the twenty-first century.

What a historic temples and near ghat, what a lovely experience and view,
Boating experience is must to have here
Especially the bollywood movie shooting stories are great

Extremely beautiful and calm place. I felt like staying there. A must visit place .

Very well maintained historical place. Must visit for everyone to understand and appreciate Indian architecture, history and the extent of sacrifices our ancestors have done.

Had heard Ahilyabai’s name across many Indian temples. Blessed to visit her home and see the austere life she lead while contributing her entire wealth and life for saving our culture and identity.

Very Beautiful place to visit with natural ambience and pristine river flowing along the bank .

A must visit place to see the simplicity in which Ahilyabai's life was. She ruled for good 30years but her lifestyle was simple and dynamic. A lot of history is available in this temple so make sure to take some time and go through it. A devoted lover of Lord Shiva you will find numerous Shiv Lingas in this temple of various sizes. Photos are allowed so couldn't take one.

It is a very beautiful and awesome place . If you are pic or selfie lover ,
here you can take a lot of beautiful pics. Very beautiful carving