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Maheshwar
Maheshwar > Excursion
Location
Maheshwar
lies on the north bank of the mighty River Narmada, 91-km southwest
of Indore. This place has been identified as the site of King Kartvirajun's
ancient capital earlier known as Mahishmati. It is a city mentioned
in both the Mahabharata and Ramayana. In the 18th century only the
Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore revived it to its ancient
position, by building a palace and several temples here. Maheshwar's
temples and mighty fort-complex are yet to be seen standing in a
calm and serene beauty, mirrored in the river. Maheshwar is also
known for its distinctive hand-woven sarees called Maheshwari. Some
Ghats like (Peshwa Ghat, Fanase Ghat and Ahilya Ghat) line the river
Narmada, flights of steps lead down from the sandy 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. Lining the banks too, are poignant
memorials in stone to the satis of Maheshwar, who perished on the
funeral pyres of their husbands.
The palace and the fort complex itself, further up the stairs,
houses the workshops of the Rewa Society, established by the maharani
250 years ago to promote the local handloom industry. Today, Maheshwar
is also known for its distinctive hand-woven sarees called Maheshwari.
Though descendants of the old ruling family still occupy parts of
the building, a couple of rooms around the entrance courtyard have
been given over to a small museum.
Geographical Location
Maheshwar is located to the south of Indore, in
the western part of Madhya Pradesh, on the Vindhya ranges.
Climate
The summers are hot with the temperature rising
to nearly 36 C during the day. During winters, the minimum temperatures
touch 7 C, making it quite cold. The best time to visit is July
to March.
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General Information & Accomdation info on Maheshwar city of
Madhya Pradesh - India
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